Merchants and Citizens Handicap

{{Infobox horseraces | class = Discontinued stakes | horse race = Merchants and Citizens Handicap | website = | image = | caption = | location = [[Saratoga Race Course]] [[Saratoga Springs, New York]], United States | inaugurated = 1900–1960 | race type = [[Thoroughbred]] – [[Flat racing]] | distance = {{frac|1|3|4}} miles (14 furlongs) | surface = Dirt | track = left-handed | qualification = Three-years-old and up | weight = | purse = | bonuses = }}

The '''Merchants and Citizens Handicap''' is a discontinued American [[Thoroughbred horse race]] which was first run in 1900 at [[Saratoga Race Course]] in [[Saratoga Springs, New York]]. Open to horses aged three and older, it was contested on dirt. The inaugural event was won by Orville Richards' [[gelding]] Charentus and the final running in 1960 by Gustave Ring's Don Poggio.<ref>{{cite web|author=University of Kentucky archives|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1919082301/drf1919082301_1_4 |title=Merchants and Citizens Handicap, Leading Attractions at Saratoga Today|work=Daily Racing Form|date=August 23, 1919 |accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Greeley Daily Tribune, Greeley Daily Tribune, Greeley, Colorado|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/25038446/ |title=Merchants and Citizens Handicap, Don Poggio|work=Greeley Daily Tribune|date=August 27, 1960 |accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref> In between them, some of the races most notable winners include [[National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame|U.S. Racing Hall of Fame]] inductees [[Roamer (horse)|Roamer]], [[Sir Barton]], [[Exterminator (horse)|Exterminator]] (1921) and [[Discovery (horse)|Discovery]] (1935).<ref>{{cite web|author=National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame |url=https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/horses |title=Hall of Fame – Horses|work=The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame|date=|accessdate=9 October 2018}}</ref>

The 1919 [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)|U. S. Triple Crown]] winner Sir Barton set a world record of 1:55 3/5 for 1 3/16 miles on dirt in winning the August 28, 1920 edition of the Merchants and Citizens Handicap.<ref>{{cite web|author=Special to The New York Times. |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E02E1DC103FE432A2575AC2A96E9C946195D6CF |title=Sir Barton Sets New World Mark |work=The New York Times |date=August 29, 1920 |accessdate=30 November 2011}}</ref>

==Records== '''Speed record:''' * 2:55.80 – Don Poggio (1960) at 1{{Frac|3|4}} miles * 1:54.60 – [[Reveille Boy]] (1932) at 1{{Frac|3|16}}

'''Most wins:''' * 2 – Herbert (1901, 1902) * 2 – Sir John Johnson (1909, 1910)

'''Most wins by a [[jockey]]:''' * 6 – [[Ted Atkinson]] (1943, 1945, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1955)

'''Most wins by a [[Horse trainer|trainer]]:''' * 6 – [[James E. Fitzsimmons]] (1914, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1940, 1941)

'''Most wins by an owner:''' * 4 – [[Belair Stud]] (1930, 1934, 1940, 1941)

==Winners== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%" |- ! style="width:30px" | Year ! style="width:110px" | Winner ! style="width:30px" | Age ! style="width:110px" | Jockey ! style="width:130px" | Trainer ! Owner ! style="width:25px" | Dist. ([[Mile]]s) ! style="width:25px" | Time |- |align=center|1960 |Don Poggio |align=center|4 |[[Sam Boulmetis Sr.]] |[[Pancho Martin]] |[[Gustave Ring]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|4}} M |align=center|2:55.80 |- |align=center|1959 |Cross Channel |align=center|5 |[[Manuel Ycaza]] |[[Edward A. Christmas]] |Howell E. Jackson |align=center|1{{Frac|3|4}} M |align=center|2:56.00 |- |align=center|1958 |Civet |align=center|5 |Raul Sterling |T. F. McMahon |Byrnalnan Stable |align=center|1{{Frac|3|4}} M |align=center|2:58.80 |- |align=center|1957 |Admiral Vee |align=center|5 |Willie Lester |[[H. Allen Jerkens]] |Edward Seinfeld |align=center|1{{Frac|3|4}} M |align=center|2:59.60 |- |align=center|1956 |[[Thinking Cap (horse)|Thinking Cap]] |align=center|4 |[[Paul J. Bailey]] |[[Henry S. Clark]] |[[Jane du Pont Lunger|Christiana Stables]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|4}} M |align=center|3:02.80 |- |align=center|1955 |First Aid |align=center|5 |[[Ted Atkinson]] |[[Preston M. Burch]] |[[Brookmeade Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1954 |Capeador |align=center|4 |[[Nick Shuk]] |[[Preston M. Burch]] |Brookmeade Stable |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1953 |[[One Hitter]] |align=center|7 |Ted Atkinson |[[John M. Gaver Sr.]] |[[Greentree Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.60 |- |align=center|1952 |[[Crafty Admiral]] |align=center|4 |[[Eric Guerin]] |[[Robert B. Odom]] |Charfran Stable (Charles & Frances Cohen) |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.40 |- |align=center|1951 |County Delight |align=center|4 |Eric Guerin |[[James E. Ryan (horse trainer)|James E. Ryan]] |[[Rokeby Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.40 |- |align=center|1950 |My Request |align=center|5 |Ted Atkinson |[[James P. Conway]] |[[Ben F. Whitaker|Florence Whitaker]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.60 |- |align=center|1949 |Chains |align=center|4 |[[Gordon Glisson]] |[[Preston M. Burch]] |Brookmeade Stable |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.20 |- |align=center|1948 |Beauchef |align=center|5 |[[Ruperto Donoso]] |[[Robert B. Odom]] |Andes Stable |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:59.00 |- |align=center|1947 |Loyal Legion |align=center|3 |Ted Atkinson |[[Oscar White]] |[[Walter M. Jeffords Sr.]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1946 |[[Lucky Draw]] |align=center|5 |[[Conn McCreary]] |[[Winbert F. Mulholland|Bert Mulholland]] |[[George D. Widener Jr.]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:55.40 |- |align=center|1945 |Coronal |align=center|5 |Ted Atkinson |[[George P. Odom|George P. "Maj" Odom]] |Dell Stables (Herman Delman) |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.20 |- |align=center|1944 |[[Princequillo]] |align=center|4 |[[George Woolf]] |[[Horatio Luro]] |[[Dimitri Djordjadze|Boone Hall Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.20 |- |align=center|1943 |Lochinvar |align=center|4 |Ted Atkinson |[[Andy Schuttinger]] |[[Joseph M. Roebling]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:55.00 |- |align=center|1942 |Olympus |align=center|7 |[[Don Meade]] |[[Eddie Hayward]] |Barrington Stable |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1941 |Fenelon |align=center|4 |[[James Stout]] |[[James E. Fitzsimmons]] |[[Belair Stud]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.80 |- |align=center|1940 |Isolater |align=center|7 |James Stout |[[James E. Fitzsimmons]] |Belair Stud |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.80 |- |align=center|1939 |Sickle T |align=center|4 |[[Ronnie Nash]] |Jack Howard |[[Ben F. Whitaker|Florence Whitaker]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.40 |- |align=center|1938 |Great Union |align=center|3 |[[Sam Renick]] |[[Louis Feustel]] |[[Elizabeth Arden|Elizabeth Graham Lewis]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.80 |- |align=center|1937 |[[Count Arthur]] |align=center|5 |[[Lester Balaski]] |Lon Johnson |[[John D. Hertz|Fannie Hertz]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1936 |[[Esposa]] |align=center|4 |[[Nick Wall]] |[[Matthew P. Brady]] |[[William Ziegler Jr.|Middleburg Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:00.40 |- |align=center|1935 |[[Discovery (horse)|Discovery]] |align=center|4 |[[John Bejshak]] |[[Joseph H. Stotler]] |[[Alfred G. Vanderbilt II]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.40 |- |align=center|1934 |[[Faireno]] |align=center|5 |[[Tommy Malley]] |[[James E. Fitzsimmons]] |Belair Stud |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.60 |- |align=center|1933 |[[Dark Secret (horse)|Dark Secret]] |align=center|4 |[[Hank Mills (jockey)|Hank Mills]] |[[James E. Fitzsimmons]] |[[Wheatley Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.40 |- |align=center|1932 |[[Reveille Boy]] |align=center|5 |[[Raymond Workman]] |John A. Best |John A. Best |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:54.60 |- |align=center|1931 |Curate |align=center|5 |[[Mack Garner]] |[[Peter W. Coyne]] |[[Joseph E. Widener]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.60 |- |align=center|1930 |Frisius |align=center|4 |[[Whitey Abel]] |[[James E. Fitzsimmons]] |Belair Stud |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.60 |- |align=center|1929 |[[Petee-Wrack]] |align=center|4 |[[John Maiben]] |[[William M. Booth]] |[[John R. Macomber]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:02.20 |- |align=center|1928 |[[Chance Shot]] |align=center|4 |[[Earl Sande]] |[[Peter W. Coyne]] |Joseph E. Widener |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:03.20 |- |align=center|1927 |[[Chance Play]] |align=center|4 |Earl Sande |[[John I. Smith]] |[[W. Averell Harriman|Arden Farm Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:59.20 |- |align=center|1926 |Flagstaff |align=center|6 |[[Laverne Fator]] |[[Willie Knapp]] |La Brae Stable (H. H. Cotton) |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:59.00 |- |align=center|1925 |Spot Cash |align=center|5 |John Maiben |[[James W. Healy]] |[[Albert C. Bostwick Jr.]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1924 |Sunsini |align=center|4 |[[Willie Kelsay]] |[[Frank M. Bray]] |Lilane Stable (Mrs. William L. Walker) |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:05.20 |- |align=center|1923 |[[Bunting (American horse)|Bunting]] |align=center|4 |[[Clarence Kummer]] |[[James G. Rowe Sr.]] |[[Harry Payne Whitney]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.40 |- |align=center|1922 |Devastation |align=center|4 |Laverne Fator |[[Max Hirsch]] |Stephen Petit |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:05.00 |- |align=center|1921 |[[Exterminator (horse)|Exterminator]] |align=center|6 |[[Willie Kelsay]] |[[Willie Knapp]] |[[Willis Sharpe Kilmer]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.40 |- |align=center|1920 |[[Sir Barton]] |align=center|4 |Earl Sande |[[H. Guy Bedwell]] |[[J. K. L. Ross]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:55.60 |- |align=center|1919 |[[Cudgel (horse)|Cudgel]] |align=center|5 |Earl Sande |[[H. Guy Bedwell]] |J. K. L. Ross |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:57.40 |- |align=center|1918 |Midway |align=center|4 |[[Harold Thurber]] |John S. Ward |[[James W. Parrish]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:56.20 |- |align=center|1917 |Clematis |align=center|4 |[[Merritt C. Buxton]] |Thomas M. Murphy |Oscar Lewisohn |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:02.40 |- |align=center|1916 |[[The Finn]] |align=center|4 |[[Andy Schuttinger]] |Edward W. Heffner |[[Harry C. Hallenbeck]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1915 |[[Roamer (horse)|Roamer]] |align=center|4 |[[James Butwell]] |[[Andrew J. Goldsborough]] |[[Andrew Miller (publisher)|Andrew Miller]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:59.00 |- |align=center|1914 |Star Gaze |align=center|4 |[[John McTaggart (jockey)|John McTaggart]] |[[James E. Fitzsimmons]] |Herbert L. Pratt |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:03.80 |- |align=center|1913 |[[Sam Jackson (horse)|Sam Jackson]] |align=center|5 |Tommy Davies |Jack L. McGinnis |V. M. McGinnis |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:01.60 |- bgcolor="#eeeeee" |align=center|1911 | – 1912 |align=center colspan=8| ''No racing due to [[Hart–Agnew Law]]'' |- |align=center|1910 |Sir John Johnson |align=center|5 |[[George Archibald (jockey)|George Archibald]] |David Woodford |Beverwyck Stable (Frank J. Nolan) |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:01.60 |- |align=center|1909 |Sir John Johnson |align=center|4 |James Butler Jr. |David Woodford |Beverwyck Stable (Frank J. Nolan) |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.00 |- |align=center|1908 |Dandelion |align=center|6 |[[Carroll H. Shilling|Carroll Shilling]] |[[John E. Madden]] |[[Francis R. Hitchcock]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.80 |- |align=center|1907 |[[Running Water (horse)|Running Water]] |align=center|4 |[[Walter Miller (jockey)|Walter Miller]] |[[Thomas Welsh (horse trainer)|Thomas Welsh]] |[[Newcastle Stable]] |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|1:58.40 |- |align=center|1906 |Red Leaf |align=center|4 |Charles Koerner |[[J. Oliver Keene]] |J. Oliver Keene |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:02.00 |- |align=center|1905 |Outcome |align=center|4 |Harry W. Baird |[[Woodford Clay]] |Woodford Clay |align=center|1{{Frac|3|16}} M |align=center|2:02.60 |- |align=center|1904 |Molly Brant |align=center|4 |[[George M. Odom]] |Hubert H. Hyner |[[John Sanford (1851)|John Sanford]] |align=center|1{{Frac|1|8}} M |align=center|1:51.60 |- |align=center|1903 |[[Hermis]] |align=center|4 |George M. Odom |William Shields |[[Edward Russell Thomas|Edward R. Thomas]] |align=center|1{{Frac|1|8}} M |align=center|1:51.60 |- |align=center|1902 |[[Herbert (horse)|Herbert]] |align=center|5 |Lewis Smith |[[Walter C. Rollins]] |Walter C. Rollins |align=center|1{{Frac|1|8}} M |align=center|1:56.40 |- |align=center|1901 |[[Herbert (horse)|Herbert]] |align=center|4 |Lewis Smith |[[Walter C. Rollins]] |Walter C. Rollins |align=center|1{{Frac|1|8}} M |align=center|1:51.20 |- |align=center|1900 |[[Charentus]] |align=center|6 |[[Willie Shaw (jockey)|Willie Shaw]] |[[Jim McLaughlin (jockey)|Jim McLaughlin]] |Orville L. Richards |align=center|1{{Frac|1|16}} M |align=center|1:45.50 |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:1900 establishments in New York (state)]] [[Category:Discontinued horse races in New York (state)]] [[Category:Saratoga Race Course]] [[Category:Open middle distance horse races]] [[Category:Open long distance horse races]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1900]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1961]]