Vagrancy Handicap

Horseraces infobox
class = Grade II
horse race = Vagrancy Handicap


caption =
location = Belmont Park
Elmont, New York flagicon|USA
inaugurated = 1948
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.nyra.com/index_belmont.html Belmont Park, NYTA]
distance = 6.5 furlongs
track = Dirt, left-handed
qualification = Fillies & Mares, three-years-old & up
weight = Assigned
purse = $150,000
bonuses = The Vagrancy Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of May/early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. The Grade II race is contested on dirt over a distance of six and one-half furlongs.

Inaugurated in 1948 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York, there was no race from 1949 through 1951. It was hosted by the Aqueduct track from inception through 1955 and again in 1960, 1963-1967, 1975, and 1977-1986. Over the years it has been contested at various distances:
* 1¹/16 miles : 1948, 1952
* 7 furlongs : 1953-1997
* 6.5 furlongs : 1998 to present

The race is named in honor of Vagrancy, the Champion three-year-old filly and champion handicap mare of 1942 owned by Belair Stud and trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons.

In 1955, the Vagrancy Handicap was run in two divisions.

Records

Speed record:
*1:14.46 - Bear Fan (2004) (at current distance of 6.5 furlongs)
*1:20.80 - Grecian Flight (1988) (at previous distance of 7 furlongs)

Most wins:
* 2 - Sky Beauty (1994, 1995)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 - Angel Cordero, Jr. (1977, 1984, 1987, 1989)
* 4 - John Velazquez (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 5 - H. Allen Jerkens (1968, 1969, 1989, 1994, 1995)

Most wins by an owner:
* 2 - Harry La Montagne (1948, 1957)
* 2 - Ethel D. Jacobs (1955, 1965)
* 2 - Calumet Farm (1956, 1961)
* 2 - Meadow Stable (1955, 1963)
* 2 - Wheatley Stable (1964, 1966)
* 2 - Hobeau Farm (1968, 1969)
* 2 - Eugene V. Klein (1986, 1987)
* 2 - Georgia E. Hofmann (1994, 1995)

Winners

† - In 1999, Hurricane Bertie finished first, but was disqualified and set back to second.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?search_bar=stakes&query_type=stakes&field=view&id=1190 The Vagrancy Handicap at Pedigree Query]
* [http://www.nyra.com/index_belmont.html The Vagrancy Handicap at the NYRA]
* [http://www.ntra.com/races.aspx?section=races&id=30167 The Vagrancy Handicap at the NTRA]