Sysonby Handicap

The Sysonby Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race first run in 1946 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Placed on hiatus after the 1959 edition, the race was revived in 1967 at Aqueduct Racetrack where it was run one last time. An event for horses of either sex age three and older, it was run on dirt over a distance of a mile through 1958 then the following year increased to a mile and a quarter. For the final running in 1967 it became a sprint race of seven furlongs.

The race was named in honor of U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Sysonby who was selected #30 - Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.

Historical race notes

Lucky Draw won the 1946 inaugural running in a year in which he set six track records including equaling a World record. He won the Sysonby by 10 lengths and although it was run over a muddy racetrack, it was still in a fast time.

Other notable Sysonby Handicap winners were four American Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees Armed, Triple Crown winner Citation, and Tom Fool. In addition, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Arise won this race.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:35.00 @ 1 mile : Cohoes (1958)

Most wins:

• Tom Fool (1952, 1953)
• High Gun (1954, 1955)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 - Ted Atkinson (1949, 1952, 1953)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - John M. Gaver Sr. (1949, 1952, 1953, 1958)

Most wins by an owner:

• 4 - Greentree Stable (1949, 1952, 1953, 1958)

Winners

References

1. Sysonby
2. High Gun
3. Citation (horse)
4. Albert Snider
5. Miche (horse)
6. Commonwealth Handicap
7. Metropolitan Handicap
8. Capot
9. Tom Fool
10. R. Thomas
11. Walter Blum
12. Edward A. Christmas
13. Arise (horse)
14. Eddie Hayward
15. Bobby Ussery
16. Century Handicap
17. John M. Gaver Sr.
18. James D. Nichols
19. Ted Atkinson
20. David Erb