Harman Patil (Editor)

Metropolitan Handicap

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Inaugurated
  
1891

Track
  
left-handed

Purse
  
1.25 million USD (2014–)

Surface
  
Dirt

Distance
  
1,609 m

Metropolitan Handicap httpsiytimgcomviFgM1nE3Tjshqdefaultjpg

Location
  
Belmont Park Elmont, New York, USA

Race type
  
Thoroughbred - Flat racing

Website
  
www.nyra.com/index_belmont.html

Frosted 2016 metropolitan handicap


The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile," is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs). Starting in 2014, it is now run on the same day as the Belmont Stakes.

Contents

Honor code 2015 metropolitan handicap g1


History

The Met Mile was first run in 1891 at Morris Park Racetrack. Prior to 1897, it was run at a distance of  1 1⁄8 miles. In 1904, its location was moved to Belmont Park. There it remained except for nine years; 1960 to 1967, 1969, and 1975 when it was hosted by Aqueduct Racetrack. It was not run in 1895, 1911, and 1912.

The Met Mile was the first of three races in the New York Handicap Triple series, followed by the Suburban Handicap and Brooklyn Handicap. Four horses have won the Handicap Triple:

  • Whisk Broom II (1913)
  • Tom Fool (1953)
  • Kelso (1961)
  • Fit to Fight (1984)

    • The Met Mile and the Brooklyn are now run on the same day as part of the Belmont Stakes undercard, so it is no longer possible to complete the Handicap Triple.

    There was a Dead Heat for first in 1905.

    Records

    Time record:

  • 1:32.73 - Frosted (2016)

    • Most wins

  • 3 - Devil Diver (1943, 1944, 1945)
  • Equipoise won the race in 1932 and 1933 then after winning again in 1934, was disqualified.
  • Four other horses have officially won the Met Mile twice: Gulch (1987, 1988); Forego (1976, 1977); Stymie (1947, 1948); and Mad Hatter (1921, 1922).

    • Most wins by an owner

  • 6 - Greentree Stable (1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1953, 1963)

    • Most wins by a jockey

  • 5 - John Velazquez (1996, 1999, 2010, 2012, 2014)

    • Most wins by a trainer

  • 6 - John M. Gaver, Sr. (1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1953, 1963)

    • References

    Metropolitan Handicap Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA