Knickerbocker Handicap
Encyclopedia
The Knickerbocker Handicap is an American Grade III
race on turf
for Thoroughbred
horses run each year at Aqueduct Racetrack
in Queens, New York. The Knickerbocker is open to three-year-olds and up, and set at a distance of one mile and one furlong
. (One and one-eighth of a mile.) Run in late October, it currently offers a purse of $100,000 added.
The Knickerbocker is named for a fictional character, Diedrich Knickerbocker, from Washington Irving
's Knickerbocker History of New York a spoof on the imagined colony of New Netherland.
Other than Aqueduct, the race was run at Belmont Park
in 1962, 1975, 2001, 2009, and 2011. Set at a mile and five eighths in 1960, 1961, and from 1971 to 1974; at a mile and three sixteenths from 1963 to 1969; at a mile and five sixteenths in 1970; at a mile and three eighths in 1962, 1975, 1976, and from 1978 to 1986; and at a mile and a quarter in 1995 and 2001. It was run at a mile and an eighth all other years. It was also run in two divisions in 1963, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985.
T.V. Lark
won this race in its second running, 1961.
Jockey
Jean Cruguet
has won this race seven times: 1992, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1978, and both divisions in 1977.
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
race on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
for Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horses run each year at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in Queens, New York. The Knickerbocker is open to three-year-olds and up, and set at a distance of one mile and one furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
. (One and one-eighth of a mile.) Run in late October, it currently offers a purse of $100,000 added.
The Knickerbocker is named for a fictional character, Diedrich Knickerbocker, from Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
's Knickerbocker History of New York a spoof on the imagined colony of New Netherland.
Other than Aqueduct, the race was run at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in 1962, 1975, 2001, 2009, and 2011. Set at a mile and five eighths in 1960, 1961, and from 1971 to 1974; at a mile and three sixteenths from 1963 to 1969; at a mile and five sixteenths in 1970; at a mile and three eighths in 1962, 1975, 1976, and from 1978 to 1986; and at a mile and a quarter in 1995 and 2001. It was run at a mile and an eighth all other years. It was also run in two divisions in 1963, 1967, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985.
T.V. Lark
T.V. Lark
T.V. Lark was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse owned by Chase McCoy of CR Mac Stables and trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame member, William Molter.At age two, T.V. Lark won the Arlington Futurity...
won this race in its second running, 1961.
Jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Jean Cruguet
Jean Cruguet
Jean Cruguet is an French-American thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing....
has won this race seven times: 1992, 1988, 1986, 1985, 1978, and both divisions in 1977.
Past winners
- 2011 - Boisterous (4) (John Velazquez)
- 2010 - Violon Sacre (5) (Pablo Fragoso)
- 2009 - Operation Red Dawn (7) (Rajiv MaraghRajiv MaraghRajiv Maragh is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. An Indo-Jamaican, he is the son of a jockey who rode in Jamaica before relocating to Florida where he began a career as a horse trainer....
) - 2008 - Formal Decree (5) (Jean-Luc SamynJean-Luc SamynJean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...
) - 2007 - Fishy Advice (5) (Javier CastellanoJavier CastellanoJavier Castellano is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.Castellano began his riding career in his native Venezuela in 1996 and in June 1997 moved to the United States where rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001 when he moved to race on the New York State racing circuit.In...
) - 2006 - Drum Major (4) (Joe BravoJoe Bravo (jockey)Joe Bravo is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. The son and grandson of jockeys, he began his professional career in Thoroughbred flat racing at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida during the latter end of 1988.According to his NTRA profile, Joe Bravo has dominated the New...
) - 2005 - Atlando (IRE) (4) (Jerry Bailey)
- 2004 - Host (CHI) (4) (Christopher DeCarlo)
- 2003 - Better Talk NowBetter Talk NowBetter Talk Now is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Out of the mare Bendita, his damsire Baldski is a son of English Triple Crown Champion Nijinsky...
(4) (Edgar Prado) - 2002 - Dawn of the Condor (5) (Jorge Chavez)
- 2001 - Sumitas (5) (Edgar Prado)
- 2000 - Chargé d'Affaires (5) (Jose SantosJosé SantosJose Abon Santos is a retired Chilean thoroughbred jockey who has been honored by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the United States.-Career:...
) - 1999 - Chargé d'Affaires (4) (Jose Santos)
- 1998 - Sahm (4) (John Velazquez)
- 1997 - Sir Cat (4) (Mike E. Smith)
- 1996 - Mr. Bluebird (5) (Mike E. Smith)
- 1995 - Diplomatic Jet (3) (Mike E. Smith)
- 1994 - Kiri's Clown (5) (Mike LuzziMike LuzziMichael Jude Luzzi is an American jockey. He grew up near Delaware Park Racetrack where his grandfather, trainer Buddy Raines, had a major role in raising him and his brother John who also became a jockey...
) - 1993 - River Majesty (4) (Mike E. Smith)
- 1992 - Binary Light (3) (Jean CruguetJean CruguetJean Cruguet is an French-American thoroughbred horse racing jockey who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing....
) - 1991 - Home of the Free (3) (John Velazquez)
- 1990 - Who's To Pay (4) (Jerry Bailey)
- 1989 - Trans Banner (4) (Jean-Luc SamynJean-Luc SamynJean-Luc Samyn is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.The son of a pastry chef, Jean-Luc Samyn was one of three children. At age thirteen, he went to work for the stable of trainer John Cunnington at Chantilly, a racecourse about north of Paris city center...
) - 1988 - Jimmy's Bronco (4) (Jean Cruguet)
- 1987 - Laser Lane (4) (Jose Santos)
- 1986 - Duluth (4) (Jean Cruguet)
- 1985 - Putting Green (5) (Eddie MapleEddie MapleEdward Retz "Eddie" Maple is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. One of eight brothers and sisters, he was an older brother to jockey Sam Maple who won more than 2,500 races. He began riding horses at age 12 and won his first race as a professional at 17...
) - 1985 - Rocamadour II (6) (Jean Cruguet)
- 1984 - He's Vivacious (4) (Robbie DavisRobbie DavisRobbie Glen Davis is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.-Early life:Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life....
) - 1983 - Four Bases (4) (Robert Thibeau Jr.)
- 1983 - Piling (5) (Eddie Maple)
- 1982 - Half Iced (3) (Don MacBethDon MacBethDonald MacBeth was a Canadian jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.Born in Red Deer, Alberta, Macbeth rode horses at Alberta racetracks before going to race in the United States. Among horses of note, he rode Deputy Minister, winner of the 1981 Sovereign and Eclipse awards for Outstanding...
) - 1982 - If Winter Comes (4) (Michael Venezia)
- 1981 - Euphrosyne (5) Richard MiglioreRichard Migliore (jockey)Richard Migliore is a retired American jockey whose mounts have ranged from Fourstardave to Wando to Funny Cide to Kip Deville to Hidden Lake to Desert Code....
) - 1981 - Ghazwan (4) (Constantino Hernandez)
- 1980 - Foretake (4) (John RuaneJohn RuaneJohn V. Ruane was an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.Ruane began his career in 1957, competing on the New York State racing circuit where he rode for noted U.S. Racing Hall of Fame horse trainers such as John M. Gaver, Sr. and H. Allen Jerkens...
) - 1980 - Lobsang II (4) (Michael Venezia)
- 1979 - French Colonial (4) (Jacinto Vasquez)
- 1978 - Fluorescent Light (4) (Jean Cruguet)
- 1977 - Dance d'Espoir (5) (Jean Cruguet)
- 1977 - Keep the Promise (5) (Jean Cruguet)
- 1976 - Javamine (3) (Jorge VelasquezJorge VelasquezJorge Velásquez is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.Jorge Velasquez career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States...
) - 1976 - Oilfield (3) (Sandy HawleySandy HawleyDesmond Sanford "Sandy" Hawley, CM is a Hall of Fame jockey.Sandy Hawley started out as a plumber then later decided to be a jockey. He started his career as a jockey when he was a 17-year-old boy, hotwalking horses at a Toronto racetrack...
) - 1975 - Shady Character (4) (Angel Cordero Jr.Angel Cordero Jr.Angel Tomas Cordero, Jr. , is one of the leading thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of all time and the only Puerto Rican to date to be inducted into the United States' Racing Hall of Fame.-Early years:...
) - 1974 - Shady Character (3) (Angel Cordero Jr.)
- 1973 - Astray (4) (Chuck Baltazar)
- 1972 - Triangular (5) (John L. RotzJohn L. RotzJohn L. Rotz is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and an active World Champion in Western riding competitions....
) - 1971 - Fresh Alibhai (3) (John RuaneJohn RuaneJohn V. Ruane was an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.Ruane began his career in 1957, competing on the New York State racing circuit where he rode for noted U.S. Racing Hall of Fame horse trainers such as John M. Gaver, Sr. and H. Allen Jerkens...
) - 1970 - Mongo's Pride (3) (Carlos H. Marquez)
- 1969 - Vent du Nord (4) (Rudy L. Turcotte)
- 1969 - Zarco (3) (Ron TurcotteRon TurcotteRon Joseph Morel Turcotte, CM is a Hall of Fame thoroughbred race horse jockey best known as the rider of Secretariat, winner of the U.S. Triple Crown in 1973....
) - 1968 - Flit-To (5) (Manuel YcazaManuel YcazaManuel Ycaza is a retired United States Racing Hall of Fame jockey who led the way for Latin American jockeys in the United States....
) - 1967 - Dunderhead (4) (Ernest Cardone)
- 1967 - Flag (7) (Sandino Hernandez)
- 1966 - Rego (3) (Hedley WoodhouseHedley WoodhouseHedley John Woodhouse was a Canadian jockey who won the New York state riding championship in 1953. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he began his racing career there in 1937 at the Lansdowne Park racetrack as an apprentice with A.C.T. Stock Farm owned by industrialist Austin C. Taylor...
) - 1965 - Circus (4) (Mike Sorrentino)
- 1964 - Third Martini (5) (M. Ycaza)
- 1963 - Parka (5) (Bill Shoemaker)
- 1963 - Hellenic Hero (5) (Hedley Woodhouse)
- 1962 - The Axe II (4) (Bill Shoemaker)
- 1961 - T.V. LarkT.V. LarkT.V. Lark was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse owned by Chase McCoy of CR Mac Stables and trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame member, William Molter.At age two, T.V. Lark won the Arlington Futurity...
(4) (Johnny LongdenJohnny LongdenJohn Eric Longden was an American Hall of Fame jockey. He was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England but his father wanted to build a better life for his family so in 1909 emigrated to Canada, settling in Taber, Alberta. By 1912 Longden Sr. had saved enough money to send for his wife and young son...
) - 1960 - Quiz Star (4) (Bill Shoemaker)