Personal Ensign Handicap

The Personal Ensign Handicap is an American race for thoroughbred race horses. Run each year in August on the day before the Travers at Saratoga Race Course, the race is for fillies and mares, ages three and up. In its 61th running in 2008, it is set at a distance of one and one-quarter miles and offers a purse of $400,000.

This Grade I was called the John A. Morris Handicap until 1997. Before that, and until 1985, it was run as the Firenze Handicap. Firenze, born in 1884, was one of the greatest fillies of her day. Racing until she was seven years old, she beat males as well as females carrying the same weights. In 82 starts she won 47 races and was unplaced only five times. Now it is named for the undefeated Personal Ensign, both a great race horse and a great broodmare.

The race was run at Jamaica racetrack before l958, then at Belmont Park in l975, and then Aqueduct Race Track from 1960 to 1974 and again from 1976 to 1985. It began at a mile and a sixteenth (l948 to l950, and again in l958), then at a mile in l960 and l96l; at one mile and three-eighths in l975; at one mile and an eighth from 1976 through 1994; and at one mile and a quarter from 1995 to the present. It was run on the turf course from l972 to l975 and run in two divisions in l972 and l974.

In 1988 it was run a day late due to severe thunderstorms.

Past winners

* 2008 - Ginger Punch (5) (Rafael Bejarano)
* 2007 – Miss Shop (4) (Javier Castellano)
* 2006 – Fleet Indian (5) (Jose Santos)
* 2005 – Shadow Cast (4) (Robby Albarado)
* 2004 – Storm Flag Flying (4) (John Velazquez)
* 2003 – Passing Shot (4) (Jose Santos)
* 2002 – Summer Colony (4) (John Velazquez)
* 2001 – Pompeii (4) (Richard Migliore)
* 2000 – Beautiful Pleasure (5) (Jorge F. Chavez)
* 1999 – Beautiful Pleasure (4) (Jorge F. Chavez)
* 1998 – Tomisue’s Delight (4) (Pat Day)
* 1997 – Clear Mandate (5) (Mike Smith)
* 1996 – Urbane (4) (Alex Solis)
* 1995 – Heavenly Prize (4) (Pat Day)
* 1994 – Link River (4) (Julie Krone)
* 1993 – You’d Be Surprised (4) (Jerry Bailey)
* 1992 – Quick Mischief (6) (Craig Perret)
* 1991 – Fit to Scout (4) (Chris Antley)
* 1990 – Personal Business (4) (Chris Antley)
* 1989 – Colonial Waters (4) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1988 – Rose’s Cantina (4) (Jose Santos)
* 1987 – Coup de Fusil (5) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1986 – Shocker T (4) (Gene St. Leon)
* 1985 – Lady On The Run (3) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1984 – Solar Halo (3) (Robbie Davis)
* 1983 – Chieftain’s Command (4) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1982 – Number (3) (Eddie Maple)
* 1981 – Tina Tina Too (3) (Don MacBeth)
* 1980 – Relaxing (4) (Jorge Velasquez)
* 1979 – Catherine’s Bet (4) (Daryl Montoya)
* 1978 – Mrs. Warren (4) (Jorge Velasquez)
* 1977 – Water Malone (3) (Jean-Luc Samyn)
* 1976 – Sugar Plum Time (4) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1975 – Lie Low (4) (Jorge Velasquez)
* 1974 – Lie Low (3) J. Velasquez)
* 1974 – Twixt (5) (William J. Passmore)
* 1973 – Aglimmer (4) (Michael Venezia)
* 1972 – Manta (6) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1972 – Aladancer (4) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1971 – Kittewake (3) (Heliodoro Gustines)
* 1970 – Obeah (5) (John L. Rotz)
* 1969 - Amerigo Lady (5) (Jorge Velazquez)
* 1968 – Politely (5) (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
* 1967 – Politely (4) (Braulio Baeza)
* 1966 – Straight Deal (4) (Bobby Ussery)
* 1965 – Sailor Princess (3) (Gary Mineau)
* 1964 – Steeple Jill (3) (J. Ruane)
* 1963 – Lamb Chop (3) (Manuel Ycaza)
* 1962 – Pocosaba (5) (William Boland)
* 1961 – Oil Royalty (3) (Hedley Woodhouse)
* 1960 – Clear Road (3) (R. York)
* 1959 – Polamby (4) (P. Anderson)
* 1958 – Hoosier Honey (4) (J. Ruane)
* 1957 – Gay Life (4) (J. Ruane)
* 1956 – Blue Banner (4) (W. Boland)
* 1955 – Rare Treat (3) (R. Mikkonen)
* 1954 – Parlo (3) (Ted Atkinson)
* 1953 – Kiss Me Kate (5) (D. Gorman)
* 1952 – Next Move (5) (Eric Guerin)
* 1951 – Renew (4) (B. Green)
* 1950 – Red Camelia (4) (P. Milligan)
* 1949 – But why Not (5) (D. Gorman)
* 1948 – Carolyn A. (4) (C. LeBlanc)