Ladies Stakes

Ladies Handicap

Stakes race
Location	Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York
Inaugurated	1981
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Aqueduct Racetrack at NYRA
Race information
Distance	1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
Track	Dirt, left-handed
Qualification	Fillies, three-years-old & up
Weight	Handicap
Purse	$65,000-added

The Ladies Handicap is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies three years of age and older that is held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the now defunct Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares. An unlisted stakes race, it is currently run in mid December and offers a purse of $65,000.

From its beginnings in 1868 through 1912 the race was restricted to three-year-old fillies thern from 1913 through 1938 it was made open to fillies of any age. Since 1939 it has been open to older fillies and mares. There was no race in 1895 and again in 1911 and 1912 when a New York ban on parimutel betting shut down all racing in the state. In 2005 the race was not run due to a shortage of entrants.

The Ladies Handicap has been won by some of the great fillies in American racing history including Hall of Fame inductees Firenze, Miss Woodford, Beldame, Maskette, Top Flight and Shuvee.

The Ladies Handicap has been run at:

• Jerome Park Racetrack :1868-1890
• Morris Park Racetrack : 1890-1904
• Belmont Park : 1905-1958, 1960

Since inception, it has been raced at various distances:

• 1 mile and five furlongs : 1868-1874
• 1 mile and 1 furlong : 1889-1892
• 1,400 yards : 1890-1891
• 1 1/16 miles : 1893-1894
• 1 mile : 1896-1939
• 1 5/16 miles : 1961-1962
• 1½ miles : 1874-1885, 1940-1958, 1960, 1963, 1964
• 1¼ miles : 1965 to present

Most wins:

• Black Maria (1926, 1927)
• Strolling Belle (1999, 2000)

Speed record:

• 2:01.40 - Transient Trend (1995) and Bastonera II (1976) at the current 1¼ mile distance

Most wins by an owner:

• 5 - August Belmont (1872, 1875, 1876, 1880, 1889)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 - Angel Cordero, Jr. (1968, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1988)

* In 2000, Pentatonic won the race, but was disqualified and set back to second.

* In 1974, Poker Night won the race, but was disqualified and set back to second. * In 1970, Manta won the race, but was disqualified and set back to second.