Fall Highweight Handicap
The Fall Highweight Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Currently run at a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 m), it is open to horses three years of age and older under handicap conditions. The race was given its current Grade III status in 2009 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.[1]
Grade III race | |
Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1914 |
Race type | Thoroughbred, Flat racing |
Website | www |
Race information | |
Distance | 6 furlongs |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Three years old & up |
Weight | Handicap |
Purse | $200,000 (2021) |
As the name implies, the race is known for the unusually high handicap weights assigned to each of the horses. In the past the top-weighted horse was assigned a minimum of 140 pounds (63.5 kg). Although the 140 pound rule is no longer in place, horses still carry more weight than they normally would. The highweight in the 2015 renewal, for example, carried 134 pounds.[2]
Run at Belmont Park from its inception in 1914 to 1959 and again from 1963 to 1993, the Fall Highweight was open to horses of any age until 1959 when it was changed to its present format. It was raced on a straight course prior to 1921, from 1926 to 1939, and again from 1942 to 1957. A large field resulted in the 1976 edition being run in two divisions.
The inaugural running of the Fall Highweight in 1914 was a remarkable victory for Comely who was not only a filly that defeated male rivals, but the only two-year-old to ever win the race.
Records
Speed record:
- 1:08 2/5 - Ariel Lad (1944) & Hitex (1952) - (Both were ridden by Eddie Arcaro)[3] [4]
Most wins:
- 2 - Miss Merriment (1934, 1936)
- 2 - Cassis (1943, 1946)
- 2 - Ta Wee (1969, 1970)
- 2 - Honorable Miss (1975, 1976)
- 2 - What A Summer (1977, 1978)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 - Eddie Arcaro (1937, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1958)
- 5 - John L. Rotz (1964, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972)
- 5 - Jorge Chavez (1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 - D. Wayne Lukas (1985, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2001)
Most wins by an owner:
- 4 - Joseph E. Widener (1919, 1929, 1931, 1941)
Winners
Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
Dist. (Furlongs) |
Time | Win $ | Gr. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Greeley and Ben | 8 | Manuel Franco | Faith Wilson | Darryl E. Abramowitz | 6 f | 1:11.95 | $175,000 | G3 |
2021 | Hopeful Treasure | 4 | Mychel Sanchez | Michael Catalano Jr. | Just In Time Racing | 6 f | 1:11.19 | $110,000 | G3 |
2020 | Share The Ride | 5 | José Ortiz | Antonio Arriaga | Dixiana Farms LLC (William & Donna Shively) | 6 f | 1:10.62 | $100,000 | G3 |
2019 | Happy Farm | 5 | Jorge A. Vargas Jr. | Jason Servis | M and A Racing Ltd. | 6 f | 1:11.91 | $115,500 | G3 |
2018 | Life in Shambles | 7 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jason Servis | Ara Aprahamian | 6 f | 1:12.07 | $115,500 | G3 |
2017 | Stallwalkin' Dude | 7 | Joel Rosario | David Jacobson | David Jacobson & Head of Plains Partners (Sol Kumin) | 6 f | 1:11.11 | $120,000 | G3 |
2016 | Heaven's Runway | 6 | Junior Alvarado | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Michael Dubb & Michael Imperio | 6 f | 1:10.19 | $120,000 | G3 |
2015 | Green Gratto | 5 | Kendrick Carmouche | Gaston Grant | Gaston & Anthony Grant | 6 f | 1:09.95 | $120,000 | G3 |
2014 | Salutos Amigos | 4 | Cornelio Velásquez | David Jacobson | David Jacobson & Southern Equine Stable LLC (Mike Moreno) | 6 f | 1:10.78 | $180,000 | G3 |
2013 | Palace | 4 | Cornelio Velásquez | Linda L. Rice | Antonino Miuccio | 6 f | 1:09.82 | $180,000 | G3 |
2012 | Caixa Eletronica | 7 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Mike Repole | 6 f | 1:08.69 | $90,000 | G3 |
2011 | Sunrise Smarty | 4 | Ramon Domínguez | Michael Hushion | West Point Thoroughbreds, Donald Brooks, Nick Cammarano | 6 f | 1:09.97 | $60,000 | G3 |
2010 | Endless Circle | 6 | Edgar Prado | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Vincent S. Scuderi & James A. Riccio | 6 f | 1:09.79 | $60,000 | G3 |
2009 | Cherokee Country | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Ramon Preciado | Victory Thoroughbreds LLC (Lou Cacchio) | 6 f | 1:09.29 | $66,000 | G3 |
2008 | Fabulous Strike | 5 | Ramon Domínguez | Todd Beattie | Walter Downey | 6 f | 1:09.02 | $66,720 | |
2007 | Grand Champion | 4 | Eibar Coa | James A. Jerkens | Susan & John Moore | 6 f | 1:09.90 | $65,520 | |
2006 | Afrashad | 4 | Richard Migliore | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 6 f | 1:11.05 | $64,980 | |
2005 | Attila's Storm | 3 | Pablo Morales | Richard Schosberg | Barry K. Schwartz | 6 f | 1:09.30 | $67,500 | |
2004 | Thunder Touch | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Kiaran McLaughlin | Stronach Stables | 6 f | 1:09.83 | $66,960 | |
2003 | Bossanova | 3 | Edgar Prado | H. James Bond | Lorraine & Rod Rodriguez | 6 f | 1:10.06 | $64,980 | |
2002 | True Direction | 3 | Javier Castellano | Carlos Morales | Morton & Marisol Binn | 6 f | 1:09.62 | $66,960 | |
2001 | Yonaguska | 3 | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 6 f | 1:09.60 | $67,320 | |
2000 | Kashatreya | 6 | Octavio Vergara | John O. Hertler | Seymour Cohn | 6 f | 1:11.03 | $67,140 | |
1999 | Richter Scale | 5 | Jorge Chavez | Mary Jo Lohmeier | Nancy & Richard Kaster | 6 f | 1:09.05 | $66,060 | |
1998 | Punch Line | 8 | Jorge Chavez | William H. Turner Jr. | Althea D. Richards | 6 f | 1:10.07 | $66,840 | |
1997 | Royal Haven | 5 | Richard Migliore | Gasper Moschera | Barbara Davis | 6 f | 1:10.68 | $65,820 | |
1996 | Victor Avenue | 3 | Jorge Chavez | Dale Romans | Greg James | 6 f | 1:09.24 | $67,440 | |
1995 | Jess C's Whirl | 5 | Jorge Chavez | John H. Forbes | Ted & Larry Oleck | 6 f | 1:09.87 | $66,180 | |
1994 | Chimes Band | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Fares Farms (Issam Michael Fares) | 6 f | 1:11.37 | $65,940 | |
1993 | Fly So Free | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Flint S. Schulhofer | Tommy Valando | 6 f | 1:09.41 | $72,360 | |
1992 | Salt Lake | 3 | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 6 f | 1:09.07 | $68,520 | |
1991 | Senor Speedy | 4 | Jorge Chavez | Alfredo Callejas | Robert Perez | 6 f | 1:08.62 | $70,920 | |
1990 | Carson City | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 6 f | 1:09.80 | $51,030 | |
1989 | Sewickley | 4 | Randy Romero | Flint S. Schulhofer | Robert S. Evans | 6 f | 1:09.60 | $68,880 | |
1988 | Parlay Me | 3 | Randy Romero | James E. Picou | Marshall E. Sigel | 6 f | 1:09.60 | $69,000 | |
1987 | Purple Mountain | 5 | Richard Migliore | Woodrow Sedlacek | Jacques Wimpfheimer | 6 f | 1:08.80 | $85,500 | |
1986 | Funistrada | 3 | Robbie Davis | Jan H. Nerud | John A. Nerud | 6 f | 1:09.40 | $68,640 | |
1985 | Mt. Livermore | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Lloyd R. French Jr. | 6 f | 1:10.60 | $89,460 | |
1984 | Mamaison | 4 | Chris McCarron | Richard Mandella | Harold P. Oliver | 6 f | 1:10.20 | $77,040 | |
1983 | Chas Conerly | 3 | Jimmy Miranda | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $50,670 | |
1982 | Gold Beauty | 3 | Don Brumfield | William D. Curtis | Georgia E. Hoffman | 6 f | 1:09.20 | $50,940 | |
1981 | Piedmont Pete | 5 | Kenny Black | Ron Alfano | Mel Hewitt | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $50,490 | |
1980 | King's Fashion | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | Bohemia Stable | 6 f | 1:10.60 | $51,120 | |
1979 | Whatsyourpleasure | 6 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John W. Russell | Murty Farm (Duane & Wayne Murty) | 6 f | 1:09.60 | $49,095 | |
1978 | What A Summer | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 6 f | 1:09.40 | $48,195 | |
1977 | What A Summer | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $50,490 | |
1976-1 | Relent | 5 | Ruben Hernandez | Sidney Watters Jr. | Stephen C. Clark | 6 f | 1:09.80 | $39,105 | |
1976-2 | Honorable Miss | 6 | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Pen-Y-Bryn Farm | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $39,780 | |
1975 | Honorable Miss | 5 | Jacinto Vásquez | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Pen-Y-Bryn Farm | 6 f | 1:09.80 | $54,720 | |
1974 | Piamem | 4 | Miguel A. Rivera | Lazaro S. Barrera | Miguel Alfonzo | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $22,575 | |
1973 | King's Bishop | 4 | Eddie Maple | H. Allen Jerkens | Bohemia Stable | 6 f | 1:09.40 | $17,310 | |
1972 | Chou Croute | 4 | John L. Rotz | Robert G. Dunham | Emmanuel Victor Benjamin III | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $17,340 | |
1971 | Shut Eye | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Jack M. Bradley | Kev-Hill Stable | 6 f | 1:10.80 | $20,280 | |
1970 | Ta Wee | 4 | John L. Rotz | Flint S. Schulhofer | Tartan Stable | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $18,395 | |
1969 | Ta Wee | 3 | John L. Rotz | Flint S. Schulhofer | Tartan Stable | 6 f | 1:10.20 | $18,622 | |
1968 | More Scents | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Philip G. Johnson | Meadowhill (Morton Rosenthal & Alfred Green) | 6 f | 1:11.80 | $18,460 | |
1967 | Indulto | 4 | John L. Rotz | Max Hirsch | Jane Greer | 6 f | 1:12.60 | $18,200 | |
1966 | Impressive III | 3 | Kenneth Knapp | Edward A. Neloy | Little M Farm (syndicate, John R. Murrell, manager) | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $18,752 | |
1965 | Pack Trip | 5 | Manuel Ycaza | John A. Nerud | Joseph M. Roebling | 6 f | 1:13.80 | $18,167 | |
1964 | Delta Judge | 4 | John L. Rotz | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 6 f | 1:10.60 | $18,005 | |
1963 | Accordant | 3 | Paul Kallai | Joseph Kulina | Colonial Farm (John & Sam Fieramosca) | 6 f | 1:10.20 | $14,788 | |
1962 | Be On Time | 3 | Pete D. Anderson | Eddie Hayward | Circle M Farm (Edward S. Moore) | 6 f | 1:09.40 | $18,752 | |
1961 | Smashing Gail | 3 | Bobby Ussery | Nicholas Combest | Edith Baily Dent | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $18,655 | |
1960 | Four Lane | 3 | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Thomas M. Waller | William Ewing | 6 f | 1:09.00 | $18,192 | |
1959 | Mystic II | 5 | Michael A. Sorrentino | Morris H. Dixon | C. Mahlon Kline | 6 f | 1:11.00 | $18,095 | |
1958 | Bull Strength | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Jack J. Carrara | Brookfield Farm | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $19,135 | |
1957 | Itobe | 4 | Eldon Nelson | Edward I. Kelly Sr. | Brookfield Farm | 6 f | 1:09.40 | $20,600 | |
1956 | Impromptu | 4 | Conn McCreary | Edward I. Kelly Sr. | Brookfield Farm | 6 f | 1:09.00 | $21,550 | |
1955 | Sailor II | 3 | Hedley Woodhouse | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $17,050 | |
1954 | Pet Bully | 6 | Bill Hartack | Thomas Joseph Kelly | Ada L. Rice | 6 f | 1:11.20 | $17,800 | |
1953 | Kaster | 4 | Augustine Catalano | Morris H. Dixon | C. Mahlon Kline | 6 f | 1:09.80 | $16,600 | |
1952 | Hitex | 3 | Eddie Arcaro | James P. Conway | Florence D. Whitaker | 6 f | 1:08.40 | $17,300 | |
1951 | Guillotine | 4 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 6 f | 1:09.00 | $18,700 | |
1950 | Arise | 4 | Douglas Dodson | James C. Bentley | Addison Stable (Harry Addison, Sr. & Mrs. Jack Addison) | 6 f | 1:08.80 | $17,800 | |
1949 | Royal Governor | 5 | Eric Guerin | James E. Ryan | Esther D. du Pont | 6 f | 1:12.00 | $17,150 | |
1948 | First Flight | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Sylvester E. Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 6 f | 1:08.60 | $22,650 | |
1947 | Rippey | 4 | Ovie Scurlock | Willie Booth | William G. Helis Sr. | 6 f | 1:10.80 | $21,300 | |
1946 | Cassis | 7 | Basil James | Preston M. Burch | W. Deering Howe | 6 f | 1:08.80 | $16,750 | |
1945 | True North | 5 | Ted Atkinson | Preston M. Burch | Howe Stable (W. Deering Howe) | 6 f | 1:08.80 | $7,370 | |
1944 | Ariel Lad | 5 | Eddie Arcaro | J. Thomas Taylor | Selznick Stable | 6 f | 1:08.40 | $7,285 | |
1943 | Cassis | 4 | Ted Atkinson | Preston M. Burch | Howe Stable (W. Deering Howe) | 6 f | 1:11.20 | $6,725 | |
1942 | Imperatrice | 4 | Conn McCreary | George M. Odom | William H. La Boyteaux | 6 f | 1:10.20 | $5,925 | |
1941 | Roman | 4 | Don Meade | Peter W. Coyne | Joseph E. Widener | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $4,500 | |
1940 | T. M. Dorsett | 4 | Raymond Workman | John B. Theall | Joe W. Brown | 6 f | 1:11.40 | $4,500 | |
1939 | Rough Time | 5 | Fred Faust | J. Yancy Christmas | J. Yancy Christmas | 6 f | 1:09.40 | $6,100 | |
1938 | The Fighter | 5 | Raymond Workman | Edward L. Snyder | William F. Morgan | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $4,750 | |
1937 | Preeminent | 5 | Eddie Arcaro | Duval A. Headley | Hal Price Headley | 6 f | 1:10.80 | $2,975 | |
1936 | Miss Merriment | 5 | Raymond Workman | J. P. "Sammy" Smith | Victor Emanuel | 6 f | 1:09.60 | $3,200 | |
1935 | Sation | 5 | Jim Hunter | Winbert F. Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 6 f | 1:10.20 | $3,075 | |
1934 | Miss Merriment | 3 | Earl Steffen | J. P. "Sammy" Smith | Dorwood Stable (Victor Emanuel) | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $2,750 | |
1933 | Microphone | 4 | Silvio Coucci | Phillip M. Walker | Sage Stable (Harry W. Sage) | 6 f | 1:11.00 | $1,845 | |
1932 | Larranga | 3 | Raymond Workman | Edward J. Bennett | Anall Stable (Allan A. Ryan) | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $2,450 | |
1931 | Mr. Sponge | 4 | Mack Garner | Henry E. McDaniel | Joseph E. Widener | 6 f | 1:11.60 | $3,025 | |
1930 | Balko | 5 | John Bejshak | Joseph H. Stotler | Sagamore Stable (Margaret Emerson) | 6 f | 1:09.40 | $3,375 | |
1929 | Osmand | 5 | Willie Garner | Peter W. Coyne | Joseph E. Widener | 6 f | 1:10.60 | $3,600 | |
1928 | Finite | 3 | Frank S. Moon | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener Jr. | 6 f | 1:12.60 | $3,700 | |
1927 | Happy Argo | 4 | Steve O'Donnell | Max Hirsch | Kershaw Stable (Bernard M. Baruch) | 6 f | 1:11.20 | $4,050 | |
1926 | Powhatan | 3 | John Maiben | Thomas J. Healey | Walter J. Salmon Sr. | 6 f | 1:12.00 | $3,800 | |
1925 | Superlette | 3 | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 6 f | 1:12.40 | $3,400 | |
1924 | Worthmore | 3 | Steve O'Donnell | John S. Ward | John S. Ward | 6 f | 1:11.60 | $4,225 | |
1923 | Fair Phantom | 4 | Earl Sande | C. Kay Spence | Audley Farm | 6 f | 1:10.40 | $3,275 | |
1922 | Careful | 4 | James Butwell | Thomas J. Healey | Walter J. Salmon Sr. | 6 f | 1:12.60 | $3,300 | |
1921 | Crocus | 3 | Frank Coltiletti | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 6 f | 1:11.40 | $2,725 | |
1920 | Lion d'Or | 4 | Earl Sande | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 6 f | 1:09.80 | $3,100 | |
1919 | Naturalist | 5 | Charles Fairbrother | Thomas Welsh | Joseph E. Widener | 6 f | 1:11.60 | $2,900 | |
1918 | Hollister * | 4 | Johnny Loftus | Walter B. Jennings | A. Kingsley Macomber | 6 f | 1:10.00 | $2,100 | |
1917 | Ima Frank | 4 | John McTaggart | George Ziegler | Beverwyck Stable (Frank J. Nolan) | 6 f | 1:11.80 | $1,410 | |
1916 | Mont d'Or | 5 | Joe Notter | Thomas Welsh | L. Wood | 6 f | 1:13.20 | $1,230 | |
1915 | Harmonicon | 5 | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | Lewis S. Thompson | 6 f | 1:10.80 | $1,195 | |
1914 | Comely | 2 | Joe McCahey | Richard C. Benson | James Butler | 6 f | 1:12.00 | $1,275 | |
References
- Seven Additional Graded Stakes in 2009
- Johnson, J. Keeler. "Will Holiday Star Shine on Thanksgiving Day?". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- "Ariel Lad Wins Highweight 'Cap". New York Daily News, page 306. 1944-09-19. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
- "Eddie Arcaro Sets New High For Earnings". Sherbrooke Daily Record, page Thirteen. 1952-09-16. Retrieved 2021-05-05.