The Occidental Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1899 through 1909 at Gravesend Race Track, Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York. A race for horses of either sex age three and older, it was contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and one-eighth until its final running when it became a mile and one-quarter selling race.
First run on September 16, 1899, the Occidental Handicap would come to be regarded as an important stakes race on the New York fall schedule. [1] Among the winners was the famous "mudder" Herbert who won back-to-back editions in 1901 and 1902.[2][3] The race's only two-time winner, Herbert would duplicate that feat with wins in the Merchants and Citizens Handicap in 1901 and 1902.[4][5]
In her September 26, 1907 win, the three-year-old filly Gold Lady set a new track record for a mile and one-eighth with a time of 1:51 3/5.[6]
Demise of the Occidental HandicapEdit
The status of the race as being important to the Gravesend track's fall racing schedule would change on June 11, 1908, when the Republican controlled New York Legislature under GovernorCharles Evans Hughes passed the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation.[7] The owners of Gravesend Race Track, and other racing facilities in New York State, struggled to stay in business without income from betting.[8] Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which resulted in the Occidental Handicap offering a purse in 1909 that was less than one-third of what it had been in earlier years. These small purses made horse racing unprofitable and impossible for even the most successful horse owners to continue in business. As such, for the 1910 racing season management of the Gravesend facility dropped some of its stakes races and used the purse money to bolster its most important events.[9] Although a February 21, 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913, it was too late for the Occidental Handicap.[10][11][12]
^"Gold Lady's Track Mark". New York Times. 1907-09-27. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
^"Penalties in the New York Bills". Daily Racing Form. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
^"Keep Up Betting Ban". New York Times. 1908-09-01. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
^"Coney Island Clubs Sturdy Stand". Daily Racing Form. 1908-08-11. Retrieved 2019-02-03 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
^"Oral Betting Held Legal: Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision". Daily Racing Form. 1913-02-22. Retrieved 2019-06-29 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
^"Destruction Wrought by Hughes". Daily Racing Form. 1908-12-15. Retrieved 2018-11-30 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
^"Famous Old Track is Sold". Daily Racing Form. 1914-11-17. Retrieved 2018-11-30 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
October 21, 2023
occidental, handicap, american, thoroughbred, horse, race, held, annually, from, 1899, through, 1909, gravesend, race, track, gravesend, brooklyn, york, race, horses, either, three, older, contested, dirt, over, distance, mile, eighth, until, final, running, w. The Occidental Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1899 through 1909 at Gravesend Race Track Gravesend Brooklyn New York A race for horses of either sex age three and older it was contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and one eighth until its final running when it became a mile and one quarter selling race Occidental HandicapDiscontinued stakes raceLocationGravesend Race Track Gravesend Brooklyn New YorkInaugurated1899Race typeThoroughbred Flat racingRace informationSurfaceDirtTrackleft handedQualificationThree year olds and up Contents 1 Historical notes 2 Demise of the Occidental Handicap 3 Records 4 Winners 5 ReferencesHistorical notes EditFirst run on September 16 1899 the Occidental Handicap would come to be regarded as an important stakes race on the New York fall schedule 1 Among the winners was the famous mudder Herbert who won back to back editions in 1901 and 1902 2 3 The race s only two time winner Herbert would duplicate that feat with wins in the Merchants and Citizens Handicap in 1901 and 1902 4 5 In her September 26 1907 win the three year old filly Gold Lady set a new track record for a mile and one eighth with a time of 1 51 3 5 6 Demise of the Occidental Handicap EditThe status of the race as being important to the Gravesend track s fall racing schedule would change on June 11 1908 when the Republican controlled New York Legislature under Governor Charles Evans Hughes passed the Hart Agnew anti betting legislation 7 The owners of Gravesend Race Track and other racing facilities in New York State struggled to stay in business without income from betting 8 Racetrack operators had no choice but to drastically reduce the purse money being paid out which resulted in the Occidental Handicap offering a purse in 1909 that was less than one third of what it had been in earlier years These small purses made horse racing unprofitable and impossible for even the most successful horse owners to continue in business As such for the 1910 racing season management of the Gravesend facility dropped some of its stakes races and used the purse money to bolster its most important events 9 Although a February 21 1913 ruling by the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division saw horse racing return in 1913 it was too late for the Occidental Handicap 10 11 12 Records EditSpeed record 1 41 60 1 1 8 miles Gold Lady 1907 Most wins 2 Herbert 1901 1902 Most wins by a jockey 2 Lewis Smith 1901 1902 2 Eddie Dugan 1908 1909 Most wins by a trainer 2 Julius J Bauer 1899 1908 2 Walter C Rollins 1901 1902 2 Walter B Jennings 1904 1905 Most wins by an owner 2 Bromley amp Co 1899 1908 2 Walter C Rollins 1901 1902 2 Walter B Jennings 1904 1905 Winners EditYear Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist Miles Time Win 1909 Firestone 4 Eddie Dugan Sam Hildreth Sam Hildreth 1 1 4 m 2 07 20 1 0501908 Priscillian 3 Eddie Dugan Julius J Bauer Bromley amp Co Arthur Featherstone 1 1 8 m 1 52 00 1 8751907 Gold Lady 3 Joe Notter William McCann Anthony L Aste 1 1 8 m 1 51 60 3 3501906 Coy Maid 4 Guy Garner John I Smith Kenilworth Stable Frederick C McLewee 1 1 8 m 1 53 40 3 3901905 Proper 5 Gene Hildebrand Walter B Jennings Walter B Jennings 1 1 8 m 1 55 40 2 8701904 Dainty 4 William Crimmins Walter B Jennings Walter B Jennings 1 1 8 m 1 52 60 2 9801903 Caughnawaga 4 George M Odom William Hayward Jr John Sanford 1 1 8 m 1 52 40 1 7951902 Herbert 5 Lewis Smith Walter C Rollins Walter C Rollins 1 1 8 m 1 53 20 1 9301901 Herbert 4 Lewis Smith Walter C Rollins Walter C Rollins 1 1 8 m 1 53 00 1 6951900 Pink Coat 6 Tommy Burns Patrick Dunne J Hal Woodford amp Mr Buckner 1 1 8 m 1 53 80 1 8901899 Previous 4 Winfield O Connor Julius J Bauer Bromley amp Co Arthur Featherstone 1 1 8 m 1 54 60 1 850References Edit Important Stake Dates Daily Racing Form 1906 09 20 Retrieved 2020 11 10 via University of Kentucky Archives Notes from Saratoga Daily Racing Form 1902 08 07 Retrieved 2020 11 09 via University of Kentucky Archives Running of the Occidental Stakes Daily Racing Form 1909 09 19 Retrieved 2020 11 08 via University of Kentucky Archives Merchants and Citizens Handicap Goes to the Favorite Herbert at Home in the Mud Brooklyn Daily Eagle 1901 08 25 p 10 Retrieved 2020 11 10 Herbert Won in a Drive Indianapolis Journal 1902 08 20 Retrieved 2020 11 10 Gold Lady s Track Mark New York Times 1907 09 27 p 6 Retrieved 2020 11 10 Penalties in the New York Bills Daily Racing Form 1908 01 18 Retrieved 2018 10 26 via University of Kentucky Archives Keep Up Betting Ban New York Times 1908 09 01 Retrieved 2018 11 06 Coney Island Clubs Sturdy Stand Daily Racing Form 1908 08 11 Retrieved 2019 02 03 via University of Kentucky Archives Oral Betting Held Legal Appellate Division of New York Supreme Court Renders Important Decision Daily Racing Form 1913 02 22 Retrieved 2019 06 29 via University of Kentucky Archives Destruction Wrought by Hughes Daily Racing Form 1908 12 15 Retrieved 2018 11 30 via University of Kentucky Archives Famous Old Track is Sold Daily Racing Form 1914 11 17 Retrieved 2018 11 30 via University of Kentucky Archives Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Occidental Handicap amp oldid 1064579745, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
