# Wilson Handicap

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The **Wilson Handicap** was an American [Thoroughbred horse race](/source/Thoroughbred_horse_race) run from 1930 through 1958. Inaugurated as the Wilson Stakes at the [Saratoga Race Course](/source/Saratoga_Race_Course) in [Saratoga Springs, New York](/source/Saratoga_Springs,_New_York), it was named in honor of the late [Richard Thornton Wilson Jr.](/source/Richard_Thornton_Wilson_Jr.), a prominent Thoroughbred owner and president of Saratoga Race Course.

## Historical notes

The first running took place on August 2, 1930 and was contested at a distance of one mile (8 [furlongs](/source/Furlong)). It was won by the [Glen Riddle Farm](/source/Glen_Riddle_Farm) colt Battleship Gray who owned his sire, the legendary [Man o' War](/source/Man_o'_War).[1]

Due to government [wartime](/source/World_War_II) restrictions, the 1943 to 1945 runnings of the Wilson Stakes took place at [Belmont Park](/source/Belmont_Park).[2][3][4] In July 1954, the race was shifted permanently to [Jamaica Racetrack](/source/Jamaica_Racetrack) in [Jamaica, New York](/source/Jamaica,_New_York) where it was renamed the Wilson Handicap and run as a six furlong [sprint](/source/Horse_racing). The event remained at the Jamaica track through 1958 and was then canceled due to the closure of the Jamaica facility on August 1, 1959.[5]

In 1946 the future [Hall of Fame](/source/National_Museum_of_Racing_and_Hall_of_Fame) filly [Gallorette](/source/Gallorette) ran second in the Wilson Stakes but came back the next year to win the August 4, 1947 edition in a Saratoga track record time of 1:35 2/5 for the mile on dirt.[6] In 1948 Gallorette returned to compete and her second straight Wilson Stakes.[7]

The final running of the Wilson was held on July 29, 1958 and was won by Nahodah, a [Marion duPont Scott](/source/Marion_duPont_Scott) homebred [gelding](/source/Gelding).[8]

Seven horses that won the Wilson Stakes, [Devil Diver](/source/Devil_Diver), [Discovery](/source/Discovery_(horse)), [Eight Thirty](/source/Eight_Thirty), [Equipoise](/source/Equipoise_(horse)), [Gallorette](/source/Gallorette), [Tom Fool](/source/Tom_Fool), [War Admiral](/source/War_Admiral), all went on to have racing careers that would earn them induction into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame.

## Records

**Speed record:**

- 1:10.40 @ 6 furlongs : Nahodah (1950)
- 1:35.40 @ 1 mile (8 furlongs) : [Gallorette](/source/Gallorette) (1947)

**Most wins:**

- 2 - [Equipoise](/source/Equipoise_(horse)) (1932, 1933)
- 2 - [Discovery](/source/Discovery_(horse)) (1935, 1936)
- 2 - [Eight Thirty](/source/Eight_Thirty) (1939, 1940)
- 2 - [Gallorette](/source/Gallorette) (1947, 1948)
- 2 - [Tom Fool](/source/Tom_Fool) (1952, 1953)

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

- 5 - [Ted Atkinson](/source/Ted_Atkinson) (1944, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954)

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

- 6 - [John M. Gaver Sr.](/source/John_M._Gaver_Sr.) (1943, 1944, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)

**Most wins by an owner:**

- 6 - [Greentree Stable](/source/Greentree_Stable) (1943, 1944, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)

## Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Furlongs) (Miles) Time 1958 Nahodah 5 Joe Culmone Frank A. Bonsal Montpelier Stable 6 f 1:10.40 1957 Jovial Jove 4 Sam Boulmetis Sr. Charles P. Sanborn Bwamazon Farm 6 f 1:11.20 1956 Ambergris 4 Hedley Woodhouse Winbert F. Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 6 f 1:10.60 1955 Mr. Turf 6 James D. Nichols Francis J. Horan Jack J. Amiel 6 f 1:11.60 1954 First Glance 7 Hedley Woodhouse William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. 6 f 1:11.60 1953 Tom Fool 4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 m 1:37.20 1952 Tom Fool 3 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 m 1:39.40 1951 Hall of Fame 3 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 m 1:37.60 1950 Capot 4 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 m 1:38.40 1949 Manyunk 4 Gordon Glisson George E. Roberts Barney Foster & Henry W. Collins 1 m 1:40.00 1948 Gallorette 6 Job Dean Jessop Edward A. Christmas William L. Brann 1 m 1:38.40 1947 Gallorette 5 Job Dean Jessop Edward A. Christmas William L. Brann 1 m 1:35.40 1946 Pavot 4 Arnold Kirkland Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords Sr. 1 m 1:36.60 1945 Brownie 6 Eric Guerin John B. Theall John B. Theall 1 m 1:37.00 1944 Devil Diver 5 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 m 1:36.20 1943 Shut Out 4 Wayne D. Wright John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 m 1:36.40 1942 Apache 3 James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Stable 1 m 1:37.00 1941 Parasang 4 Basil James Edward L. Snyder Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1 m 1:38.80 1940 Eight Thirty 4 Harry Richards Winbert F. Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1 m 1:39.00 1939 Eight Thirty 3 Harry Richards Winbert F. Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1 m 1:37.00 1938 War Admiral 4 Charles Kurtsinger George H. Conway Glen Riddle Farm 1 m 1:39.40 1937 Esposa 5 Nick Wall Matthew P. Brady Middleburg Stable (William Ziegler Jr.) 1 m 1:38.40 1936 Discovery 5 John Bejshak Joseph H. Stotler Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. 1 m 1:38.80 1935 Discovery 4 John Bejshak Joseph H. Stotler Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. 1 m 1:37.20 1934 Observant 3 Silvio Coucci Max Hirsch Morton L. Schwartz 1 m 1:37.60 1933 Equipoise 5 Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1 m 1:39.00 1932 Equipoise 4 Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1 m 1:38.20 1931 Blind Bowboy 3 Laverne Fator Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 1 m 1:38.00 1930 Battleship Gray 4 Henry Erickson William R. Midgley Glen Riddle Farm 1 m 1:38.60

## References

1. ["1930s Wilson Stakes trophy cup won by Battleship Gray up for auction"](https://blog.timesunion.com/saratogaseen/1930s-wilson-stakes-trophy-cup-up-for-auction/29653/). [Times Union](/source/Times_Union_(Albany)). 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2020-08-20.

1. ["Shut Out, 4-1, Clips Stake Mark to Win Wilson At Belmont"](https://www.nytimes.com/1943/08/01/archives/shut-out-41-clips-stake-mark-to-win-wilson-at-belmont-greentree.html). New York Times, Section Financial, page 1. 1943-08-01. Retrieved 2020-08-20.

1. ["Devil Diver Races Today"](https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/). New York Times, page 17. 1944-08-26. Retrieved 2020-08-20.

1. ["Brownie Wins by Half-Length in Wilson Stakes at Belmont Before 29535"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/58752748/). [The Troy Record](/source/The_Record_(Troy)), page 13. 1945-08-08. Retrieved 2020-08-19.

1. Nichols, Joseph C. (August 2, 1959). ["Babu First as Jamaica Closes"](https://www.nytimes.com/1959/08/02/archives/babu-first-as-jamaica-closes-jamin-takes-trot-sword-dancer-2d.html). *The New York Times*. p. S1. Retrieved 2009-10-11.

1. ["Gallorette Runs Wilson Mile in 1:35 2/5"](https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/). New York Times, Section Sports, page 30. 1947-08-05. Retrieved 2020-08-19.

1. ["Gallorette Annexes Wilson Mile at Saratoga Second Year in a Row"](https://www.nytimes.com/1948/08/04/archives/gallore-annexes-wilson-ileat-saratoga-second-year-in-a-row-brann.html). New York Times, Section Sports, page 27. 1948-08-04. Retrieved 2020-08-19.

1. ["Next Stop: Saratoga"](https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/456307311/). [New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News). 1958-07-30. Retrieved 2020-08-20.

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