The Roamer Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. It was open to three-year-old horses of either sex and contested on dirt over a distance of 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 miles / 1,900 metres). Run forty-three times, the first ten editions were held between 1944 and 1958 at Jamaica Race Course in Jamaica, Queens, New York.
Historical notes The inaugural running took place on April 11, 1944 and was run at a distance of 1 1/16 miles for the only time in its history. The race would see Lillian Christopher's Grey Wing defeat Stymie, a future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee owned by Ethel Jacobs.
The filly Bridal Flower not only "beat the boys" in winning the 1946 Roamer Handicap, she beat the reigning U.S. Triple Crown Champion Assault.
The 1952 running saw Canadian jockey Hedley Woodhouse aboard 10-1 Quiet Step upset future Hall of Fame inductee Tom Fool who was also ridden by a Canadian, Ted Atkinson.
In 1960, Elizabeth Lunn's Divine Comedy won the race by 8 lengths and set a new Aqueduct track record with a time of 1:55 4/5. Seven years later, 1967 Kentucky Derby winner Proud Clarion broke that record by 4/5 of a second with a time of 1:55 flat.
Sherluck's win in the 1961 Roamer Handicap followed an earlier victory in the Belmont Stakes that ended Carry Back's chance to win the U.S. Triple Crown.
Forego won the 1973 edition of the Roamer Handicap in stakes record time while carrying highweight. He beat runner-up My Gallant by five lengths with Twice A Prince in third another 2½ lengths back. The Roamer Handicap marked Forego's first stakes race win of what would become a career ranked among the best in U.S racing history. Owned by Martha Gerry, Forego earned eight Eclipse Awards, including three American Horse of the Year titles, and would be inducted into the U.S Racing Hall of Fame.
The final running took place on December 26, 1986 and was won by Betty M. Peters' Scrimshaw.
Records Speed record: 1:54.60 @ 1 – Forego (1973)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1968, 1974, 1981, 1984)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – Kay Erik Jensen (1952, 1958) 2 – Laz Barrera (1971, 1974)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Darby Dan Farm (1967, 1972)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist.(Miles) Time Win$ Gr.1986Scrimshaw3Eddie MapleLarry A. KellyBetty M. Peters11:55.40$44,700Listed1985Taj Alriyadh3Jorge VelásquezD. Wayne LukasAhmed Salman11:58.80$39,180Listed1984Fight Over3Ángel Cordero Jr.John ParisellaTheodore M. Sabarese11:59.40$55,260Listed1983Megaturn3Kenny SkinnerRichard NieminskiJohn H. Peace11:59.00$33,240Gr. 31982Dew Line3Eddie MapleJoseph B. CanteyRyehill Farm11:59.00$34,800Gr. 31981Thirty Eight Paces3Ángel Cordero Jr.King T. LeatherburyDouble Paces Stable11:56.00$33,600Gr. 31980Bar Dexter3Jean-Luc SamynLouis MondelloWoodside Stud11:56.20$34,260Gr. 21979Rivalero3Jeffrey FellJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm11:58.60$32,700Gr. 21978Silent Cal3Doug ThomasBenjamin W. Perkins Sr.Mrs. Arnold A. Willcox11:56.80$31,710Gr. 21977Soldier's Lark3Mike VeneziaVictor J. NickersonPhilip Wise11:59.20$32,010Gr. 21976Turn and Count3Jacinto VásquezPancho MartinSigmund Sommer11:56.60$32,220Gr. 21975General Beauregard3Mike VeneziaWilliam F. SchmittBrazil Stable11:54.80$32,640Gr. 21974Green Gambados3Ángel Cordero Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm11:55.60$33,600Gr. 21973Forego3Heliodoro GustinesEddie HaywardLazy F Ranch11:54.60$34,080Gr. 21972True Knight3Eddie BelmonteLou RondinelloDarby Dan Farm11:55.40$34,8601971Tinajero3Eddie BelmonteLaz BarreraRafael Escudero11:56.40$33,5401970Protanto3Chuck BaltazarMacKenzie MillerCragwood Stables11:55.20$37.8301969Ship Leave3John L. RotzAngel Penna Sr.Gustave Ring11:54.80$36,6601968Funny Fellow3Ángel Cordero Jr.Edward A. NeloyWheatley Stable11:55.60$36,8551967Proud Clarion3Braulio BaezaLoyd Gentry Jr.Darby Dan Farm11:55.00$36,5951966Mr. Right3Bobby UsseryEvan S. JacksonCheray Duchin11:57.60$38,3501965Terry's Secret3Alex MaeseCarl A. RolesPoltex Stable11:56.40$37,7501964Point du Jour3Jimmy CombestNick CombestEdith Baily Dent11:56.60$36,1401963Dean Carl3Bobby UsseryPaul BongarzonePaul Bongarzone11:57.60$37,2451962Dead Ahead3Avelino GomezWoody StephensCain Hoy Stable11:56.80$37,2451961Sherluck3Bill ShoemakerHarold YoungJacob Sher11:56.80$36,5301960Divine Comedy3Bill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamElizabeth Lunn11:55.80$36,1901959Polylad3Eldon NelsonJames B. RoweMrs. Q. A. Shaw McKean11:57.60$36,6451958Warhead3Eddie ArcaroKay Erik JensenMabel C. Schiltz11:56.80$56,6751957Promised Land3Ismael ValenzuelaHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs11:55.60$37,5001956Third Brother3Angel ValenzuelaCasey HayesChristopher Chenery11:56.40$40,7001955Sailor II3Hedley WoodhousePreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable11:56.00$40,5001954Jet Action3Bill HartackIsaac K. MourarMaine Chance Farm11:57.20$40,1001953 Race not held1952Quiet Step3Hedley WoodhouseKay Erik JensenApheim Stable (Bernard H. Heiman)11:55.80$32,6001948 – 1951 Race not held1947Cosmic Bomb 3Ovie ScurlockWilliam M. BoothWilliam G. Helis Sr.11:58.20$21,5001946Bridal Flower3Abelarado DeLaraJames W. SmithJohn R. Bradley11:57.40$22,7001945Chief Barker3Eric GuerinPatrick F. DwyerBen F. Whitaker11:58.20$19,7501944Grey Wing3Charles WahlerHarris B. BrownLillian Christopher11:45.00$3,275
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