Richard E. Handlen (March 25, 1897 - June 2, 1963) was an American

Thoroughbred horse racing Thoroughbred racing is a sport and Horse industry, industry involving the Horse racing, 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 know ...

trainer whom the March 15, 1937 edition of the

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

called "one of the best trainers in America"

Racing career

Early in his career, Richard Handlen worked for U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer

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 ...

while he was in charge of William du Pont, Jr.'s

Foxcatcher Farm William du Pont Jr. (February 11, 1896 – December 31, 1965) was an English-born American businessman and banker, and a prominent figure in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing. He developed and designed more than 20 racing venues, including F ...

racing stable in the early 1930s. Handlen took over the Foxcatcher stable and began winning important races by 1935. He would remain in that position through 1960. In 1937, Richard Handlen became the only trainer in history to win the two most prestigious races in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious race ...

when he won the

Santa Anita Derby The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is currently run at a distance of miles on the dirt and carries a purse of . It is one of t ...

with Fairy Hill and the

Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up and was once considered the most important race for old ...

with

Rosemont Rosemont may refer to: People Rosemont is a surname. Notable people with this surname include: * David A. Rosemont, American television producer * Franklin Rosemont (1943–2009), American poet, artist, historian * Norman Rosemont (1924–2018), ...

. Through 2009, his record remains intact. The following year, Richard Handlen trained Dauber to a victory in the 1938 Preakness Stakes after finishing second in the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby () is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of . Colt (horse), Colts and geldin ...

. Dauber then went on to run second to

Pasteurized In food processing, pasteurization ( also pasteurisation) is a process of food preservation in which packaged foods (e.g., milk and fruit juices) are treated with mild heat, usually to less than , to eliminate pathogens and extend shelf life ...

in the

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...

. Richard Handlen was inducted into the Delaware Park Wall of Fame in 2016.

Champions

Richard Handlen conditioned Foxcatcher Farm horses to six American championships: * Fairy Chant - 1940

American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly The American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when both ...

(1940) and 1941

American Champion Older Female Horse The Eclipse Award for Champion Older Dirt Female Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a filly or mare, four years old and up, for performances on dirt and main track racing surfaces. In 1971, it became part of the ...

Parlo Parlo (April 12, 1951 – 1978) was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Background Bred by William du Pont, Jr. at his Walnut Hall Farm near Boyce, Virginia, she was out of the mare Fairy Palace and sired by the good British runner He ...

- 1954

and the 1954 and 1955

. *

Berlo Berlo (foaled April 10, 1957 in Virginia) was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Background Berlo was a brown mare bred by William duPont, Jr. at his Walnut Hall Farm near Boyce, Virginia. She was out of the mare Faberose, a daughter ...

- 1960 American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Wartime military service

Richard Handlen's military tombstone states that he served with the United States military in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

as part of the Farrier Medical Department. Richard Handlen was living in Florida at the time of his death in 1963.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Handle, Richard E. 1897 births 1963 deaths American racehorse trainers American military personnel of World War I