Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap

The Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the first week of October at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney/Cicero, Illinois. A Grade III event since 1998, it is open to horses age three and older and is contested on turf over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs).

Inaugurated on October 9, 1983, the race is named in honor of Robert Francis Carey, founder of the American Brick Company and the Managing Director of Hawthorne from 1947 to his death in 1980.

Since inception it has been contested at various distances:

• 1983 : 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles
• 1984-1987 : 1 ¹⁄₄ miles
• 1988-1989 : 1 ¹⁄₈ miles
• 1990-1993, 1995–present : 1 mile
• 1994 : 1 mile, 70 yards

In 1985, 1994 and again in 2009, soft course conditions from heavy rains resulted in the race being transferred to the main dirt track.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1 mile)

• 1:33.40 - Soviet Line (1998)

Most wins:

• 2 - Homing Pigeon (1995, 1996)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - Harvey L. Vanier (1989, 1995, 1996)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Nancy A. Vanier (1989, 1995, 1996)

Winners

References

• The 2009 Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap at Bloodhorse.com