The Potomac Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in the latter part of September at Havre de Grace Racetrack in Havre de Grace, Maryland. Open to three-year-old horses, it was raced on dirt at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
First run at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland, it was restricted to two-year-olds and run at a distance of one mile. The 1918 running was won by Calumet Farm's two-year-old colt, Be Frank, ridden by Lavelle Ensor. The following year the race moved to the Havre de Grace Racetrack and was changed to an event for three-year-olds and set at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
The Potomac Handicap was won by four National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductees including 1919 U.S. Triple Crown winner Sir Barton and Man o' War who won the 1920 edition. Despite being assigned highweight of 138 pounds, Man o' War set a new Havre de Grace track record for a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
Venue: Laurel : 1916-1918, 1944-1948 Pimlico: 1943 Havre de Grace Racetrack: 1919-1942
Records Speed record: (3-year-olds) 1 miles: 1:44 flat, Menow (1938) 1 miles: 1:50 3/5, Loyal Legion (1947)
Speed record: (2-year-olds) 1 mile: 1:39 1/5, Be Frank (1918)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Clarence Kummer (1915, 1920) 2 - Andy Schuttinger (1917, 1922) 2 - Clarence Kummer (1921, 1931) 2 - Albert Snider (1946, 1947)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 - Clyde S. Phillips (1916, 1930) 2 - Thomas J. Healey (1925, 1936) 2 - Bud Stotler (1934, 1935) 2 - James Radney (1946, 1948)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - Willis Sharpe Kilmer (1928, 1933) 2 - Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1934, 1935) 2 - Mrs. Ellsworth H. Augustus (1946, 1948)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time1948Seven League3Mike BasileJames RadneyElizabeth Good Augustus1 M1:52.801947Loyal Legion3Albert SniderOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords Sr.1 M1:50.601946Blue Yonder3Albert SniderJames RadneyElizabeth Good Augustus1 M1:56.601945British Buddy 3Johnny BreenJames McGeeMorris Wexler1 M1:51.401944Megogo3Ken ScawthornJohn A. HealeyChristiana Stable1 M1:49.601943Son of Peace3Billie ThompsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm1 M1:52.601942Aletern3Jimmy ThornburgJack SkirvinAlwin C. Ernst1 M1:47.201941Boston Man3Ted AtkinsonGeorge L. ArvinH. Teller Archibald1 M1:45.801940Mioland3Carroll BiermanTom SmithCharles S. Howard1 M1:46.601939Third Degree3Wayne D. WrightJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 M1:44.801938Menow3Raymond WorkmanDuval A. HeadleyHal Price Headley1 M1:44.001937Heelfly3George WoolfLemuel T. WhitehillThomas Painter Morgan1 M1:45.201936Tatterdemalion3Jack WestropeThomas J. HealeyCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1 M1:44.801935Good Gamble3Sam RenickBud StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 M1:45.401934Discovery3John BejshakBud StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1 M1:45.201933Sun Archer3Pete WallsJack WhyteWillis Sharpe Kilmer1 M1:44.801932Dark Secret3Hank MillsJames E. FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1 M1:45.401931Tambour3Frank ColtilettiPreston M. BurchPreston M. Burch1 M1:45.201930Spinach3Alfred RobertsonClyde S. PhillipsWilliam Ziegler Jr.1 M1:47.401929Rose of Sharon3Charles E. AllenDaniel E. StewartJohnson N. Camden Jr.1 M1:46.401928Sun Beau3John CraigmyleWilliam ShortWillis Sharpe Kilmer1 M1:46.001927Jock3Eddie AmbroseJohn F. SchorrEdward B. McLean1 M1:44.601926Chance Play3Earl SandeG. Hamilton KeeneLog Cabin Stable1 M1:47.001925Senalado3Edgar BarnesThomas J. HealeyRichard T. Wilson Jr.1 M1:46.201924Donaghee3Fred SharpeJoseph P. SmithJames W. Bean1 M1:46.201923Dunlin3Chick LangJ. Woods GarthJoshua S. Cosden1 M1:49.001922Lucky Hour3Andy SchuttingerRoy WaldronLexington Stable1 M1:46.601921Tryster3Frank ColtilettiJames G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney1 M1:46.401920Man o' War3Clarence KummerLouis FeustelGlen Riddle Farm1 M1:44.801919Sir Barton3Tommy NolanH. Guy BedwellJ. K. L. Ross1 M1:46.401918Be Frank2Lavelle EnsorWilliam Jennings Jr.Calumet Stable (Cornelius M. Garrison)1 M1:39.201917Recount2Andy SchuttingerA. J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1 M1:41.601916Bondage2R. BallClyde S. PhillipsJames Arthur1 M1:40.001915King Neptune2Clarence TurnerB. B. LarrickJohn S. Tyree1 M1:43.201914Sharpshooter2Kenneth KarrickWilliam H. KarrickSchuyler L. Parsons1 M1:39.40
References New York Times article on the 1921 Potomac Handicap