{{Short description|American Thoroughbred horse race}} {{Infobox horseraces | class = Discontinued | horse race = Riggs Handicap | website = | image = | caption = | location = Pimlico Race Course<br>Baltimore, Maryland, USA | inaugurated = 1926 - 2000 | race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing | distance = {{frac|1|1|2}} miles (12 furlongs) | surface = Turf | track = left-handed | qualification = Three-year-olds and up | weight = | purse = | bonuses = }}
The '''Riggs Handicap''' is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland which was first run in 1926 as a race for horses age three and older and named in honor of the late William P. Riggs, Secretary of the Maryland Jockey Club.<ref>[https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1920s/drf1926061101/drf1926061101_1_3 ''Daily Racing Form'' June 11, 1926 article titled "W. P. Riggs Memorial"] Retrieved August 8, 2018</ref>
The Riggs Handicap was run on dirt until 1949 when it was placed on hiatus. It was revived in 1956 as a race on turf. The race had its final running in 2000. Following the introduction of the Graded stakes system in the United States, the Riggs would be a Grade III event from 1973 through 1992.<ref>[http://www.pimlico.com/sites/www.pimlico.com/files/PDF/2016MJCStakesHistories.pdf Pimlico Race Course previously graded races] Retrieved August 8, 2018</ref>
Among the Riggs winners are Buck's Boy (1998); Little Bold John (1987, 1988), who won it twice on the turf;<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180809025825/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-05-24/sports/1998144186_1_buck-cetewayo-prado ''Baltimore Sun'' May 24, 1998 article titled "'Boy' has to work for Riggs win"] Retrieved August 8, 2018</ref><ref>[http://www.laurelpark.com/race-info/news/maryland-million-winner-little-bold-john-‘hated-lose’ Laurel Park article titled "Maryland Million Winner Little Bold John 'Hated to Lose"] Retrieved August 8, 2018</ref> and Ecole Etage (1975). On dirt, the race attracted top runners such as Pilaster (1949), Stymie (1945), Polynesian (1946), Double Jay, (1947), Seabiscuit (1937) in track record time, Crusader (1926) and Bostonian (1927) won it on dirt.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/77643811/ The Cumberland (Maryland) News November 18, 1949 page 30 article] Retrieved August 8, 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/seabiscuit Seabiscuit at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame] Retrieved August 8, 2018</ref><ref>[https://newspaperarchive.com/troy-record-nov-09-1946-p-19/ November 9, 1946 page 19 article titled Polynesian Wins Riggs Handicap] Retrieved August 8, 2018</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Discontinued horse races in Maryland Category:Pimlico Race Course Category:Horse races established in 1926 Category:1926 establishments in Maryland Category:2000 disestablishments in Maryland
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