Fourstardave Handicap

The Fourstardave Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. With a purse of $500,000, the Fourstardave is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one mile on the turf. It achieved Grade I status in 2016.^[2]

History

The Fourstardave is named for the horse who was nicknamed "The Sultan of Saratoga" because he won at least one race at the Saratoga track each year from 1987 to 1994. Fourstardave died of a heart attack in October 2002 at the age of 17 and is buried in Clare Court at Saratoga Race Course. This is a rare honor since only three horses are buried there.^[3]

Before 1996, the race was run as the Daryl's Joy Handicap. In 1990 and 1991, Fourstardave won the race when it was still called the Daryl's Joy.

The race has been run at the following distances:^[1]

• 1 mile: 1992, 2012 to present
•  1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles: 1985-1991, 1993-2001, 2003-2011
•  1 ¹⁄₈ miles: 2002

The race was moved from turf to dirt in 1992 and 2002 due to weather conditions.^[1]

In the 2014 renewal, Seek Again set a Saratoga course record in the Fourstardave.

Records

Speed record:

• At current distance of 1 mile: Seek Again (2014) - 1:33.25
• At  1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles: Fourstardave (1991) - 1:38 4/5

Most wins:

• 2 - Fourstardave
• 2 - Wise Dan

Most wins by a jockey:

• 9 - John R. Velazquez (1992, 1996, 2001, 2004-5, 2008, 2011-3)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 - William I. Mott (2000, 2007, 2014, 2016)

Winners

† Downgraded to Grade III when switched from turf to dirt.

References

• Fourstardave Handicap at Pedigree Query