Essex Handicap
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| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Oaklawn Park Race Track Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1948 (as Southland Handicap) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Oaklawn Park |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Four years old and older |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $500,000 (since 2025) |
The Essex Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in March at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event currently offers a purse of $500,000.
Southland Handicap
The event was inaugurated on 13 March 1948 as the Southland Handicap a $5,000 handicap event for three-year-olds and older and was won by William H. Bishop owner and trained six-year-old Boden's Pal in a time 1:434⁄5.[1] William H. Bishop was from Anna, Illinois where prior to World War II he ran a Horse & Mule Auction and then later become a leading horse trainer in Illinois.[2]
Illinois horsemen had an impact on the early runnings of the event. The 1949 running was won by Jean Denemark's entry of three-year-old Provocative and Enforcer in a small four horse field.[1] Members from the Denemark's family would win the event five times in the first 13 runnings including Racetracker who won the event twice.[3] From Lisle, Illinois, her husband, Emil Denemark, was an established horse breeder who died in 1963.[4]
Another horse in this era to make an impact was the dual winner Little Imp who won in 1953 and 1955. The son of the 1943 Arkansas Derby winner Seven Hearts also finished second in 1952 and third in 1954.[5] In 1954 the distance of the event was decreased to 1 mile and 70 yards.[5]
In 1956 the event was scheduled to be run on Saturday, March 17[6] but it was not held.[5] In 1957 the winner Sir Tribal set a new track record for the 1 mile and 70 yards distance in 1:40 flat.[7] The event had become a preparatory race for the Oaklawn Handicap, the premier event for old horses which would be held usually one two weeks following the Southland Handicap. Although the distance of the event was shortened to six furlongs only for the 1960 running,[8] the winner Little Fitz would be the first horse to win the Southland–Oaklawn Handicap double in the same year although there had been earlier placegetters of the event who did win the Oaklawn Handicap.
In 1966 the event was won by 1965 Arkansas Derby winner Swift Ruler who set a new track record for the 1 mile and 70 yards distance in 1:392⁄5.[9] Swift Ruler would go on and win a unique treble by winning the Razorback Handicap and then the Oaklawn Handicap.[10]
In 1972 the winner of the event, Sado carried 125 lbs, the highest weight by a winner. Sado became the third horse to win the event for the second time as the 6/5 favorite winning by a half length margin in a field of nine.[11]
Essex Handicap
In 1973 the Oaklawn Park administration renamed the event to the Essex Handicap in honor of the former racetrack Essex Park[12] which was also located in Hot Springs, Arkansas and was destroyed by fire in the early 20th century.[13] In 1976 the conditions of the event were changed that three-year-old could not be entered[5] since there were new events available specifically for them.
In 1985 the event was upgraded to a Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee.[14] In 1987 the distance of the event was increased by forty yards to one and one-sixteenth miles.[14] Sun Master, winner of the event at the new distance at 1:41 flat continues to hold the stakes record to date.[5] In 1992 the event was scheduled for the first time February.[14]
After twenty-three runnings of the event as Grade III the event lost its graded status for the 2008 running.[14]
With increased revenue from the racino the administration of the track in 2017 began increasing the purse offered for the event. In 2017 the event offered $250,000 and by 2021 an attractive purse of $500,000 was up for grabs. This increase in stakes started to attract much more accomplished gallopers and the American Graded Stakes Committee restored the event back to Grade III for 2022.[15]
Records
Speed record:
- 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:48.82 – Skippylongstocking (2026)
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:41.00 – Sun Master (1987)
- 1 miles & 70 yards: 1:39.40 – Swift Ruler (1966)
Margins:
- 7 lengths – Silver Goblin (1995)
Most wins:
- 2 – Little Imp (1953, 1955)
- 2 – Racetracker (1958, 1959)
- 2 – Sado (1971, 1972)
- 2 – Rated R Superstar (2019, 2022)
Most wins by an owner:
- 5 – Denemark Family (1949, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1961)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Garth Patterson (1977, 1979, 1981)
- 3 – Pat Day (1991, 1992, 1993)
- 3 – Calvin H. Borel (1998, 2007, 2011)
- 3 – Luis S. Quinonez (2000, 2003, 2012)
- 3 – Ricardo Santana Jr. (2014, 2013, 2021)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – D. Wayne Lukas (1987, 1991, 2023)
- 3 – Steven M. Asmussen (2004, 2021, 2025)
Southland / Essex Handicap – Oaklawn Handicap double:
- Little Fitz (1960), Wa-Wa Cy (1963), Gay Revoke (1965), Swift Ruler (1966), Warbucks (1975), Silver State (2021)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2026 | Skippylongstocking | 7 | Micah J. Husbands | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Daniel Alonso | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.82 | $500,000 | III | [16] |
| 2025 | Red Route One | 5 | Keith Asmussen | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.67 | $500,000 | III | [17] |
| 2024 | First Mission | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.76 | $600,000 | III | [18] |
| 2023 | Last Samurai | 5 | Cristian Torres | D. Wayne Lukas | Willis Horton Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.17 | $500,000 | III | [19] |
| 2022 | Rated R Superstar | 9 | David Cabrera | Federico Villafranco | Danny R. Caldwell | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.12 | $500,000 | III | [20] |
| 2021 | Silver State | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds & Willis Horton Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.73 | $500,000 | Listed | [21] |
| 2020 | Night Ops | 4 | Joseph Talamo | Brad H. Cox | Steve Landers Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.09 | $350,000 | Listed | [22] |
| 2019 | Rated R Superstar | 6 | Walter De La Cruz | Cipriano Contreras | Crystal Racing Enterprises & Contreras Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.66 | $350,000 | Listed | [23] |
| 2018 | Hedge Fund | 4 | Jose L. Ortiz | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing & Head of Plains Partners | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.06 | $300,000 | Listed | [24] |
| 2017 | Mor Spirit | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Michael Lund Petersen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.62 | $250,000 | Listed | [25] |
| 2016 | La Macchina | 4 | Channing Hill | Otabek Umarov | O'zbekiston Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.27 | $100,000 | Listed | [26] |
| 2015 | Golden Lad | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | E. Paul Robsham Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.05 | $100,000 | Listed | [27] |
| 2014 | Right to Vote | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Ron Moquett | B J D Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.84 | $100,000 | Listed | [28] |
| 2013 | Donoharm | 4 | M. Clifton Berry | W. Bret Calhoun | Wayne Sanders & Larry Hirsch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.71 | $98,000 | Listed | [29] |
| 2012 | Alternation | 4 | Luis S. Quinonez | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Pin Oak Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.95 | $100,000 | Listed | [30] |
| 2011 | Kate's Main Man | 6 | Calvin H. Borel | Randy L. Morse | Randy Patterson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.12 | $100,000 | Listed | [31] |
| 2010 | Racing Bran | 5 | Christopher A. Emigh | Scott Becker | William P. Stiritz | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.13 | $100,000 | Listed | [32] |
| 2009 | Prom Shoes | 5 | Christopher A. Emigh | William H. Fires | Patricia B. Blass | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.21 | $100,000 | Listed | [33] |
| 2008 | Spotsgone | 5 | Joe M. Johnson | William H. Fires | Robert Yagos | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.72 | $100,000 | Listed | [34] |
| 2007 | Jonesboro | 5 | Calvin H. Borel | Randy L. Morse | Michael Langford | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $100,000 | III | [35] |
| 2006 | Rockport Harbor | 4 | Stewart Elliott | John C. Servis | Fox Hill Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.68 | $100,000 | III | [36] |
| 2005 | Absent Friend | 5 | Roman Chapa | Cole Norman | H & H Ranch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.66 | $100,000 | III | [37] |
| 2004 | Private Emblem | 5 | Timothy T. Doocy | Steven M. Asmussen | James Cassels & Bob Zollars | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.66 | $100,000 | III | [38] |
| 2003 | Colorful Tour | 4 | Luis S. Quinonez | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.22 | $100,000 | III | [39] |
| 2002 | Crafty Shaw | 4 | James Lopez | Peter M. Vestal | Lucky Seven Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.14 | $75,000 | III | [40] |
| 2001 | Mr Ross | 6 | Donald R. Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Don C. McNeill | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.59 | $75,000 | III | [41] |
| 2000 | Maysville Slew | 4 | Luis S. Quinonez | C. R. Trout | Robert L. Sanford | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.12 | $75,000 | III | [42] |
| 1999 | Brush With Pride | 7 | Timothy T. Doocy | Steve Hobby | Barbara R. & John E. Smicklas | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.26 | $75,000 | III | [43] |
| 1998 | Relic Reward | 4 | Calvin H. Borel | Cecil P. Borel | Janelle Grum | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.92 | $75,000 | III | [44] |
| 1997 | No Spend No Glow | 5 | Robert Neal Lester | Don Von Hemel Sr. | Edward J. Dullea | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.94 | $75,000 | III | [45] |
| 1996 | Classic Fit | 6 | Carlos Gonzalez | P. Noel Hickey | Irish Acres Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.98 | $76,320 | III | [46] |
| 1995 | Silver Goblin | 4 | Dale W. Cordova | Kenny P. Smith | Al J. Horton | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.10 | $55,250 | III | [47] |
| 1994 | Greatsilverfleet | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | Dale Capuano | G S F Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.08 | $53,750 | III | [48] |
| 1993 | Delafield | 4 | Pat Day | Peter M. Vestal | December Hill Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.11 | $56,500 | III | [49] |
| 1992 | Allijeba | 6 | Pat Day | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Robert Allensworth | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.95 | $57,500 | III | [50] |
| 1991 | Greydar | 4 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Calumet Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.08 | $57,950 | III | [51] |
| 1990 | Forli Light | 4 | David Guillory | Larry Robideaux Jr. | David Beard | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | $61,550 | III | [52] |
| 1989 | Proper Reality | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert E. Holthus | Mrs. James A. Winn | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $57,550 | III | [53] |
| 1988 | Savings | 5 | Patrick A. Johnson | Gary G. Hartlage | Diana Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.60 | $74,300 | III | [54] |
| 1987 | Sun Master | 4 | Ricky Frazier | D. Wayne Lukas | Jeff & D. Wayne Lukas | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.00 | $61,250 | III | [55] |
| 1986 | Double Ready | 6 | David E. Whited | Randy C. Reed | R. B. Oliver | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.60 | $87,700 | III | [56] |
| 1985 | Star Choice | 6 | James McKnight | Carl A. Nafzger | Frances A. Genter Stable | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:40.60 | $84,600 | III | [57] |
| 1984 | Le Cou Cou | 4 | Donald Lee Howard | James G. Arnett | Duane B. Clark | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.80 | $60,800 | [58] | |
| 1983 | § Eminency | 5 | William Nemeti | Joseph B. Cantey | Happy Valley Farm | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.40 | $64,450 | [59] | |
| 1982 | Plaza Star | 4 | Randy Romero | Ronald Ochs | Robert DeWitt | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.80 | $63,200 | [60] | |
| 1981 | Prince Majestic | 7 | Garth Patterson | Dewey Smith | Mrs. Joe W. Brown | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.40 | $57,500 | [61] | |
| 1980 | J. Burns | 5 | James McKnight | J. Bert Sonnier | Jer Ed Farms | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.80 | $58,700 | [62] | |
| 1979 | Cisk | 5 | Garth Patterson | Glenn L. Hild | Mrs. Carolyn Manning | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.40 | $60,250 | [63] | |
| 1978 | Mark's Place | 6 | Raul Ramirez | Joseph B. Cantey | Robert D. Bird | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.60 | $60,950 | [64] | |
| 1977 | § Go to the Bank | 5 | Garth Patterson | Paul T. Adwell | Jer Ed Farms | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.40 | $64,200 | [65] | |
| 1976 | Navajo | 6 | James D. Nichols | James O. Keefer | Joseph Stevenson & Raymond Stump | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.00 | $58,250 | [66] | |
| 1975 | Warbucks | 5 | Danny Gargan | Donald Combs | Edwin E. Elzenmeyer | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:40.80 | $50,000 | [67] | |
| 1974 | Crimson Falcon | 4 | David E. Whited | Peter W. Salmen | Crimson King Farms | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.60 | $50,000 | [68] | |
| 1973 | Hustlin Greek | 4 | John L. Lively | James E. O'Bryant | Kay O'Bryant & Mary Belts | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.00 | $30,000 | [69] | |
| Southland Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1972 | Sado | 5 | Donald Brumfield | Harold Tinker | W. Cal Partee | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.20 | $25,000 | [11] | |
| 1971 | Sado | 4 | Donald Brumfield | Harold Tinker | W. Cal Partee | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.80 | $25,000 | [70] | |
| 1970 | Spud | 4 | Eddie Arroyo | James M. Levitch | J. M. Levitch, J. H. Gibson & S. L. Fentress | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.20 | $20,000 | [71] | |
| 1969 | Tenor | 6 | Roberto M. Gonzalez | L. H. Grimes | L. H. Grimes | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:44.80 | $15,000 | [72] | |
| 1968 | Slade | 5 | Robert F. Mundrof | Lonnie Abshire | Stanley Conrad | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:44.60 | $12,500 | [73] | |
| 1967 | Dominar | 4 | Robert Nono | L. G. Brandy Culver | John D. Askew | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:40.20 | $12,500 | [74] | |
| 1966 | Swift Ruler | 4 | Larry R. Spraker | Gin L. Collins | Earl Allen | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:39.40 | $10,000 | [9] | |
| 1965 | Gay Revoke | 7 | Calvin Stone | Gomer A. Evans Sr. | Gomer A. Evans Sr. | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:46.20 | $10,000 | [75] | |
| 1964 | Rob Roy III (ARG) | 7 | Eldon Coffman | Doug Carver Sr. | Doug Carver Sr. | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.80 | $10,000 | [76] | |
| 1963 | Wa-Wa Cy | 4 | Earl Van Hook | Joseph E. Bilbrey | Mrs. I. W. Spicer | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.00 | $10,000 | [77] | |
| 1962 | Interlocutor | 4 | Kenneth Griffith | Steve Ippolito | Jacnot Stable | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.40 | $10,000 | [78] | |
| 1961 | Mangam | 6 | Anthony Skoronski | W. Roland | Jean Denemark | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:39.60 | $10,000 | [79] | |
| 1960 | Little Fitz | 5 | William A. Peake | Robert C. Steele | John C. Hauer | 6 furlongs | 1:11.20 | $10,000 | [8] | |
| 1959 | § Racetracker | 6 | Howard Craig | George Alexandra | Jean Denemark | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:40.80 | $6,500 | [80] | |
| 1958 | Racetracker | 5 | Howard Craig | George Alexandra | Jean Denemark | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:42.00 | $5,000 | [81] | |
| 1957 | Sir Tribal | 6 | Anthony Skoronski | Steve Ippolito | Charles Fritz | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:40.00 | $5,000 | [7] | |
| 1956 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 1955 | Little Imp | 8 | Job Dean Jessop | Rudy Tryon | Charles H. Everitt | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.00 | $5,000 | [82] | |
| 1954 | Caldwell | 7 | Raymond Williams | Tater Whatley | Olen Sledge | 1 mile & 70 yards | 1:41.20 | $5,000 | [83] | |
| 1953 | Little Imp | 6 | Peter Ward | Rudy Tryon | Charles H. Everitt | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.40 | $5,000 | [84] | |
| 1952 | Robert | 3 | John Heckman | Robert V. McGarvey | Emil Denemark Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | $5,000 | [85] | |
| 1951 | Fleet Factor | 4 | Lois C. Cook | E. E. Manor Jr. | Raymond Wilkinson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $5,000 | [86] | |
| 1950 | Fancy Flyer | 5 | Harold Keene | Jack Grills | Carl Graham | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.60 | $5,000 | [87] | |
| 1949 | § Provocative | 3 | Lois C. Cook | Robert V. McGarvey | Jean Denemark | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $5,000 | [88] | |
| 1948 | Boden's Pal | 6 | Harold Keene | William H. Bishop | William H. Bishop | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $5,000 | [1] | |
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry