The Potomac 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 ...

run annually in the latter part of September at

Havre de Grace Racetrack The Havre de Grace Racetrack was an American horse racing race track, track on Post Road in Havre de Grace, Maryland, Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland, Harford County, Maryland. Nicknamed "The Graw," it operated from August 24, 1912, to 1 ...

Havre de Grace, Maryland Havre de Grace (), abbreviated HdG, is a city in Harford County, Maryland, Harford County, Maryland, United States. It is situated at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of Chesapeake Bay. It is named after the port city of Le Havre ...

. Open to three-year-old horses, it was raced on dirt at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth. First run at

Laurel Park Racecourse Laurel Park, formerly Laurel Race Course, is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades un ...

Laurel, Maryland Laurel is a city in Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore on the banks of the Patuxent River, in northern Prince George's County. Its population was 30,060 at the 2020 census. Founded as a mill town i ...

, it was restricted to two-year-olds and run at a distance of one mile. The 1918 running was won by Calumet Farm's two-year-old colt, Be Frank, ridden by

Lavelle Ensor Emory Lavelle "Buddy" Ensor (April 27, 1900 – November 13, 1947) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. Biography A native of Maryland, Lavelle Ensor got his first professional riding job in 1918 with future Hall of Fame ...

The following year the race moved to the Havre de Grace Racetrack and was changed to an event for three-year-olds and set at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth. The Potomac Handicap was won by four

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred horse racing, Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and Horse trainer, trainers. In 1955, the museum ...

inductees including 1919 U.S. Triple Crown winner

Sir Barton Sir Barton (April 26, 1916 – October 30, 1937) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the first winner of the American Triple Crown. Background Sir Barton was a chestnut colt bred in 1916, in Kentucky, by John E. Madden at H ...

and

Man o' War Man o' War was a thoroughbred racehorse considered an all-time great. Man o' War (or capitalization variations thereof) may also refer to: Animals * Portuguese man o' war, a floating marine animal found in the Atlantic that resembles a jellyfish ...

who won the 1920 edition. Despite being assigned highweight of 138 pounds, Man o' War set a new Havre de Grace track record for a mile-and-a-sixteenth. Venue: * Laurel : 1916-1918, 1944-1948 * Pimlico: 1943 * Havre de Grace Racetrack: 1919-1942

Records

Speed record: (3-year-olds) * 1 miles: 1:44 flat,

Menow Menow (1935–1964) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won several important races in 1937, when he was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse. Background Bred and raced by Hal Price Headley, Menow was foaled on May 19, late ...

(1938) * 1 miles: 1:50 3/5, Loyal Legion (1947) Speed record: (2-year-olds) * 1 mile: 1:39 1/5, Be Frank (1918) 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 ...

: * 2 -

Clarence Kummer Clarence Joseph Kummer (August 8, 1899 – December 18, 1930) was a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey who won four American Classic Races. In early 1920, Kummer rode the 1919 Triple Crown Champion Sir Barton to a new Saratoga track record in wi ...

(1915, 1920) * 2 - Andy Schuttinger (1917, 1922) * 2 -

(1921, 1931) * 2 -

Albert Snider Albert Snider (October 22, 1921March 5, 1948) was a jockey in Thoroughbred racing who had success in his native Canada as well as the United States. Biography Snider was born in Calgary, Alberta, in 1921. He got his first win as a Thoroughbred ...

(1946, 1947) Most wins by a trainer: * 2 - Clyde S. Phillips (1916, 1930) * 2 - Thomas J. Healey (1925, 1936) * 2 - Bud Stotler (1934, 1935) * 2 - James Radney (1946, 1948) Most wins by an owner: * 2 - Willis Sharpe Kilmer (1928, 1933) * 2 - Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1934, 1935) * 2 - Mrs. Ellsworth H. Augustus (1946, 1948)

Winners

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Miles The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a British imperial unit and United States customary unit of length; both are based on the older English unit of length equal to 5,280 English f ...

) ! style="width:25px" , Time
, - , align=center, 1948 , Seven League , align=center, 3 , Mike Basile , James Radney , Elizabeth Good Augustus , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:52.80 , - , align=center, 1947 , Loyal Legion , align=center, 3 ,

Oscar White Oscar Russell White (August 27, 1908 – April 7, 1983) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer who twice won the third leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. In 1941, he took over training duties for the promine ...

Walter M. Jeffords Sr. Walter Morrison Jeffords Sr. (August 8, 1883 – September 28, 1960) was a successful Investment banker and owner/breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses who, in partnership with his wife's uncle, Samuel Riddle, purchased and operated Faraway Farm ne ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:50.60 , - , align=center, 1946 , Blue Yonder , align=center, 3 ,

, James Radney , Elizabeth Good Augustus , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:56.60 , - , align=center, 1945 , British Buddy , align=center, 3 , Johnny Breen , James McGee , Morris Wexler , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:51.40 , - , align=center, 1944 , Megogo , align=center, 3 , Ken Scawthorn ,

John A. Healey Thomas J. Healey (July 16, 1866 - October 7, 1944) was an American Thoroughbred horse race, Thoroughbred horse racing National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame horse trainer, trainer. Regularly referred to as "T. J." by both his ass ...

Christiana Stable Jane du Pont Lunger (June 20, 1914 - September 18, 2001) was an American heiress, philanthropist, and an owner/breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses. A sixth-generation member of Delaware's prominent Du Pont family, her father, Philip Francis du Pon ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:49.60 , - , align=center, 1943 , Son of Peace , align=center, 3 , Billie Thompson , Ben A. Jones ,

Calumet Farm Calumet Farm is a Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky, United States by William Monroe Wright, founding owner of the Calumet Baking Powder Company. Calumet is located in the heart of the Bluegrass ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:52.60 , - , align=center, 1942 , Aletern , align=center, 3 , Jimmy Thornburg , Jack Skirvin , Alwin C. Ernst , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:47.20 , - , align=center, 1941 , Boston Man , align=center, 3 ,

Ted Atkinson Theodore Frederick Atkinson (June 17, 1916 – May 5, 2005) was a Canadian-born American thoroughbred horse racing jockey, inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His sister was ...

, George L. Arvin , H. Teller Archibald , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:45.80 , - , align=center, 1940 ,

Mioland Mioland (1937–1951) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred in Oregon by H. W. Ray, he was out of the mare Iolanda. His German-born sire was Mio D'Arezzo, a winner of the Deutsches St. Leger who had been imported to stand at ...

, align=center, 3 ,

Carroll Bierman Carroll M. Bierman (October 22, 1918 – March 22, 1970) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey born in Centralia, Illinois. In 1940, he won the Kentucky Derby on Gallahadion in an upset over heavily favored Bimelech. That Derby r ...

, Tom Smith ,

Charles S. Howard Charles Stewart Howard (February 28, 1877 – June 6, 1950) was an American businessman. He made his fortune as an automobile dealer and became a prominent thoroughbred racehorse owner. Biography Howard was dubbed one of the most successful Bui ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:46.60 , - , align=center, 1939 , Third Degree , align=center, 3 , Wayne D. Wright , John M. Gaver Sr. ,

Greentree Stable Greentree Stable, in Red Bank, New Jersey, was a major American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm established in 1914 by Payne Whitney of the Whitney family of New York City. Payne Whitney operated a horse farm and stable at Sa ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:44.80 , - , align=center, 1938 ,

, align=center, 3 ,

Raymond Workman Raymond "Sonny" Workman (May 24, 1909 – August 21, 1966) was an American National Champion and Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. During his fifteen years as a professional rider from 1926 through 1940, he won an exceptional twen ...

, Duval A. Headley ,

Hal Price Headley Hal Price Headley (December 19, 1888 – March 22, 1962) was an American owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses and a founder of Keeneland who served as the race track's president from 1935 to 1951. He owned the 4,000 acre Beaumont Far ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:44.00 , - , align=center, 1937 , Heelfly , align=center, 3 ,

George Woolf George Monroe Woolf (May 31, 1910 – January 4, 1946), nicknamed "The Iceman", was a Canadian thoroughbred race horse jockey. An annual jockey's award given by the United States Jockeys' Guild is named in his honor. He became known for riding t ...

, Lemuel T. Whitehill , Thomas Painter Morgan , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:45.20 , - , align=center, 1936 , Tatterdemalion , align=center, 3 ,

Jack Westrope Jack Gordon Westrope (January 18, 1918 – June 19, 1958) was an American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. Born in Baker, Montana, Westrope was the son of racehorse owner/trainer W. T. Westrope. Jack was only 12 years old when he ...

, Thomas J. Healey ,

Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Cornelius "Sonny" Vanderbilt Whitney (February 20, 1899 – December 13, 1992) was an American businessman, film producer, government official, writer and philanthropist. He was also a polo player and the owner of a significant stable of Thorough ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:44.80 , - , align=center, 1935 , Good Gamble , align=center, 3 ,

Sam Renick Samuel William Renick (May 14, 1910 – October 16, 1999) was an American jockey during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. He was a founder of the Jockeys' Guild. After his career ended, Renick became one of television's first racing announcers. Early ...

, Bud Stotler , Alfred G. Vanderbilt II , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:45.40 , - , align=center, 1934 ,

Discovery Discovery may refer to: * Discovery (observation), observing or finding something unknown * Discovery (fiction), a character's learning something unknown * Discovery (law), a process in courts of law relating to evidence Discovery, The Discovery ...

, align=center, 3 ,

John Bejshak John Joseph Bejshak (September 19, 1909 – December 26, 1969) was a Canadian-born jockey who competed in American Thoroughbred horse racing best known as the rider of 1935 American Horse of the Year, Discovery. Bejshak was hired by prominent Can ...

, Bud Stotler , Alfred G. Vanderbilt II , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:45.20 , - , align=center, 1933 , Sun Archer , align=center, 3 ,

Pete Walls Pete or Petes or ''variation'', may refer to: People * Pete (given name) * Pete (nickname) * Pete (surname) Fictional characters * Pete (Disney), a cartoon character in the ''Mickey Mouse'' universe * Pete the Pup (a.k.a. 'Petey'), a character ( ...

, Jack Whyte , Willis Sharpe Kilmer , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:44.80 , - , align=center, 1932 , Dark Secret , align=center, 3 ,

Hank Mills Hank Mills (April 9, 1936 – November 11, 2005) was the pen name taken by country songwriter Samuel Garrett. Mills authored a number of country and western hits of the 1960s and 1970s, including 3 BMI award winners: "Girl on the Billboard" (writ ...

, James E. Fitzsimmons ,

Wheatley Stable Wheatley Stable was the ''nom de course '' for the thoroughbred horse racing partnership formed by Gladys Mills Phipps and her brother, Ogden Livingston Mills. The horses were raised at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky. History Over the years ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:45.40 , - , align=center, 1931 , Tambour , align=center, 3 ,

Frank Coltiletti Frank Coltiletti (April 23, 1904 – March 1987) was an American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. Coltiletti began his professional riding career in 1919 when he was just fifteen years old. Almost immediately he became one of ...

Preston M. Burch Preston Morris Burch (August 25, 1884 – April 8, 1978) was an American National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame Thoroughbred horse trainer, racehorse trainer, horse breeding, breeder, and owner Biography Family background Born ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:45.20 , - , align=center, 1930 , Spinach , align=center, 3 , Alfred Robertson , Clyde S. Phillips , William Ziegler Jr. , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:47.40 , - , align=center, 1929 ,

Rose of Sharon Rose of Sharon (in Hebrew: חֲבַצֶּלֶת הַשָּׁרוֹן) is a Bible, biblical expression, though the identity of the plant referred to is unclear and is disputed among biblical scholars. It has become a common name for several speci ...

, align=center, 3 , Charles E. Allen , Daniel E. Stewart , Johnson N. Camden Jr. , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:46.40 , - , align=center, 1928 ,

Sun Beau Sun Beau (1925 – c.1943) was an American Thoroughbred Champion Hall of Fame racehorse. Background Sun Beau was sired by Sun Briar. His damsire was Fair Play, who sired Man o' War. Racing career Racing as a two-year-old in 1927, Sun Beau ...

, align=center, 3 , John Craigmyle , William Short , Willis Sharpe Kilmer , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:46.00 , - , align=center, 1927 , Jock , align=center, 3 , Eddie Ambrose , John F. Schorr , Edward B. McLean , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:44.60 , - , align=center, 1926 ,

Chance Play Chance Play (foaled 1923) was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire. In a career which lasted from 1925 to 1928 he ran in thirty-nine races and won sixteen of them. Although he was successful in his early career over spri ...

, align=center, 3 ,

Earl Sande Earl Harold Sande (November 13, 1898 – August 19, 1968) was an American Hall of Fame jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer. Early life in South Dakota Born in Groton, South Dakota, Earl Sande started out as a bronco buster in the early 1900s b ...

, G. Hamilton Keene ,

Log Cabin Stable Log Cabin Stable was a Thoroughbred horse racing partnership founded in 1923 by New York City financiers W. Averell Harriman and Bert Walker who raced under orange and white silks. As part of a private purchase of twenty horses, in January 1925 Ha ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:47.00 , - , align=center, 1925 , Senalado , align=center, 3 , Edgar Barnes , Thomas J. Healey , Richard T. Wilson Jr. , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:46.20 , - , align=center, 1924 , Donaghee , align=center, 3 , Fred Sharpe , Joseph P. Smith , James W. Bean , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:46.20 , - , align=center, 1923 , Dunlin , align=center, 3 ,

Chick Lang Charles John "Chick" Lang (July 1905 – June 14, 1947) was a Canadian Hall of Fame jockey who became a National Champion rider in the United States and who won the most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race of both countries. Born in Hamilt ...

, J. Woods Garth , Joshua S. Cosden , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:49.00 , - , align=center, 1922 , Lucky Hour , align=center, 3 , Andy Schuttinger ,

Roy Waldron Roy J. Waldron (April 3, 1894 – May 15, 1963) was a batboy for the History of the St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Browns before he turned to Horse trainer, training Thoroughbred racehorses. He is best known for winning the 1940 Kentucky Derby with G ...

, Lexington Stable , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:46.60 , - , align=center, 1921 , Tryster , align=center, 3 ,

James G. Rowe Sr. James Gordon Rowe Sr. (1857 – August 2, 1929) was an American jockey and horse trainer elected to the Hall of Fame for Thoroughbred Horse racing. He won the Belmont Stakes twice as a jockey and 8 times as a trainer. He had 34 champion horses t ...

Harry Payne Whitney Harry Payne Whitney (April 29, 1872 – October 26, 1930) was an American businessman, thoroughbred horse breeding, horse breeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family. Early years Whitney was born in New York City on April 29, 1872, as ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:46.40 , - , align=center, 1920 ,

, align=center, 3 ,

Louis Feustel Louis C. Feustel (January 2, 1884 – July 7, 1970) was an American Thoroughbred horse race, Thoroughbred horse racing National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame horse trainer, trainer best known as the trainer of Man o' War. The Au ...

Glen Riddle Farm Glen Riddle Farm was a large horse farm in Berlin, Maryland in the United States. Located on what today is Route 50 between Ocean City and Berlin, it was owned by a wealthy textile businessman Samuel D. Riddle who named it for his home town G ...

, align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:44.80 , - , align=center, 1919 ,

, align=center, 3 , Tommy Nolan , H. Guy Bedwell ,

J. K. L. Ross Commander John Kenneth Leveson "Jack" Ross, Order of the British Empire, CBE (31 March 1876 – 25 July 1951) was a Canadian businessman, sportsman, thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse owner/breeder, and philanthropist. He is best remembered ...

, align=center, 1{{Frac, 1, 16 M , align=center, 1:46.40 , - , align=center, 1918 , Be Frank , align=center, 2 ,

, William Jennings Jr. , Calumet Stable (Cornelius M. Garrison) , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:39.20 , - , align=center, 1917 , Recount , align=center, 2 , Andy Schuttinger , A. J. Goldsborough , Andrew Miller , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:41.60 , - , align=center, 1916 , Bondage , align=center, 2 , R. Ball , Clyde S. Phillips , James Arthur , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:40.00 , - , align=center, 1915 , King Neptune , align=center, 2 , Clarence Turner , B. B. Larrick , John S. Tyree , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:43.20 , - , align=center, 1914 , Sharpshooter , align=center, 2 , Kenneth Karrick , William H. Karrick , Schuyler L. Parsons , align=center, 1 M , align=center, 1:39.40 , -

References

''New York Times'' article on the 1921 Potomac Handicap
Horse races in Maryland Discontinued horse races in the United States Laurel Park Racecourse Pimlico Race Course Havre de Grace Racetrack 1914 establishments in Maryland 1948 disestablishments in Maryland Horse races established in 1914 Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1948