Great Metropolitan Handicap

Great Metropolitan Handicap
Class 3 race
Location Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom, England
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Sponsor Investec
Race information
Distance 1 mile 4 furlongs 10 yards (2,423 m) (previously 2 1/4 miles)
Surface Turf
Track Left-handed
Qualification Four-years-old and up
Weight Handicap race
Purse £20,000 (2016)
1st: £12,450
Great Metropolitan Handicap
2016
Barwick Whinging Willie Prendergast Hill

The Great Metropolitan Handicap is an annual class 3 handicap race run at Epsom for horse aged four-years-old and older. Inaugurated in 1846, it is run in April during the Epsom Spring Meeting. It originally attracted top-class racehorses in the 19th and early 20th century, but today its importance has been eclipsed by larger stakes races with more valuable purses.

History

The race was created through the efforts of pub landlord, Samuel Powell Beeton in response to a call for support from the Clerk of the Course at Epsom, who wanted to upgrade the Epsom Spring Meeting. Beeton ran The Dolphin pub, near to St Mary-le-Bow church in London, an establishment so well known as a betting premises, it became known as 'the Tattersalls of the East End'. Together with fellow licensees and bookmakers, he raised a collection of £300 to sponsor the race, which for its first year attracted a field of 29 runners.[1] It thus became one of the first horse races in Britain to be sponsored.[2] For this reason, it was, in its early years, referred to as The Publican's Derby.[3] The race proved so successful that more landlords were brought on board to set up another race shortly afterwards - the City and Suburban Handicap.

For more than a century of its existence, the Great Metropolitan was a unique race. It was run over its own two and a quarter mile course, starting at the winning post, running back down the track for three furlongs, turning right across the in-field before rejoining the main course a mile from home. The in-field at Epsom, however, was open to the public, making it difficult to maintain in racing condition. In 1985 legislation was passed allowing the racecourse to fence off part of Epsom Downs and charge for public admission to the in-field. Consequently the race was reduced to a mile and a half and run over the main Derby course.[4] In contrast to its early days, it is now a fairly typical middle ranking, middle distance handicap.

The first occasion that a photo-finish camera was used to decide a result at a British racecourse was for the 1947 Great Metropolitan, run on 22 April 1947, when second place was determined by the camera.[5]

In 1891, a race in United States adopted the same name. Nowadays, the American Metropolitan Handicap, which since 1904, with a few exceptions, has been run at Belmont Park, far eclipses its British counterpart. It is a Grade 1 race which in 2012 was won by Preakness Stakes winner, Shackleford.[6]

Winners since 1988

Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer Time
1988 Empire Blue 5 08-11 Richard Quinn Nicky Henderson 2:48.85
1989 Empire Blue 6 09-07 Richard Quinn Nicky Henderson 2:49.99
1990 Empire Blue 7 10-00 Richard Quinn Nicky Henderson 2:38.90
1991 Army Of Stars[1] 6 08-13 Frankie Dettori Clive Brittain 2:35.00
1992-1996: No race
1997 Prince Kinsky 4 09-02 David Harrison Jim Old 2:39.09
1998 Assured Gamble 4 09-00 Pat Eddery Clive Brittain 2:49.35
1999 Kinnescash 6 08-09 Ray Cochrane Peter Bowen 2:44.43
2000 Zilarator 4 09-06 Richard Quinn William Haggas 2:54.60
2001 Spring Pursuit 5 08-07 Paul Doe Richard Price 2:51.82
2002 Salim Toto 4 09-00 Richard Hughes Hughie Morrison 2:39.19
2003 April Stock 8 09-03 Kieren Fallon Gerard Butler 2:38.40
2004 Cold Turkey 4 08-12 Simon Whitworth Gary Moore 2:53.93
2005 Tender Falcon 5 08-07 Sam Hitchcott Ron Hodges 2:43.18
2006 Vengeance 6 09-03 Pat Dobbs Simon Dow 2:42.52
2007 Lake Poet 4 08-11 Seb Sanders Clive Brittain 2:40.31
2008 Abandoned: redevelopment
2009 Hatton Flight 5 09-00 William Buick Andrew Balding 2:38.56
2010 Coin Of The Realm 5 09-01 Ryan Moore Gary Moore 2:37.50
2011 Sunny Game 4 08-09 Jamie Spencer Michael Bell 2:39.15
2012 Aiken 4 09-03 William Buick John Gosden 2:52.66
2013 Beyond Conceit 4 08-13 Jamie Spencer Andrew Balding 2:37.54
2014 Beacon Lady 5 09-00 Jack Duern William Knight 2:40.65
2015 Lungarno Palace 4 08-11 Tom Queally John Gallagher 2:42.12
2016 Barwick 8 08-13 Steve Drowne George Baker 2:49.52

1 The 1991 running took place at Kempton Park.

References

  1. ↑ Lambie 2010, p. 23-24.
  2. ↑ "English Racecourse Gazetteer: Epsom". Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Dorling Family and Their Connection to Epsom". Epsom and Ewell History Explorer. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Wright, Howard (1986). Encyclopaedia of flat racing. (2nd ed.). London: Hale. pp. 90–91. ISBN 0709026390.
  5. ↑ "History". Epsom Racecourse. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Race Histories 6: City and Suburban and Great Metropolitan Handicaps". geegeez.com. Retrieved 23 April 2014.

Bibliography

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