# Municipal Handicap

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American horse race

Horse race

Municipal Handicap Class Discontinued stakes Location Morris Park Racecourse, The Bronx, New York (1895–1904) Belmont Park, Elmont, New York (1905–1918) Inaugurated 1895–1918 Race type Thoroughbred – Flat racing Race information Distance 1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs) Surface Dirt Track left-handed Qualification Three-years-old & older

The **Municipal Handicap** was an American [Thoroughbred horse race](/source/Thoroughbred_racing) for horses of either sex age three and older. It was held at [Morris Park Racecourse](/source/Morris_Park_Racecourse) in [The Bronx](/source/The_Bronx), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)) from inception in 1895 through 1904 when the racetrack closed. It was then run at the newly built [Belmont Park](/source/Belmont_Park) from 1905 to 1909 then revived in 1914 and run until 1918 when the race was discontinued.[1][2]

## Historical race notes

### Ben Holladay's greatness

Eastin & Larabie won this race three straight years from 1897 through 1899 with their outstanding distance runner [Ben Holladay](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Holladay_(horse)&action=edit&redlink=1) who won his first Municipal Handicap under jockey [Alonzo Clayton](/source/Alonzo_Clayton) in which he set a new world record time of 2:59+1⁄4 for a mile and three-quarters. Ben Holladay's owner was a racing and breeding partnership created in 1886 between [Montana](/source/Montana) banker and financier Samuel E. Larabie and Augustus Eastin, a wealthy [Kentucky](/source/Kentucky) businessman.[3] Following his 1899 season, the [Wellington](/source/Wellington) *New Zealand Mail* newspaper, reporting on racing in the United States, wrote that "Ben Holladay has proved himself this year to be by far the best long-distance horse in America" and quoting a front-page story in [New York City](/source/New_York_City)'s *[Spirit of the Times](/source/Spirit_of_the_Times)* said that he is described as "the greatest Cup horse of the decade."[4]

[Henry of Navarre](/source/Henry_of_Navarre_(horse)), [Fair Play](/source/Fair_Play_(horse)) and [Roamer](/source/Roamer_(horse)) were winners of the Municipal Handicap who would have careers that resulted in their induction into the [U.S. Racing Hall of Fame](/source/National_Museum_of_Racing_and_Hall_of_Fame).[5][6][7]

## The Hart–Agnew Law: a disaster for racing

On June 11, 1908, the [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))-controlled [New York Legislature](/source/New_York_Legislature) under [Governor](/source/Governor_of_New_York) [Charles Evans Hughes](/source/Charles_Evans_Hughes) passed the [Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation](/source/Hart%E2%80%93Agnew_Law) with penalties allowing for fines and up to a year in prison.[8]

In spite of strong opposition by prominent owners such as [August Belmont, Jr.](/source/August_Belmont%2C_Jr.) and [Harry Payne Whitney](/source/Harry_Payne_Whitney), reform legislators were not happy when they learned that betting was still going on at racetracks between individuals and they had further restrictive legislation passed by the New York Legislature in 1910 [9] that made it possible for racetrack owners and members of its [board of directors](/source/Board_of_directors) to be fined and imprisoned if anyone was found betting, even privately, anywhere on their premises. After a 1911 amendment to the law to limit the liability of owners and directors was defeated,[10] every racetrack in New York State shut down. The consequences of this law meant the Municipal Handicap was not run from 1910 through 1913.

## Records

**Speed record:**

- 2:57 0/0 @ 1+3⁄4 miles, Major Daingerfield (1903)

- 2:33 2/5 @ 1+1⁄2 miles, Sunny Slope (1918)

- 2:04 0/0 @ 1+1⁄4 miles, [Roamer](/source/Roamer_(horse)) (1914)

**Most wins:**

- 3 – [Ben Holladay](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Holladay_(horse)&action=edit&redlink=1) (1897, 1898, 1899)

**Most wins by a [jockey](/source/Jockey):**

- 3 – [George M. Odom](/source/George_M._Odom) (1900, 1902, 1903)

- 3 – [Willie Knapp](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willie_Knapp_(jockey)&action=edit&redlink=1) (1905, 1906, 1907)

**Most wins by a [trainer](/source/Horse_trainer):**

- 3 – [Peter Wimmer](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peter_Wimmer&action=edit&redlink=1) (1897, 1898, 1899)

**Most wins by an owner:**

- 3 – Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie (1897, 1898, 1899)

## Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$ 1918 Sunny Slope 3 John Callahan Richard F. Carman Beach Stable (Richard F. Carman, et al.) 11⁄2 M 2:33.40 $2,150 1917 Clematis 4 Merritt C. Buxton John Whalen Oscar Lewisohn 11⁄2 M 2:34.00 $2,325 1916 Stromboli 5 John McTaggart Sam Hildreth August Belmont Jr. 11⁄2 M 2:39.00 $2,175 1915 Borrow 7 Joe Notter James G. Rowe Sr. Lewis S. Thompson 11⁄4 M 2:05.00 $1,875 1914 Roamer 3 James Butwell A. J. Goldsborough Andrew Miller 11⁄4 M 2:04.00 $2,150 1913 Race not held 1912 No races held due to the Hart–Agnew Law. 1911 1910 Race not held 1909 Olambala 3 James Butwell T. J. Healey Montpelier Stable 13⁄4 M 2:58.60 $1,060 1908 Fair Play 3 James Lee A. Jack Joyner August Belmont Jr. 13⁄4 M 2:58.00 $3,525 1907 Nealon 4 Willie Knapp Frank M. Taylor Patchogue Stable (William H. DuBois) 13⁄4 M 2:58.80 $3,945 1906 Dishabille 4 Willie Knapp Charles A. Mulholland George C. Bennett 13⁄4 M 2:57.60 $3,230 1905 St. Bellane 3 Willie Knapp Richard E. Watkins Edward R. Thomas 13⁄4 M 2:59.60 $2,820 1904 Gunfire 5 Willie Shaw John W. Rogers Herman B. Duryea 13⁄4 M 2:59.50 $2,850 1903 Major Daingerfield 4 George M. Odom John E. Madden William B. Leeds Sr. & Andrew Miller 13⁄4 M 2:57.00 $2,805 1902 Advance Guard 5 George M. Odom Alexander Shields Alexander Shields & James Carruthers 13⁄4 M 3:00.00 $2,730 1901 Latson 6 Otto Wonderly John Hynes Gottfried Walbaum 13⁄4 M 2:58.50 $3,495 1900 Ethelbert 4 George M. Odom A. Jack Joyner Perry Belmont 13⁄4 M 2:58.50 $3,125 1899 Ben Holladay 6 Henry Spencer Peter Wimmer Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie 13⁄4 M 3:00.50 $3,325 1898 Ben Holladay 5 Tommy Burns Peter Wimmer Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie 13⁄4 M 3:01.50 $2,750 1897 Ben Holladay 4 Alonzo Clayton Peter Wimmer Augustus Eastin & Samuel E. Larabie 13⁄4 M 2:59.25 $2,250 1896 Sir Walter 6 Samuel Doggett Walter C. Rollins Oneck Stable 13⁄4 M 3:05.00 $1,950 1895 Henry of Navarre 4 Henry Griffin John J. Hyland Blemton Stable 13⁄4 M 3:02.00 $2,400

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Condensed History of the Municipal Handicap"](https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908101001/drf1908101001_1_7). *Daily Racing Form*. 1908-10-10. Retrieved 2019-02-06 – via University of Kentucky Archives.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Borrow in Front Again: Takes the Municipal Handicap"](https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1915090201/drf1915090201_1_2). *Daily Racing Form*. 1915-09-02. Retrieved 2019-02-06 – via University of Kentucky Archives.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Three Forks News – August 8, 1922](http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SG9FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eLwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=900,3629968&dq=willow-run-stock-farm+larabie&hl=en)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Turf Topics"](https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/). The New Zealand Mail, page 20. 1899-01-12. Retrieved 2019-02-11.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Henry of Navarre"](https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/henry-navarre). Racingmuseum.org. 1985-01-01. Retrieved 2019-05-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Fair Play"](https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/fair-play). Racingmuseum.org. 1956-01-01. Retrieved 2019-05-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Roamer"](https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/roamer). Racingmuseum.org. 1981-01-01. Retrieved 2019-05-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Penalties in the New York Bills"](https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908011801/drf1908011801_1_7). *Daily Racing Form*. 1908-01-18. Retrieved 2018-10-26 – via University of Kentucky Archives.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Liebman, Bennett (May 24, 2009). ["The First American Triple Crown Series"](https://therail.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/the-first-american-triple-crown-series/). *The Rail*. Retrieved September 2, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Race Track Bill Defeated In Senate; Measure Modifying Directors' Liability for Gambling Fails of Passage"](https://www.nytimes.com/1911/07/14/archives/race-track-bill-defeated-in-senate-measure-modifying-directors.html). *The New York Times*. July 14, 1911. Retrieved September 2, 2017.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Municipal Handicap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_Handicap) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_Handicap?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.