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Whitney Stakes-A super Handicap to lookout for! by Laura Martin
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Whitney Stakes-A super Handicap to lookout for! |
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Sports
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What the race has to offer? The summer races meet in late July/early August at Saratoga and The Whitney Handicap better known as the “Whitney Stakes” is first that comes to mind. This race, named for the Whitney family whose members have and remain prominent participants and supporters of the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, along with the Woodward Stakes and the Travers, go a long way in mind when yearend championships are decided. The Whitney Invitational Handicap is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series by the Breeders' Cup Ltd. which automatically qualifies the winner of the Whitney Handicap for the fall running of the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The Whitney Stakes is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of 1? miles for a purse of 750,000USD. Since the start of the race in 1928 there have been a few changes in the structure of the race; the racing distance, age of the participating horse, exclusion of geldings and the place of the race during World War II.
In the past, some of the greatest horses in American racing have won the Whitney Stakes that include Discovery (three times in a row), Kelso (also three times), Stymie, Tom Fool, the incomparable Dr. Fager, Alydar, Slew O’ Gold, the iron horse Lady’s Secret, the perfect Personal Ensign, the powerful Easy Goer, Invasor and Commentator (twice). The race also saw one of the most dramatic upsets in racing history when Secretariat, the Conquering Hero who had won his first stakes race at Saratoga the previous summer finished second in the 1973 Whitney to little-known horse named Onion.
It is a year of celebration for 150 years of Saratoga Race Course, the contributions that the Saratoga Race Course-and the annual event that attracts thousands of race fans to the city-have made to American and world culture.
To get the history of Saratoga race track in Saratoga Springs, we have to go the history of Saratoga, which dates back to the 14th Century and the Aboriginal Americans who lived and visited here. The healing waters-many different natural waters, some effervescent, that were trusted with curing a large number of ailments were an attraction to this place. The place grew from a village to town to the city of Saratoga Springs, so popular that by the mid 18th century it became the summer home of many wealthy Americans and internationals, and a hotbed of both tourism and gambling, the healing water being the main pulling force.
One month after the heartbreaking Battle of Gettysburg, on August 3, 1863, two men of great wealth and horse owners, John Hunter and William R. Travers decided to create a race track that would be worthy of their Thoroughbreds. The two horsemen had great vision, for they intended Saratoga Race Course not only as the oldest racetrack in the United States, but also the oldest sporting venue of any kind in the country. Saratoga has a few nicknames The Spa for the nearby mineral springs, House of Upsets and the Graveyard of Champions for some unforeseen events that happened in horse racing history.
The Whitney Invitational at Saratoga, the wildly popular Grade 1 is the biggest race of the meet bigger than the Travers. It is the favorite of Saratoga, favorite of Marylou Whitney and may be one of the favorite of everyone who loves horse racing. This is a famous horse race that fully engages the older horses, prior to this no other race for older horses be it the; The Donn in February, the Big Cap that happens in March, the Stephen Foster held in June, the Dubai World Cup in March, and the Met Mile in May do much to move the standing. With the exception of the Dubai World Cup, they tend to be lousy betting races icing on poorly baked cake.
When the Whitney arrives it’s like offset time, it’s at this point that owners, jockeys, and trainers can sniff the Breeders’ Cup. The Whitney is a standalone race, not much significant in the bigger picture as compared to its popularity. Look back at the history of the race tells that 33 percent of the last ten Whitney winners went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Invasor, Blame, Fort Larned). But only one was named Horse of the Year, that being Invasor.
Cross Traffic’s Whitney win this year was good for a handicap division that has been in need of new blood. While his victory was not unexpected, he was the second favorite he outran a hard-nosed, veteran group that had won 20 graded races and banked over $11 million. The winner of the Whitney is the winner of the Whitney, not to be diminished, not to be acclaimed; a great action that may not repeat.
I hail from a small place called Chantilly where I have grown up hearing about horse racing games. Since childhood this game has been of immense interest mainly due to the exposure through my family who also takes interest in the same. Keeping myself updated about various events and race horses around the world, I love to read and share the same.
Related Articles -
Whitney Stakes, horse races, horse racing,
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