The Floral Park Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Belmont Park on Long Island, New York in its fall meet. Established for fillies and mares, age three and up, it started out as a sprint at 6 furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse of $100,000 added.
The year 2007 saw the 13th running of the Floral Park which is named for Floral Park, New York, the site of a very early racetrack, one of America's first horse running courses. In those days races were not run on ovals; they were run in heats over hill and dale, usually four in number, and were exhausting affairs.
In December 2006, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced the elimination of this race beginning in 2007 due to its poor placement on the Breeder's Cup Sprint run-up schedule.
On September 27, 2007, NYRA scheduled the Floral Park Handicap as the Floral Park Stakes, with minor modifications. The race conditions were changed; it was run at seven furlongs, changed from six furlongs in previous editions, and was restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares. The winner of this particular race in 2007 was Ice Cool Kitty.Ice Cool Kitty purrs in Belmont's Floral Park Stakes - USATODAY.com
In 2008, the Floral Park Stakes (or Floral Park Handicap) was run at 1 mile or 8 furlongs.
Starting in 2018, the Floral Park Stakes was revived as a stakes event, this time being run on the inner turf course at a distance of six furlongs.
Past winners 2020 - Lead Guitar 2019 - Fire Key 2018 - Fire Key
2008 - Wishful Tomcat (Big Truck placed.) 2007 - Ice Cool Kitty (2007 edition named Floral Park Stakes, run at seven furlongs and restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares)
2006 - Win McCool 2005 - Smokey Glacken 2004 - Feline Story 2003 - Bauhauser (ARG) 2002 - Carson Hollow 2001 - Gold MoverPLUS: HORSE RACING; Point Given to Stand in Bluegrass Country - New York Times 2000 - Big BambuHORSE RACING; Fantastic Light Turns It on in Man o'War - New York Times 1999 - Positive Gal 1998 - Blue Begonia 1997 - Creamy Dreamy 1996 - Lottsa Talc 1995 - Twist AfleetHORSE RACING; Celebrity Horses Taking Center Stage at Belmont - New York Times
References