Metropolitan Handicap
Grade 1 race
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, USA
Inaugurated1891
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteMetropolitan (NYRA)[1]
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & up
WeightHandicap
Purse$1,000,000 (2024)

The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs). Starting in 2014, it is now run on the same day as the Belmont Stakes in early June.

The Met Mile is one of the most prestigious American races outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. It is known as a "stallion-making race" as the distance of a mile often displays the winner's "brilliance", referring to an exceptional turn of foot. Winners of the race who went on to become notable stallions include Tom Fool (1953), Native Dancer (1954), Buckpasser (1967), Fappiano (1981), Gulch (1987–88), and Ghostzapper (2005).[2]

History

The Met Mile was first run in 1891 at Morris Park Racetrack. Prior to 1897, it was run at a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles. In 1904, its location was moved to Belmont Park. There it remained except for nine years; 1960 to 1967, 1969, and 1975 when it was hosted by Aqueduct Racetrack. It was not run in 1895, 1911, and 1912.

The Met Mile was the first of three races in the New York Handicap Triple series, followed by the Suburban Handicap and Brooklyn Handicap. Four horses have won the Handicap Triple:

The Met Mile and the Brooklyn are now run on the same day as part of the Belmont Stakes undercard,[3] so it is no longer possible to complete the Handicap Triple.

There was a Dead Heat for first in 1905.[4]

Records

Time record:

Largest Margin

Most wins by an owner

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer

Winners

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
 Gr.
2023 Cody's Wish 5 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Godolphin 1:34.36 I
2022 Flightline 4 Flavien Prat John W. Sadler Horonis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, & Siena Farm 1:33.59 I
2021 Silver State 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steve Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC 1:35.45 I
2020 Vekoma 4 Javier Castellano George Weaver R A Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables 1:32.88 I
2019 Mitole 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen William & Corinne Heiligbrodt 1:32.75 I
2018 Bee Jersey 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Charles E. Fipke 1:33.13 I
2017 Mor Spirit 4 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen 1:33.71 I
2016 Frosted 4 Joel Rosario Kiaran McLaughlin Godolphin 1:32.73 I
2015 Honor Code 4 Javier Castellano Shug McGaughey Lane's End Racing 1:33.18 I
2014 Palace Malice 4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Dogwood Stable 1:33.56 I
2013 Sahara Sky 4 Joel Rosario Jerry Hollendorfer Goldmark Farm 1:34.17 I
2012 Shackleford 4 John Velazquez Dale Romans Lauffer/Cubbedge 1:33.30 I
2011 Tizway 6 Rajiv Maragh H. James Bond William Clifton Jr. 1:32.90 I
2010 Quality Road 4 John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Edward P. Evans 1:33.11 I
2009 Bribon 6 Alan Garcia Rob Ribaudo Marc Keller 1:34.15 I
2008 Divine Park 4 Alan Garcia Kiaran McLaughlin James J. Barry 1:36.91 I
2007 Corinthian 4 Kent Desormeaux James A. Jerkens Centennial Farms 1:34.77 I
2006 Silver Train 4 Edgar Prado Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Buckram Oak Farm 1:34.27 I
2005 Ghostzapper 5 Javier Castellano Robert J. Frankel Stronach Stables 1:33.20 I
2004 Pico Central 5 Alex Solis Paulo Lobo Gary A. Tanaka 1:35.40 I
2003 Aldebaran 5 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Flaxman Holdings 1:34.00 I
2002 Swept Overboard 5 Jorge F. Chavez Craig Dollase J. Paul Reddam 1:33.20 I
2001 Exciting Story 4 Patrick Husbands Mark E. Casse Harry T. Mangurian Jr. 1:37.00 I
2000 Yankee Victor 4 Heberto Castillo Jr. Carlos Morales Moreton Binn 1:34.60 I
1999 Sir Bear 6 John Velazquez Ralph Ziade Barbara Smollin 1:34.40 I
1998 Wild Rush 4 Jerry D. Bailey Richard Mandella Stronach Stables 1:33.40 I
1997 Langfuhr 5 Jorge F. Chavez Mike Keogh Gus Schickedanz 1:33.00 I
1996 Honour and Glory 3 John Velazquez D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor 1:32.80 I
1995 You And I 4 Jorge F. Chavez Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1:34.60 I
1994 Holy Bull 3 Mike E. Smith Jimmy Croll Jimmy Croll 1:33.80 I
1993 Ibero 6 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Frank E. Whitham 1:34.20 I
1992 Dixie Brass 3 Julio Pezua Dennis J. Brida Michael Watral 1:33.60 I
1991 In Excess 4 Pat Valenzuela Bruce L. Jackson Jack J. Munari 1:35.40 I
1990 Criminal Type 5 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm 1:34.40 I
1989 Proper Reality 4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert E. Holthus Mrs. James A. Winn 1:34.00 I
1988 Gulch 4 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant 1:34.60 I
1987 Gulch 3 Pat Day LeRoy Jolley Peter M. Brant 1:34.80 I
1986 Garthorn 6 Rafael Meza Robert J. Frankel Jerome S. Moss 1:33.60 I
1985 Forzando 4 Don MacBeth John Sullivan S. C. Chillingworth 1:34.40 I
1984 Fit to Fight 5 Jerry D. Bailey MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable 1:34.00 I
1983 Star Choice 4 Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Frances A. Genter 1:33.80 I
1982 Conquistador Cielo 3 Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Henryk de Kwiatkowski 1:33.00 I
1981 Fappiano 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Jan H. Nerud John A. Nerud 1:33.80 I
1980 Czaravich 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. William H. Turner Jr. William L. Reynolds 1:35.80 I
1979 State Dinner 4 Chris McCarron William E. Burch C. V. Whitney 1:34.00 I
1978 Cox's Ridge 4 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 1:34.60 I
1977 Forego 7 Bill Shoemaker Frank Whiteley Lazy F Ranch 1:34.80 I
1976 Forego 6 Heliodoro Gustines Frank Whiteley Lazy F Ranch 1:34.80 I
1975 Gold and Myrrh 4 Walter Blum William F. Wilmot William B. Wilmot 1:33.60 I
1974 Arbees Boy 4 Eddie Maple George Weckerle Otly Stable 1:34.40 I
1973 Tentam 4 Jorge Velásquez MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables 1:35.00 I
1972 Executioner 4 Eddie Belmonte Eddie Yowell October House Farm 1:35.40
1971 Tunex 5 John Ruane H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1:35.80
1970 Nodouble 5 Jorge Tejeira J. Bert Sonnier Verna Lea Farm 1:34.60
1969 Arts and Letters 3 Jean Cruguet J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable 1:34.00
1968 In Reality 4 John L. Rotz Melvin Calvert Frances A. Genter 1:35.00
1967 Buckpasser 4 Braulio Baeza Edward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps 1:34.60
1966 Bold Lad 4 Braulio Baeza Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable 1:34.20
1965 Gun Bow 5 Walter Blum Edward A. Neloy Gedney Farm 1:34.40
1964 Olden Times 6 Henry Moreno Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth 1:34.40
1963 Cyrano 4 Bobby Ussery John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.00
1962 Carry Back 4 John L. Rotz Jack A. Price Katherine Price 1:33.60
1961 Kelso 4 Eddie Arcaro Carl Hanford Bohemia Stable 1:35.60
1960 Bald Eagle 5 Manuel Ycaza Woody Stephens Cain Hoy Stable 1:33.60
1959 Sword Dancer 3 Bill Shoemaker J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable 1:35.20
1958 Gallant Man 4 Bill Shoemaker John A. Nerud Ralph Lowe 1:35.60
1957 Traffic Judge 5 Eddie Arcaro James W. Maloney Louis P. Doherty 1:36.00
1956 Midafternoon 4 William Boland Thomas M. Waller Mrs. Edward E. Robbins 1:35.00
1955 High Gun 4 Anthony DeSpirito Max Hirsch King Ranch 1:35.60
1954 Native Dancer 4 Eric Guerin Bill Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:35.20
1953 Tom Fool 4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.80
1952 Mameluke 4 Gerald Porch Sylvester Veitch C. V. Whitney 1:36.40
1951 Casemate 4 Dave Gorman Robert Dotter James Cox Brady Jr. 1:35.40
1950 Greek Ship 3 Hedley Woodhouse Preston M. Burch Brookmeade Stable 1:36.60
1949 Loser Weeper 4 Hedley Woodhouse Bill Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:36.40
1948 Stymie 7 Conn McCreary Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1:36.80
1947 Stymie 6 Basil James Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1:37.40
1946 Gallorette 4 Job Dean Jessop Edward A. Christmas William L. Brann 1:37.00
1945 Devil Diver 6 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:36.40
1944 Devil Diver 5 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.80
1943 Devil Diver 4 George Woolf John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:36.60
1942 Attention 4 Don Meade Max Hirsch Mrs. Parker Corning 1:36.40
1941 Eight Thirty 5 Harry Richards Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1:37.20
1940 Third Degree 4 Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1:35.40
1939 Knickerbocker 3 Fred A. Smith Pete Coyne Joseph E. Widener 1:37.20
1938 Danger Point 4 Eddie Arcaro Eddie Hayward James D. Norris 1:38.00
1937 Snark 4 Johnny Longden James Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1:37.80
1936 Good Harvest 4 Sam Renick Bud Stotler Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:36.40
1935 King Saxon 4 Calvin Rainey Charles H. Knebelkamp Charles H. Knebelkamp 1:38.20
1934 Mr. Khayyam 4 Robert Jones Matthew P. Brady Catawba Farm 1:37.00
1933 Equipoise 5 Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey C. V. whitney 1:37.40
1932 Equipoise 4 Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey C. V. whitney 1:37.00
1931 Questionnaire 4 Raymond Workman Andy Schuttinger James Butler 1:38.60
1930 Jack High 4 Linus McAtee A. Jack Joyner George D. Widener Jr. 1:35.00
1929 Petee-Wrack 4 Steve O'Donnell Willie Booth John R. Macomber 1:40.00
1928 Nimba 4 Harold Thurber George M. Odom Marshall Field III 1:40.00
1927 Black Maria 4 Frank Coltiletti William H. Karrick William R. Coe 1:37.40
1926 Sarazen 5 Fred Weiner Max Hirsch Fair Stable 1:38.00
1925 Sting 4 Bennie Breuning Jimmy Johnson James Butler 1:37.00
1924 Laurano 3 Harold Thurber Johnny Loftus Oak Ridge Stable 1:38.20
1923 Grey Lag 5 Earl Sande Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1:38.00
1922 Mad Hatter 6 Earl Sande Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1:36.60
1921 Mad Hatter 5 Earl Sande Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1:37.40
1920 Wildair 3 Eddie Ambrose James G. Rowe Sr. Harry Payne Whitney 1:38.80
1919 Lanius 4 Johnny Loftus A. Jack Joyner George D. Widener Jr. 1:42.40
1918 Trompe La Mort 3 Linus McAtee Thomas Welsh Joseph E. Widener 1:38.40
1917 Ormesdale 4 John McTaggart Thomas J. Healey Richard T. Wilson Jr. 1:39.20
1916 The Finn 4 Andy Schuttinger Edward W. Heffner Harry C. Hallenbeck 1:38.00
1915 Stromboli 4 Clarence Turner Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 1:39.80
1914 Buskin 4 Charles Fairbrother John Whalen John Whalen 1:37.80
1913 Whisk Broom II 6 Joe Notter James G. Rowe Sr. Harry Payne Whitney 1:39.00
1912 no race
1911 no race
1910 Fashion Plate 4 Matt McGee William H. Karrick Oneck Stable 1:37.80
1909 King James 4 Guy Burns John E. Madden Sam Hildreth 1:40.00
1908 Jack Atkin 4 Carroll H. Shilling Herman R. Brandt Barney Schreiber 1:38.60
1907 Glorifier 5 Charles Garner James H. McCormick James H. McCormick 1:40.80
1906 Grapple 4 Charles Garner Enoch Wishard John A. Drake 1:39.00
1905 Race King (DH) 4 L. Smith Jim McLaughlin Orville L. Richards 1:41.60
1905 Sysonby (DH) 3 Willie Shaw James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene 1:41.60
1904 Irish Lad 4 Willie Shaw John E. Madden Herman B. Duryea 1:40.00
1903 Gunfire 4 Tommy Burns John W. Rogers William C. Whitney 1:38.00
1902 Arsenal 3 J. Daly Julius Bauer Arthur L. Featherstone 1:42.50
1901 Banastar 6 George M. Odom Charles F. Hill Charles H. Mackay 1:42.00
1900 Ethelbert 4 Danny Maher A. Jack Joyner Perry Belmont 1:41.00
1899 Filigrane 4 Richard Clawson R. Wyndham Walden A. H. Morris & D. H. Morris 1:39.25
1898 Bowling Brook 3 Pete Clay R. Wyndham Walden A. H. Morris & D. H. Morris 1:44.00
1897 Voter 3 John Lamley William Lakeland James R. Keene 1:40.00
1896 Counter Tenor 4 Anthony Hamilton William Lakeland Jacob Ruppert Jr. 1:53.00
1895 no race
1894 Ramapo 4 Fred Taral John J. Hyland Gideon & Daly 1:52.50
1893 Charade 4 Samuel Doggett William R. Jones William R. Jones 1:52.25
1892 Pessara 4 Fred Taral John S. Campbell Alfred F. Walcott & J. S. Campbell 1:54.00
1891 Tristan 3 George Taylor Louis Stuart L. Stuart & Co. 1:51.50

See also

References

  1. ^ "Metropolitan". NYRA. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Russo, Nicole. "Met Mile still a source of successful stallions | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  3. ^ "Belmont Stakes 2016 Schedule". www.belmontstakes.org. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "BELMONT PARK OPEN, METROPOLITAN a TIE; 40,000 See Sysonby and Race King Divide the Big Purse. COURSE a MARVEL OF BIGNESS Mr. Belmont Watches His Blandy Win the First Race -- Fickle May Fooled the Multitude". The New York Times. May 5, 1905.

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