Ladies Handicap

The Ladies Handicap is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for Fillies and Mares four years of age and older that is held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares. An unlisted stakes race, it is currently run on New Years Day (or near enough) and currently offers a purse of $100,000 added.

From its beginnings in 1868 through 1912 the race was restricted to three-year-old fillies then from 1913 through 1938 it was made open to fillies of any age. Since 1939 it has been open to older fillies and mares. There was no race in 1895 and again in 1911 and 1912 when a New York ban on parimutuel betting shut down all racing in the state. In 2006 the race was not run due to a shortage of entrants and as a result of a NYRA financial reorganization, was not run in 2009.

The Ladies Handicap has been won by some notable females in American racing history including Hall of Fame inductees Firenze, Miss Woodford, Beldame, Maskette, Top Flight and Shuvee.

The Ladies Handicap has also been run at:

Since inception, it has been raced at various distances: