The Pierrepont Handicap was an American

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

first run in 1904 at the Jamaica Race Course in

Jamaica, Queens Jamaica is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It has a popular large commercial and retail area, though part of the neighborhood is also residential. Jamaica is bordered by Hollis, St Albans, and Cambria Heights to the ea ...

, New York operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club which had begun racing operations the previous year. The race was open to three-year-olds of either sex and run on dirt over a distance of 1 1/8 miles.

Race history

The inaugural running of the Pierrepont was the feature event of the October 17, 1904 racecard and was won by Dolly Spanker who was trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee T. J. Healey. In 1905's second edition, the two time Champion racemare Eugenia Burch set a new track record while carrying top weight in a field of thirteen.

Disruption

The 1880s saw intense

lobbying Lobbying is a form of advocacy, which lawfully attempts to directly influence legislators or government officials, such as regulatory agency, regulatory agencies or judiciary. Lobbying involves direct, face-to-face contact and is carried out by va ...

by a moralist movement to have betting on horse racing banned in the states of

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

and New York. They achieved their goals in New Jersey when the 1893 election gave Republicans control of the

New Jersey Legislature The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and ...

who then passed legislation on March 21, 1894 that banned betting on horse racing in that state. The bill was signed into law by Democratic

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

George Werts, the effect of which was the complete cessation of horse racing in New Jersey that would last for more than five decades until the law was rescinded in 1946. The moralists then stepped up their activities to obtain the same ban in

New York state New York, also called New York State, is a state in the northeastern United States. Bordered by New England to the east, Canada to the north, and Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the south, its territory extends into both the Atlantic Ocean and ...

which caused years of uncertainty. With the state's Hart–Agnew anti-wagering legislation in process, the Jamaica Race Course saw its opening day betting drop from $20,000 in 1907 to just $900 in 1908. For the track's fall racing program, the Pierrepont Handicap had to be dropped from the schedule. Although the race returned in 1909, and was won by James R. Keene's future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee

Maskette Maskette (1906–1930) was an American Thoroughbred National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame horse racing, racehorse who never lost a race against other fillies. Background Bred by James R. Keene at his Castleton Lyons, Castl ...

, it would be the last time it was held until 1918. That year Roamer, another future Hall of Fame inductee, won what was the sixth running of the Pierrepont Handicap. The severe financial difficulties of the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

would spell the end for the Pierrepont Handicap in 1932. The final running was won by Sonny Whitney's four-year-old horse Halcyon.

Records

Speed record: * 1 1/8 miles: 1:51.00 – Distraction (1929) * 1 1/4 miles: 2:04.00 – Blind Play (1925) Most wins: * No horse won this race more than once Most wins by a

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

: * 3 – Laverne Fator (1923, 1925, 1927) Most wins by a trainer: * 4 – T. J. Healey (1904, 1919, 1928, 1932) Most wins by an owner: * 2 – Richard T. Wilson Jr. (1904, 1919) * 2 – James R. Keene (1907, 1909) * 2 – Belair Stud Stable (1924, 1931)

Winners

References

{{reflist Open mile category horse races Discontinued horse races in New York City Jamaica Race Course Recurring sporting events established in 1904 Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1932 1904 establishments in New York City 1932 disestablishments in New York (state)