New York Breeders' Cup Handicap
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The New York Breeders' Cup Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one and one-quarter miles on the Belmont Park turf. It is currently a Grade II event offering a purse of $190,000.
Inaugurated in 1940 as the New York Handicap, the race was originally run on dirt at a distance of 2ΒΌ miles. In 1955, it became the first stakes races on the turf in modern-day racing in the New York City area. The race was first run at the marathon distance of two and one quarter miles. Prior to 1962, it was open to horses of either sex.
The filly, Noble Damsel, won this race in 1982. She has a race run each year in her honor: the Noble Damsel Breeders' Cup Handicap at Belmont. Other winners of note include three U.S. Racing Hall of Fame colts. Alsab won the 1942 edition, Stymie in 1946 and Hill Prince in 1951.
[edit] Past winners
Winners of the New York in the past seven years are:
- 2007 - Makderah
- 2006 - Noble Stella
- 2005 - Wend
- 2004 - Accurate
- 2003 - West Virginia
- 2002 - Grey Comet
- 2001 - White Ibis