The Gallant Fox Handicap is a discontinued Thoroughbred horse race in New York City which was run annually from 1939 through 2009. Hosted by the now defunct Jamaica Race Course in Jamaica, Queens from inception through 1957, it was then moved to Aqueduct Racetrack in the Borough of Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The race was open to horses age three and older and although contested on dirt at various distances for the most part it was a longer distance race.[1]

Gallant Fox Handicap
Discontinued stakes race
LocationAqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York, United States
Inaugurated1939
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
Websitewww.nyra.com/index_aqueduct.html
Race information
Distance13 furlongs (1+58 mi; 2.6 km)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old & up
WeightAssigned
PurseUS$65,000

The race was named for Gallant Fox, the second winner of the U.S. Triple Crown in 1930.

Historical notes

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The inaugural running took place on October 12, 1939 at the Jamaica track and was won by Belair Stud Stable's Isolater whose jockey, James Stout, and his trainer, Jim Fitzsimmons would both have careers that led to induction in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.[2]

On December 13, 1975, Edward R. Scharps' gelding Sharp Gary won the 1+58-mile (2.6 km) Gallant Fox Handicap in track record time.[3] Ten days later Sharp Gary won the 2+14-mile (3.6 km) Display Handicap, the longest major stakes event in North America.[4] Future U.S. and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Sandy Hawley was aboard Gary Sharp for both wins.

As a result of bad weather, the 2000 Gallant Fox Handicap was rescheduled and raced on January 1, 2001. [5]

With long-distance racing steadily declining in popularity with fans, and breeding now almost exclusively designed for speed, after seventy one years the Gallant Fox was canceled following the 2009 edition.[6]

Records

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Speed record:

  • 2:40 2/5 @ 1+58 miles (2.6 km): Gary Sharp (1975)

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

  • 4 – Roderick J. Valente (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002)

Winners

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Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner
Distance Time (min:s) Win$ Gr.
2009 Tiger's Rock 3 David Cohen Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Partners (Jack Wolf et al.) 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:47.34 $43,680 BT
2008 Delosvientos 5 Eddie Castro Giuseppe Iadisernia Giuseppe Iadisernia 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:49.33 $50,430 BT
2007 Nite Light 3 Mike Luzzi Todd A. Pletcher Edward P. Evans 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:47.45 $48,420 BT
2006 Successful Affair 4 Ramon Domínguez Gary C. Contessa Winning Move Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.22 $41,886 BT
2005 Navesink River 4 Mike Luzzi Todd A. Pletcher Char-Mari Stable (Charles & Marianne Hesse) 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.96 $49,860 LR
2004 Tamburello 5 Norberto Arroyo Jr. Michael Miceli Michael Miceli 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.95 $49,620 LR
2003 Loving 7 Jose L. Espinoza Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Goldfarb, Roach et al. 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.08 $50,355 LR
2002 Coyote Lakes 8 Mike Luzzi Bruce N. Levine Roderick J. Valente 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.54 $67,320 G2
2001 Coyote Lakes 7 Chuck C. Lopez Bruce N. Levine Roderick J. Valente 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.77 $67,020 G2
2000 Coyote Lakes 6 Mike Luzzi Bruce N. Levine Roderick J. Valente 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.74 $69,240 G2
1999 Early Warning 4 Jorge F. Chavez Todd A. Pletcher Dogwood Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.94 $68,820 G2
1998 Aavelord 4 Chuck C. Lopez Bruce N. Levine Roderick J. Valente 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:46.00 $66,360 G2
1997 Unreal Turn 5 Chuck C. Lopez Frank Generazio Jr. Patricia A. Generazio 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:46.60 $69,120 G2
1996 Ave's Flag 4 Jorge F. Chavez Steve Klesaris David P. McNulty & Josef F. Omland 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.80 $76,180 G2
1995 Yourmissinthepoint 4 John Velazquez Steve Klesaris Mark Parezo 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.20 $68,100 G2
1994 Serious Spender 3 Jorge F. Chavez Dominick A. Schettino John Caputo 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.80 $66,840 G2
1993 Michelle Can Pass 5 Mike E. Smith John M. DeStefano Jr. Jay Cee Jay Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:46.00 $90,000 G2
1992 Michelle Can Pass 4 Aaron Gryder John M. DeStefano Jr. Jay Cee Jay Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.80 $109,440 G2
1991 Challenge My Duty 4 Chris Antley D. Wayne Lukas William M. Rickman 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:47.00 $106,200 G2
1990 Power Lunch 3 Craig Perret D. Wayne Lukas Calumet Farm 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:47.00 $57,870 G2
1989 Passing Ships 5 Edgar Prado Robert P. Klesaris Gold-N-Oats Stable, Inc. 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:50.20 $72,600 G3
1988 Nostalgia's Star 6 Eddie Maple C. R. McGaughey III Mary J. Hinds 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.60 $80,820 G3
1987 Soar To The Stars 4 Julie Krone C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.80 $85,860 G3
1986 Buckley Boy 4 Michael Gonzalez John J. Tammaro Jr. George C. Frostad 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.20 $82,860 G3
1985 Jane's Dilemma 4 Jorge Velásquez J. William Boniface Robert Meyerhoff 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:48.00 $63,720 G3
1984 Puntivo 4 Robbie Davis Edward I. Kelly Sr. Edward I. Kelly Sr. 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.80 $52,200 G3
1983 Dance Caller 3 Jimmy Miranda H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.80 $49,140 G3
1982 Bar Dexter 5 Jeffrey Fell Lou Mondello Woodside Stud 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:46.60 $51,120 G3
1981 Alla Breva 4 Richard Migliore Philip G. Johnson Ken-Mort Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.40 $51,300 G3
1980 Relaxing 4 Ramon Encinas Angel Penna Sr. Ogden Phipps 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.40 $34,500 G3
1979 Identical 4 Eric Beitia Pancho Martin Viola Sommer 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.60 $33,840 G3
1978 Wise Philip 5 Ángel Cordero Jr. William Boland Ruth E. Streit 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.20 $32,250 G3
1977 Cunning Trick 4 Jean Cruguet William H. Turner Jr. William T. Pascoe 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.20 $32,850 G3
1976 Frampton Delight 4 Steve Cauthen Everett W. King Len Ragozin 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:46.00 $33,030 G3
1975 Sharp Gary 4 Sandy Hawley Robert J. Frankel Edward R. Scharps 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:40.40 $32,910 G3
1974 Big Spruce 5 Angel Santiago Victor J. Nickerson Elmendorf Farm 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:41.60 $33,450 G3
1973 Big Spruce 4 Angel Santiago Victor J. Nickerson Elmendorf Farm 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.00 $33,900 G3
1972 Crafty Khale † 3 Braulio Baeza Robert L. Dotter Mrs. Nelson I. Asiel 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:41.00 $33,720
1971 Hitchcock 5 Ron Turcotte Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.80 $34,680
1970 Hitchcock 4 Eddie Belmonte Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:41.60 $34,980
1969 Ship Leave 3 Ángel Cordero Jr. Angel Penna Sr. Gustave Ring 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.60 $38,870
1968 Funny Fellow 3 Braulio Baeza Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:41.80 $38,025
1967 Niarkos 7 Eddie Belmonte John H. Adams Hasty House Farm (Allie E. Reuben) 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.60 $37,895
1966 Munden Point 4 John L. Rotz Ira Hanford Loren P. Guy 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.60 $37,895
1965 Choker 5 Michael Venezia H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:48.00 $37,115
1964 Smart 5 Eldon Nelson Henry S. Clark Christiana Stables 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.80 $52,748
1963 Sunrise Flight 4 Larry Adams Walter A. Kelley Little M. Farm 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.00 $56,550
1962 Sensitivo 5 Manuel Ycaza Arnold N. Winick Robert F. Bensinger 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.20 $57,752
1961 Polylad 5 Herb Hinojosa Thomas M. Miles Mrs. Q. A. S. McKean 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:45.60 $54,210
1960 Don Poggio 4 Sam Boulmetis Sr. Robert L. Dotter Gustave Ring 1+34 mi (2.8 km) 2:55.80 $53,100
1959 Bald Eagle 4 Manuel Ycaza Woody Stephens Cain Hoy Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:41.00 $54,350
1958 Admiral Vee 6 Ted Atkinson H. Allen Jerkens Edward Seinfeld 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.40 $56,350
1957 Eddie Schmidt 4 Ismael Valenzuela H. Allen Jerkens Leroy G. Burns 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.40 $59,800
1956 Summer Tan 4 David Erb Sherrill W. Ward Dorothy Firestone Galbreath 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:41.60 $57,600
1955 Misty Morn 3 Sidney Cole James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.40 $58,450
1954 Social Outcast 4 Ovie Scurlock William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.80 $60,550
1953 Royal Vale 5 Jack Westrope James E. Ryan Esther du Pont Weir 1+316 mi (1.9 km) 1:55.40 $49,600
1952 Spartan Valor 4 James Stout Frank Catrone William G. Hellis Jr. 1+316 mi (1.9 km) 1:56.20 $48,200
1951 County Delight 4 Eric Guerin James E. Ryan Rokeby Stable 1+316 mi (1.9 km) 1:57.60 $47,900
1950 Better Self 5 William Boland Max Hirsch King Ranch 1+316 mi (1.9 km) 1:57.00 $42,800
1949 Coaltown 4 Steve Brooks Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+316 mi (1.9 km) 1:56.20 $38,600
1948 Faultless 4 Hedley Woodhouse Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1+316 mi (1.9 km) 1:57.20 $60,300
1947 Stymie 6 Conn McCreary Max Hirsch Ethel D. Jacobs 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.40 $56,350
1946 Stymie 5 Basil James Max Hirsch Ethel D. Jacobs 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:42.80 $59,050
1945 Reply Paid 3 Herb Lindberg George W. Carroll Mrs. Louis Rabinowitz 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.60 $39,105
1944 Some Chance 5 Albert Snider B. Frank Christmas Abram S. Hewitt 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:46.00 $37,565
1943 Eurasian 3 Herb Lindberg Sol Rutchick Havahome Stable (Frank & Joseph Rabinovich) 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:48.00 $19,700
1942 Dark Discovery 4 Warren Mehrtens Max Hirsch John A. Bell Jr. 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:44.20 $11,300
1941 Market Wise 3 Wendell Eads George W. Carroll Louis Tufano 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:46.00 $11,550
1940 Salaminia 3 Don Meade Duval A. Headley Hal Price Headley 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.60 $11,150
1939 Isolater 6 James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 1+58 mi (2.6 km) 2:43.00 $8,400
  • † In 1972, Autobiography finished first, but was disqualified and set back to second.

Other past and present North American marathon races

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On dirt:

On turf:

References

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  1. ^ "History of the Gallant Fox Handicap 1939–2008". NYRA. 2020-05-28. Archived from the original on 2009-11-17. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  2. ^ "Isolater Triumphs In Gallant Fox Handicap". Montreal Gazette. 1939-10-13. p. 19. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  3. ^ "5–2 Shot Scores at Aqueduct". New York Times. 1975-12-14. Section Sports, page 1. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  4. ^ "Sharp Gary Wins as Aqueduct Shuts for the Year". New York Times. 1975-12-24. p. 15. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  5. ^ "Citing Storm Forecast, Aqueduct and Philly Cancel Races". The Blood-Horse. 2000-12-29. Archived from the original on 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  6. ^ "The Day at the Races: Dec. 31". New York Daily News. 2010-12-31. Archived from the original on 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  7. ^ "Coyote Lakes". EquibaseCo LLC. 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2020-06-02.