The Carter Handicap is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older run over a distance of seven furlongs run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Race history
First run in 1895, the race was named for Brooklyn contractor and tugboat captain, William Carter, who put up most of the purse money and provided the trophy. The race was hosted by the old Aqueduct race track from 1895 to 1955, except for 1946 when it was held at Belmont Park. It returned to Belmont Park from 1956 to 1959, 1968 to 1974, and again in 1994. In 2020 the event was moved to Belmont Park and held in early June.
There was no race held in 1909, 1911–1913, and 1933–1934. It was run in two divisions in 1977 and 1978.
Race distance 1895 – miles 1896 – miles 1897 – miles 1898 – about 7 furlongs 1899–1902 furlongs 1903 onwards – 7 furlongs
Historic notes The Carter Handicap is the only American Thoroughbred stakes race in which a triple dead heat for a win occurred when Brownie, Bossuet and Wait A Bit crossed the finish line at the same time in 1944. There was another dead heat between two horses in 1977, a year when the number of entrants resulted in the race being split into two divisions.
On June 13, 1942, Lillian Christopher's trainee Doublrab defeated the 1941 U.S. Triple Crown winner Whirlaway while equaling the Aqueduct track record of 1:23 flat in winning the seven furlong Carter Handicap.
Records Time record: (at current 7 furlongs distance) 1:20.04 – Artax (1999) (new race and track record)
Most wins: 2 – Audacious (1920, 1921) 2 – Osmand (1928, 1929) 2 – Flying Heels (1930, 1931) 2 – Forego (1974, 1975) 2 – Lite the Fuse (1995, 1996) 2 – Dads Caps (2014, 2015) Most wins by a trainer:
4 – John M. Gaver Sr. (1943, 1950, 1952, 1953) 4 – D. Wayne Lukas (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989)
Most wins by an owner: 4 – Greentree Stable (1943, 1950,1952, 1953)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 – James Stout (1939, 1944, 1945, 1954) 4 – Eddie Maple (1973, 1977, 1981, 1986)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Carter Stakes2026Point Dume5Edwin GonzalezTimothy C. KreiserBush Racing Stable1:22.532025Crazy Mason4Manuel FrancoGregory D. SaccoDonna Wright, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing1:21.952024Post Time4Sheldon RussellBrittany RussellHillwood Stable 1:24.002023Doppelganger4 Jevian ToledoBrittany RussellSF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable & Siena Farm LLC1:23.25Carter Handicap2022Speaker's Corner4Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottGodolphin1:21.342021Mischievous Alex4Irad Ortiz Jr.Saffie A. Joseph Jr.Cash Is King LLC & LC Racing1:23.972020Vekoma4Javier CastellanoGeorge WeaverR. A. Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables 1:21.022019World of Trouble4Manuel FrancoJason ServisMichael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Bethlehem Stables1:23.282018Army Mule4Joe BravoTodd A. PletcherSt. Elias Stable1:20.942017Green Gratto 7Christopher DeCarlo Gaston Grant Gaston Grant & Anthony Grant1:23.252016Salutos Amigos6Cornelio VelásquezDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson & Southern Equine Stable1:23.152015Dads Caps5José OrtizRudy R. RodriguezVincent S. Scuderi1:23.642014Dads Caps4Luis ContrerasRudy R. RodriguezVincent S. Scuderi1:22.022013Swagger Jack5Irad Ortiz JrMartin WolfsonSilverton Hill1:21.442012Jackson Bend5Corey NakataniNick ZitoRobert V. LaPenta & Fred Brei1:22.322011Morning Line4John VelazquezNick ZitoThoroughbred Legends Racing Stable1:21.462010Warrior's Reward4Julien LeparouxIan R. WilkesA. Stevens Miles Jr.1:21.622009Kodiak Kowboy4John VelazquezJ. Larry JonesVinery Stables / Fox Hill1:22.472008Bustin Stones4Edgar PradoBruce N. LevineRoddy Valente1:22.912007Silver Wagon6Javier CastellanoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Four Roses1:21.462006Bishop Court Hill6José A. SantosTodd A. PletcherMelnyk Racing Stables1:23.272005Forest Danger4Rafael BejaranoTodd A. PletcherAaron & Marie Jones1:20.462004Pico Central5Alex SolisPaulo LoboGary A. Tanaka1:20.222003Congaree5Gary StevensBob BaffertStonerside Stable1:21.482002Affirmed Success8Richard MiglioreRichard SchosbergAlbert Fried Jr.1:21.842001Peeping Tom4Shaun BridgmohanPatrick L. ReynoldsFlatbird Stable1:21.332000Brutally Frank6Shaun BridgmohanMitchell FriedmanSunny Meadow Farm 1:21.661999Artax4Jorge ChavezLouis AlbertraniParaneck Stable1:20.041998Wild Rush4Kent DesormeauxRichard MandellaStronach Stables1:21.161997Langfuhr5Jorge ChavezMike KeoghGus Schickedanz1:22.801996Lite the Fuse5Julie KroneRichard Dutrow Sr.Richard Dutrow Sr.1:20.801995Lite the Fuse4Ramon PerezRichard Dutrow Sr.Richard Dutrow Sr.1:21.401994Virginia Rapids4Jean-Luc SamynH. Allen JerkensMiddletown Stables1:21.401993Alydeed4Craig PerretRoger AttfieldKinghaven Farms1:22.601992Rubiano5José A. SantosFlint S. SchulhoferCentennial Farm1:21.201991Housebuster4Craig PerretWarren A. Croll Jr.Robert P. Levy1:21.201990Dancing Spree5Chris AntleyShug McGaugheyOgden Phipps1:22.001989On The Line5Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein1:21.401988Gulch4José A. SantosD. Wayne LukasPeter M. Brant1:20.401987Pine Tree Lane5Randy RomeroD. Wayne LukasLeonard Mathis1:21.201986Love That Mac4Eddie MapleWayne WidmerTatt Stables1:21.601985Mt. Livermore4Jerry BaileyD. Wayne LukasLloyd R. French Jr.1:21.801984Bet Big4Jean-Luc SamynHubert HineZelda Cohen1:21.801983Vittorioso4Alfredo Smith Jr.Reynaldo NoblesRobert E. Brennan1:22.801982Pass The Tab4Antonio GraellAlbert BarreraLeopoldo Villareal1:22.401981Amber Pass4Eddie MapleHubert HineEntremont1:23.001980Czaravich4Larry AdamsWilliam H. Turner Jr.William L. Reynolds1:21.001979Star de Naskra4Jeffrey FellRichard D. FerrisCarlyle J. Lancaster1:21.801978Pumpkin Moonshine4Dave BordenHoward M. TesherH. Joseph Allen1:22.201978Jaipur's Gem 5Jean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonJacqueline Crotty1:21.601977Quiet Little Table (DH)4Eddie MaplePhilip G. JohnsonMeadowhill1:22.001977Gentle King (DH)4Daryl MontoyaW. Preston KingCanam East Stable1:22.001977Soy Numero Uno4Ray BroussardHomer C. PardueStrapro Stable (Joseph R. Straus Sr. & Isadore Proler)1:22.201976Due Diligence4Jose AmyLazaro S. BarreraHarbor View Farm1:22.401975Forego5Heliodoro GustinesSherrill W. WardLazy F Ranch1:21.601974Forego4Heliodoro GustinesSherrill W. WardLazy F Ranch1:22.201973King's Bishop4Eddie MapleH. Allen JerkensBohemia Stable1:20.401972Leematt4Michael VeneziaJoseph P. ConsidineC. Oliver Goldsmith1:22.401971Native Royalty4John L. RotzJohn T. DavisHarbor View Farm1:22.801970Tyrant4Bobby UsseryFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Locust Hill Farm1:21.401969Promise4Bobby UsseryFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Locust Hill Farm1:22.601968In Reality4Jorge VelásquezMelvin CalvertFrances A. Genter1:21.801967Tumiga3Ben FelicianoLucien LaurinGeorge E. Robb1:23.801966Davis 2nd6Calvin StoneArnold N. WinickHerman Harris1:22.801965Viking Spirit5Kenneth ChurchJames I. NazworthyDorothy Ann Currie Brittingham1:21.401964Ahoy4Howard GrantJ. Bowes BondJaclyn Stable1:21.601963Admiral's Voyage4Ray BroussardCharles R. ParkeFred W. Hooper1:22.401962Merry Ruler4Johnny SellersEdward J. YowellHarry Freylinghuysen1:22.001961Chief of Chiefs4Jack LeonardClyde TrouttAda L. Rice1:22.801960Yes You Will4Larry AdamsJack A. PriceEdith L. Price1:22.401959Jimmer4John RuaneHarold GoodwinMyron N. Goodwin1:22.601958Bold Ruler4Eddie ArcaroJames FitzsimmonsWheatley Stable1:22.601957Portersville5Ted AtkinsonAlphonse J. PupinoClearwater Stable F.L. Leatherbury E.A. Roberts1:23.001956Red Hannigan5Paul J. BaileyHomer C. PardueWoodley Lane Farm1:23.201955Bobby Brocato4Ray BroussardWilliam MolterJoe W. Brown1:23.401954White Skies5James StoutTommy RootWilliam. M. Wickham1:23.601953Tom Fool4Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:22.001952Northern Star4Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:22.001951Arise5Eric GuerinJames C. BentleyAddison Stable (Harry & W. Jack Addison)1:23.401950Guillotine3Ted AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:23.201949Better Self4Dave GormanMax HirschKing Ranch1:25.201948Gallorette6Job Dean JessopEdward A. ChristmasWilliam L. Brann1:23.401947Rippey4Ovie ScurlockWillie BoothWilliam G. Helis1:23.001946Flood Town4Warren MehrtensMax HirschEdward J. Lasker1:23.601945Apache6James StoutJames FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:24.601944Bossuet4James StoutJames FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:23.40Wait A Bit5Gayle SmithMatthew P. BradyWilliam Ziegler Jr.1:23.40Brownie5Eric GuerinJohn B. TheallJoe W. Brown1:23.401943Devil Diver4George WoolfJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1:24.001942Doublrab4Billie ThompsonHarris B. BrownLillian Christopher1:23.001941Parasang4Basil JamesEdward L. SnyderCornelius V. Whitney1:23.001940He Did7George WoolfJ. Thomas TaylorW. Arnold Hanger1:23.801939Fighting Fox4James StoutJames FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:22.801938Airflame4Raymond WorkmanBud StotlerAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1:23.601937Aneroid4Charley RosengartenDion KerrJohn A. Manfuso1:23.601936Clang4Eddie LitzenbergerWilliam R. SalleeJohn F. Clark Jr.1:24.001935King Saxon4Calvin RaineyCharles H. KnebelkampCharles H. Knebelkamp1:23.801934Open Range3Eddie LitzenbergerGeorge E. PhillipsWilliam Graham 1:18.001933Caterwaul3Raymond WorkmanThomas J. HealeyCornelius V. Whitney1:20.201932Happy Scot4Alfred RobertsonPreston M. BurchCary T. Grayson1:24.801931Flying Heels4Charley KurtsingerJ. Simon HealyJohn J. Curtis1:24.201930Flying Heels3Willie KelsayHenry McDanielGifford A. Cochran1:24.401929Osmand5Willie GarnerPete CoyneJoseph E. Widener1:26.601928Osmand4Earl SandePete CoyneJoseph E. Widener1:25.001927Happy Argo4Fritz WeinerMax HirschKershaw Stable1:24.201926Macaw3Linus McAteeJames G. Rowe Sr.Harry Payne Whitney1:24.601926Nedana4Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable1:24.601925Silver Fox3Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable1:24.401924Sarazen3Earl SandeMax HirschFair Stable1:25.601923Little Colt3Clarence TurnerSandy McNaughtonSandy McNaughton1:25.401922Knobbie4Laverne FatorSam HildrethRancocas Stable1:24.401921Audacious5Clarence KummerSandy McNaughtonForeign Stable1:23.001920Audacious4Frank KeoghJohn J. HastingsMorton L. Schwartz1:25.001919Naturalist5Charles FairbrotherThomas WelshJoseph E. Widener1:23.001918Old Koenig5George ByrneGeorge ZieglerBeverwyck Stable1:23.801917Old Rosebud6Andy SchuttingerFrank D. WeirHamilton C. Applegate1:25.401916Trial by Jury4E. CampbellJ. Simon HealyEdward B. Cassatt1:25.401915Phosphor3Johnny LoftusWilliam H. KarrickSchuyler L. Parsons1:30.001914Roamer3Merritt C. Buxton A. J. GoldsboroughAndrew Miller1:24.80 1911 -1913 no race 1910Gretna Green6Guy BurnsAlbert SimonsJohn W. Schorr1:27.00 1909 no race 1908Jack Atkin4Phil MusgraveHerman R. BrandtBarney Schreiber1:27.801907Glorifier5George MountainJames H. McCormickJames H. McCormick1:28.201906Roseben5Lucien LyneFrank D. WeirDavy C. Johnson1:26.401905Ormonde's Right4Willie DavisA. Jack JoynerSydney Paget1:26.801904Beldame3Frank O'NeillFred BurlewNewton Bennington1:27.001903Ahumada3Jack MartinJohn A. KyleJohn A. Kyle1:33.001902Ethics4Harry CochranRichard O. MillerCharles F. Dwyer1:28.201901Motley4Willie ShawWilliam LakelandWilliam Lakeland1:28.001900Box6Danny MaherE. L. GravesW. Showalter1:26.001899Duke of Middleburg3John SullivanR. Wyndham WaldenG. W. Graydon1:26.601898The Manxman4Harry LewisWilliam OliverJ. J. Harrison1:29.601897Premier4W. CoylieJim McLaughlinJim McLaughlin1:49.001896Deerslayer4Samuel DoggettWalter C. RollinsWalter C. Rollins1:55.001895Charade 6Samuel DoggettWilliam R. JonesWilliam R. Jones2:11.60
References
The 2009 Carter Handicap at the NTRA