Gotham Stakes

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Entries drawn tomorrow.. Santa Anita draws the Big Cap card today though which includes the Kilroe, Oaks and Honest Lady in addition to the feature.

Not sure what you mean Nic when you ask about Gotham as a division of another race. The Gotham has been run in 2 divisions itself a number of times including the inaugural in '53 which Native Dancer and Laffango split it. It was run in divisions in 1974-75 and 1983 as well.

It was run at 8.5f 1953-1959 at Jamaica, and then moved to Aqueduct in 1960 and cut to 1 mile. In 1977 and 1979 it was again 8.5f. In 1958 it was for 4 year olds and up.

What's the division of another race answer???

Apparently someone hasn't been reading the Blood-Horse.

When I get home, I'll make better notes on this, but in the years prior to Native Dancer it was a race that only the horses who were weighted in the Experimental Handicap could enter and they were forced to carry the weight they were assigned. I believe Vosburgh thought up the idea (I'll have to confirm this when I get home) but eventually, as more options on the Stakes calendar popped up, horseman were less inclined to run in this race because of the wide spreads of weight.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Apparently someone hasn't been reading the Blood-Horse.

American Racing Manual..

Originally Posted by Sightseek

When I get home, I'll make better notes on this, but in the years prior to Native Dancer it was a race that only the horses who were weighted in the Experimental Handicap could enter and they were forced to carry the weight they were assigned. I believe Vosburgh thought up the idea (I'll have to confirm this when I get home) but eventually, as more options on the Stakes calendar popped up, horseman were less inclined to run in this race because of the wide spreads of weight.

Interesting.. I've never seen that referenced. Should be in the A.R.M. though if I poke around...

[sumitas]

Mr Fantasy is a 1/2 to Tin Cup Chalice .

One never knows for sure about any race . That's why they have the race, I suppose . In the Hollie Hughes 5 yr old Mor Chances led at all calls for the first time in his career .

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Kasept

American Racing Manual..


Interesting.. I've never seen that referenced. Should be in the A.R.M. though if I poke around...

Here are some more notes for you:

* The first Experimental was carded by Walter S. Vosburgh, the highweight of 126 lbs was given to First Minstrel, a pound more than Cavalcade - his goal was to make the hypothetical experimental a reality

* In April 1940 Jamaica Race Course put up $5,000 for a 6 furlong race called the Experimental Handicap as a prep for the Wood Memorial

* Two restrictions were put on this race
1) only those horses who were weighted on the Experimental Free Handicap were eligible to run
2) the horses had to carry the weights they were assigned in the EFH

* 1942 the name was changed to the Experimental Free Handicap - the winner that year, Apache would be the first winner to run in the Derby (11th)

* 1944 the EFH was split into two divisions - this also marked the first year the highweight ran (Pukka Gin)

* 1946 - Experimental Free Handicap- No. 2 at 1 1/16 is run for the first time, Assault won the 6 furlong, Experimental Free-No. 1 that year on the way to capturing the Triple Crown

* 1952 last Experimental Free Handicap- No. 2 is run and renamed the Gotham for the next year


Schmitz, David. "Noble Experiment." Blood-Horse 14 February 2009: 622.