Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap

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The Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap was a Thoroughbred horse race first run in September of 1973 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade 1 race for horses 3 years old and up, it was raced over a distance of 1 1/8 miles on a dirt track.

The race came into existence as a result of the huge popularity of Secretariat who in 1973 had become the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in twenty-five years. Such was the drawing power of Secretariat that CBS television readily agreed to broadcast the race nationally, a rare occurrence at the time for a non Triple Crown or traditional "classic" event (such as the Travers Stakes). Originally conceived as a match race with stable mate and 1972 Kentucky Derby winner Riva Ridge, it was changed to an invitational race that would bring together the top horses 3 years of age and older.

The inaugural race more than lived up to its expectations with Secretariat setting a new world record time for 1 1/8 miles on dirt while winning by three-and-a-half lengths. The race became a very important annual event and 1978 marked the first, and as of 2006, the only time in racing history that two Triple Crown winners ever met in a race. Seattle Slew, the 1977 champion, defeated the 1978 champion Affirmed by three lengths.

For many years it was part of Belmont Park's Fall Championship meet -- in fact, the track created a Fall Championship Series around the Marlboro and other key autumn races (similar to a fall Triple Crown). CBS and later NBC continued to carry the Marlboro into the 1980s.

The advent of the Breeders' Cup races in 1984 marked the beginning of the end for the Marlboro Cup. In 1987, the 15th edition of the race attracted just five horses and was picked up for broadcast on cable television only. The Philip Morris company who manufactured the best-selling Marlboro cigarette brand, canceled their sponsorship.