Carter Handicap
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Queens, New York, United States
| Class | Grade II |
|---|---|
| Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1895 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | $300,000 (2020) |
The Carter Handicap is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of seven furlongs run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack.[1]
Race distance
First run in 1895, the race was named for Brooklyn contractor and tugboat captain, William Carter, who put up most of the purse money and provided the trophy.[2] The race was hosted by the old Aqueduct race track from 1895 to 1955, except for 1946 when it was held at Belmont Park. It returned to Belmont Park from 1956 to 1959, 1968 to 1974, and again in 1994. In 2020 the event was moved to Belmont Park and held in early June.[1]
There was no race held in 1909, 1911–1913, and 1933–1934. It was run in two divisions in 1977 and 1978.
- 1895 – 1+1⁄4 miles
- 1896 – 1+1⁄8 miles
- 1897 – 1+1⁄16 miles
- 1898 – about 7 furlongs
- 1899–1902 6+1⁄2 furlongs
- 1903 onwards – 7 furlongs
Historic notes
The Carter Handicap is the only American Thoroughbred stakes race in which a triple dead heat for a win occurred when Brownie, Bossuet and Wait A Bit crossed the finish line at the same time in 1944.[2] There was another dead heat between two horses in 1977, a year when the number of entrants resulted in the race being split into two divisions.
On June 13, 1942, Lillian Christopher's trainee Doublrab defeated the 1941 U.S. Triple Crown winner Whirlaway while equaling the Aqueduct track record of 1:23 flat in winning the seven furlong Carter Handicap.[3]