New Rochelle Handicap

The New Rochelle Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run at a distance of seven furlongs on dirt in 1899 at Morris Park Racecourse in Westchester County, New York.^[1] When that racetrack closed in 1904 the race was transferred to Belmont Park in Elmont, New York where it remained through 1910 until further restrictions were added to the Hart-Agnew Law by the New York Legislature that ended all racing in New York State.^[2] Although racing returned in 1913, the New Rochelle Handicap was not run again until 1918 when the Empire Racing Association revived it at its Empire City Race Track in Yonkers, New York.^[3] The 1923 race was transferred to Belmont Park.^[4] In 1943, the race was moved to the Empire Racing Association's Jamaica Racetrack in Jamaica, New York which closed on August 2, 1959.^[5]

In its final decade, the New Rochelle Handicap was raced at a distance oif six furlongs.

Historical notes

• In winning the 1908 edition of the New Rochelle Handicap aboard James R. Keene's colt, jockey Joe Notter rode Restigouche to a new world record time for seven and a half furlongs on dirt.
• In 1918, Preakness Stakes winner War Cloud won the New Rochelle Handicap at a distance of one mile in the first year it was run at the Empire City Race Track.

References

1. New York Times - May 17, 1899
2. New York Times - May 24, 2009
3. New York Times - October 23, 1918
4. New York Times - October 21, 1923
5. New York Times - August 2, 1959