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The Delaware Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Wilmington, Delaware. The Grade 2 race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-quarter miles on the dirt.

The race was inaugurated as the New Castle Handicap as part of the racing schedule with the 1937 opening of Delaware Park Racetrack. In 1953, the new $100,000 purse offered by the New Castle Handicap made it the richest race in the world for fillies and mares.[2] In 1955 it was renamed the Delaware Handicap.

The race was held at Saratoga from 1982 until 1985.

In 2017, champion filly Songbird won as the shortest-priced favorite in the race's history at 1-9 odds.[3]

In 1939, Shangay Lily won the race as a seven year old, and is the oldest winner of the race.

Records[edit]

Speed record:

  • 1:59.80 – Coup de Fusil (1987) (event and track record for 1+14 miles)

Most wins by a horse

  • 2 Endine (1958,1959)
  • 2 Obeah (1969,1970)
  • 2 Blessing Angelica (1971,1972)
  • 2 Susan's Girl (1973,1975)
  • 2 Nastique (1988,1989)
  • 2 Royal Delta (2012,2013)
  • 2 Elate (2018,2019)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Delaware Handicap Statistics". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. ^ "First To Enter Racing Classic". The Morning Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland. 1953-03-25. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  3. ^ "Songbird Holds Fast in Delaware Handicap". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-07-16.

External links[edit]

  • History of the Delaware Handicap
  • New Castle served as Delaware Handicap's predecessor
  • Ten Things You Should Know About the Delaware Handicap at Hello Race Fans