The Questionnaire Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race named in honor of the horse Questionnaire who was bred and raced by James Butler, the late president and owner of Empire City Race Track. The race was held from its inception in 1938 through 1942 at the Empire City RaceTrack in Yonkers, New York but [1] [2] with the United States becoming involved in World War II, in 1943 rationing and other wartime limitations resulted in the Empire City Association's decision to go back to hosting only harness racing. The Questionnaire Handicap was then moved to the Jamaica Race Course where it would run under the sponsorship of the Empire City Association through 1953 when it had its final running.
| Stakes race | |
| Location | Jamaica Race Course Jamaica, Queens, New York, USA |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1938-1953 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+5⁄8 miles (13 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
While never a major race, the Questionnaire Handicap drew some of the best horses of the day and from the top racing stables.
Race distances:
- 1938-1943, 1947-1952 : 11⁄16 miles on dirt
- 1944-1946, 1953 : 15⁄8 miles on dirt
Notable events
editIn 1950, One Hitter set a new Jamaica track record of 1:42 2/5 for a mile and a sixteenth on dirt.[3]
In 1951 there was a dead heat for first between Arise and Bryan G.[4]
The 1953 race was won by 1951 Kentucky Derby winner Count Turf owned by New York City restaurateur Jack Amiel.[5]
Records
editSpeed record:
- At 11⁄16 miles : One Hitter (1950), 1:42 2/5
- At 15⁄8 miles : Princequillo (1944), 2:43 flat
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 - Sam Renick (1938, 1939)
- 2 - Don Meade (1940, 1942)
- 2 - Eric Guerin (1949, 1951)
- 2 - Conn McCreary (1952, 1953)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 - Max Hirsch (1938, 1940)
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Count Turf | 5 | Conn McCreary | William B. Finnegan | Jack J. Amiel | 15⁄8 M | 1:43.40 |
| 1952 | Alerted | 4 | Conn McCreary | James Penrod | Hampton Stable | 11⁄16 M | 1:44.00 |
| 1951 | Arise † | 5 | Eric Guerin | James C. Bentley | Addison Stable | 11⁄16 M | 1:43.40 |
| 1951 | Bryan G. † | 4 | Ovie Scurlock | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 11⁄16 M | 1:43.40 |
| 1950 | One Hitter | 4 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄16 M | 1:42.40 |
| 1949 | Royal Governor | 5 | Eric Guerin | James E. Ryan | Esther D. du Pont | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.40 |
| 1948 | Donor | 4 | Dick Rozelle | George P. "Maje" Odom | W. Deering Howe | 11⁄16 M | 1:44.80 |
| 1947 | Stymie | 6 | Robert Permane | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 11⁄16 M | 1:44.00 |
| 1946 | Trymenow | 4 | Arnold Kirkland | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords | 15⁄8 M | 2:44.60 |
| 1945 | Eurasian | 5 | Herb Lindberg | Sol Rutchick | Havahome Stable | 15⁄8 M | 2:44.40 |
| 1944 | Princequillo | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Horatio Luro | Boone Hall Stable | 15⁄8 M | 2:43.00 |
| 1943 | First Fiddle | 4 | Warren Mehrtens | Edward L. Mulrenan | Mrs. Edward L. Mulrenan | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.00 |
| 1942 | Argonne Woods | 5 | Don Meade | Julius J. Bauer | J. H. Miles | 11⁄16 M | 1:43.60 |
| 1941 | Parasang | 4 | Alfred Robertson | Sylvester E. Veitch | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.60 |
| 1940 | Tola Rose | 3 | Don Meade | Max Hirsch | Arthur J. Sackett | 11⁄16 M | 1:46.20 |
| 1939 | The Chief | 4 | Sam Renick | Earl Sande | Maxwell Howard | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.40 |
| 1938 | Unfailing | 4 | Sam Renick | Max Hirsch | Parker Corning | 11⁄16 M | 1:45.40 |
- † In 1951 there was a dead heat for first.
References
edit- ^ Daily Racing Form June 30, 1942 Questionnaire Handicap article with race history
- ^ New York Times July 5, 1938 article itled "Sam Renick First on Heather Broom, Entracte and Unfailing at Empire City" Retrieved August 1, 2018
- ^ New York Times July 9, 1950 article titled "One Hitter Clips Jamaica Record" Retrieved August 1, 2018
- ^ New York Times article on the 1951 Questionnaire Handicap Retrieved August 3, 2018
- ^ New York Times July 19, 1953 article titled "Count Turf Breaks Down After 15-1 Jamaica Score" Retrieved August 1, 2018