The Delaware Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Delaware Park Racetrack in Wilmington, Delaware. The Grade III race is open to fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race one mile and one eighth on the dirt.

The race was inaugurated as the New Castle Handicap as part of the racing schedule with the 1937 opening of Delaware Park Racetrack. In 1939, Shangay Lily won the race as a seven year old, and to date remains the oldest winner of the race. In 1953, the $100,000 purse offered by the New Castle Handicap made it the richest race in the world for fillies and mares at the time. In 1955 the race was renamed the Delaware Handicap.

The race was held at Saratoga from 1982 until 1985.

In 2017, champion filly Songbird won as the shortest-priced favorite in the race's history at 1-9 odds.

In 2023, Delaware Park management announced that the race would be shortened to miles, citing difficulties in attracting top fillies and mares to run the -mile distance. Two years later, following the race's downgrading from Grade II to Grade III, management announced that the race would be further shortened to miles and moved to September. The race's fall positioning allows it to serve as a potential prep race for the year-end Breeders' Cup.

Records Speed record: 1:59.80 – Coup de Fusil (1987) (At former distance of miles)

Most wins by a horse 2 – Endine (1958, 1959) 2 – Obeah (1969, 1970) 2 – Blessing Angelica (1971, 1972) 2 – Susan's Girl (1973, 1975) 2 – Nastique (1988, 1989) 2 – Royal Delta (2012, 2013) 2 – Elate (2018, 2019) 2 - Regaled (2025, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 4 – Christiana Stable (1958, 1959, 1969, 1970)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1968, 1974, 1981, 1987) 4 - José Ortiz (2014, 2018, 2019, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Henry S. Clark (1958, 1959, 1969, 1970) 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2001, 2006, 2007, 2010) 4 – William I. Mott (2012, 2013, 2018, 2019)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner (Miles) Time Gr.2026Regaled5Joseph D. RamosD. Whitworth BeckmanRibble Farms, Hoolie Racing Stable and Kamp Racing Stables1-1/8 m1:50.48G32025Regaled4Joseph D. RamosD. Whitworth BeckmanRibble Farms and Front Page Equestrian, LLC1-1/8 m1:50.94G32024Honor D Lady 4José OrtizSaffie Joseph Jr.Final Furlong Farm and Madaket Stables, LLC1-3/16 m1:59.86G22023Idiomatic 4Florent GerouxBrad CoxJuddmonte1-3/16 m1:56.41G22022Miss Leslie4Angel CruzClaudio A. GonBB Horses1-1/4 m2:04.50G22021Miss Marissa4Daniel CentenoJames RyersonCammarota Racing LLC1-1/4 m2:04.50G22020Dunbar Road4Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad BrownPeter M. Brant1-1/8 m1:49.02G22019Elate 5José OrtizWilliam I. MottClaiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider1-1/4 m2:02.51G22018Elate 4José OrtizWilliam I. MottClaiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider1-1/4 m2:04.83G22017Songbird4Mike SmithJerry HollendorferFox Hill Farms Inc. (Rick Porter)1-1/4 m2:03.96G12016I'm a Chatterbox4Florent GerouxJ. Larry JonesFletcher & Carolyn Gray1-1/4 m2:02.64G12015Sheer Drama5Joe BravoDavid FawkesHarold L. Queen1-1/4 m2:01.58G12014Belle Gallantey5José OrtizRudy R. RodriguezMichael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC (Michael Caruso), Gary Aisquith1-1/4 m2:01.15G12013Royal Delta5Mike SmithWilliam I. MottBesilu Stables1-1/4 m2:02.04G12012Royal Delta4Mike SmithWilliam I. MottBesilu Stables 1-1/4 m2:03.51G22011Blind Luck4Garrett GomezJerry HollendorferMark Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo, Jerry Hollendorfer1-1/4 m2:01.28G22010Life at Ten5John R. VelazquezTodd PletcherCandy DeBartolo1-1/4 m2:03.21G22009Swift Temper5Alan GarciaDale L. RomansMark H. Stanley1-1/4 m2:03.41G22008Hystericalady5Garrett GomezJerry HollendorferRancho San Miguel et al.1-1/4 m2:02.37G22007Unbridled Belle4Ramon DomínguezTodd A. PletcherTeam Valor Stables LLC1-1/4 m2:01.16G22006Fleet Indian5José A. SantosTodd A. PletcherPaul H. Saylor1-1/4 m2:02.08G22005Island Sand4Jerry D. BaileyJ. Larry JonesB. A. Man Stable (James Osborne)1-1/4 m2:02.89G22004Summer Wind Dancer4Victor EspinozaJeff MullinsRichard & Yvette Wira, Linda Vetter1-1/4 m2:03.63G22003Wild Spirit4Jerry D. BaileyRobert J. FrankelSumaya U.S. Stables (Oussama Aboughazale)1-1/4 m2:02.95G22002Summer Colony4John R. VelazquezMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans1-1/4 m2:04.52G32001Irving's Baby4Ramon DomínguezTodd A. PletcherAnstu Stables, Inc.1-1/4 m2:05.21G32000Lu Ravi5Pat DayCarl E. BowmanYoshio Fujita1-1/4 m2:02.21G31999Tap to Music4Pat DayJoseph OrsenoStronach Stables1-1/4 m2:02.15G31998Amarillo4Julie KroneJohn H. ForbesPhantom House Farm (racing partnership, John Forbes, Jr. director)1-1/4 m2:04.20G31997Power Play5Larry ReynoldsH. Graham MotionRobert A. Leonard1-1/4 m2:03.40G31996Urbane4Alex SolisRandy K. BradshawSamantha Siegel1-1/4 m2:01.80G31995Night Fax4Jeff CarleWilliam H. Turner Jr.Audley Farm Stable1-1/4 m2:02.80G21994With A Wink4Richard MiglioreD. Wayne LukasMelvin Hatley1-1/4 m2:03.20G21993Green Darlin4Mike LuzziLawrence E. MurraySondra D. Bender1-1/4 m2:03.60G21992Brilliant Brass5Edgar PradoCarlos A. GarciaElaine L. Bassford1-1/4 m2:03.00G21991Crowned 4Rick WilsonBenjamin W. Perkins Jr.Bohemia Stable1-1/4 m2:04.00G21990Seattle Dawn4Robert ColtonMichael DickinsonDinwiddie Farm (Stewart Bainum)1-1/4 m2:03.00G21989Nastique5Eddie MapleStephen L. DiMauroChaus Stable (Bernard Chaus)1-1/4 m2:01.20G11988Nastique4Eddie MapleStephen L. DiMauroChaus Stable (Bernard Chaus)1-1/4 m2:07.60G11987Coup de Fusil5Ángel Cordero Jr.Jan H. NerudTartan Stable1-1/4 m1:59.80G11986Shocker T.4Gene St. LeonGeorge GianosThomasina Caporella1-1/4 m2:02.20G11985Basie4Jean CruguetFlint S. SchulhoferFrances A. Genter1-1/4 m2:02.00G11984 Adored 4Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraEthel D. Jacobs1-1/4 m2:03.20G11983May Day Eighty4Jacinto Vásquez David A. WhiteleyCalumet Farm1-1/4 m2:03.20G11982Jameela6Jack KaenelHyman RavichPeter M. Brant1-1/4 m2:02.60G11981Relaxing5Ángel Cordero Jr. Angel Penna Sr.Ogden Phipps1-1/4 m2:01.00G11980Heavenly Ade4Jerry D. BaileyMary EdensAdele W. Paxson1-1/4 m2:00.00G11979Likely Exchange5Mark S. SellersThomas H. StevensG. Watts Humphrey Jr.1-1/4 m2:03.40G11978Late Bloomer4Jorge VelásquezJohn M. Gaver Jr.Greentree Stable1-1/4 m2:02.20G11977Our Mims3Jorge VelásquezJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm1-1/4 m2:01.00G11976Optimistic Gal3Eddie MapleLeRoy JolleyDiana M. Firestone1-1/4 m2:01.00G11975Susan's Girl6Ray BroussardRoss FinstermakerFred W. Hooper1-1/4 m2:01.80G11974 Krislin5Ángel Cordero Jr.Stephen A. DiMauroHarold I. Snyder1-1/4 m2:01.60G11973Susan's Girl4Laffit Pincay Jr.John W. RussellFred W. Hooper1-1/4 m2:01.80G11972Blessing Angelica4Eddie BelmonteH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1-1/4 m2:00.601971Blessing Angelica3Jacinto VásquezH. Allen JerkensHobeau Farm1-1/4 m2:03.401970Obeah5Leroy MoyersHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables1-1/4 m2:02.601969Obeah4John L. RotzHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stables1-1/4 m2:04.201968Politely5Ángel Cordero Jr.George M. BakerBohemia Stable1-1/4 m2:02.801967Straight Deal II5Bobby UsseryHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs1-1/4 m2:02.201966Open Fire5Frank LovatoVirgil W. RainesBrandywine Stable1-1/4 m2:00.401965Steeple Jill4John RuaneBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1-1/4 m2:02.801964Old Hat5Buck ThornburgCharles C. NormanStanley Conrad1-1/4 m2:04.001963Waltz Song5Sheridan MellonThomas F. WhiteThomas F. White1-1/4 m2:04.001962Seven Thirty4Larry AdamsBert MulhollandGeorge D. Widener Jr.1-1/4 m2:02.601961Airmans Guide4Howard GrantBert B. WilliamsHugh A. Grant1-1/4 m2:02.401960Quill4Bobby UsseryLucien LaurinReginald N. Webster1-1/4 m2:02.401959Endine5Paul J. BaileyHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stable1-1/4 m2:03.601958Endine4Eldon NelsonHenry S. ClarkChristiana Stable1-1/4 m2:03.001957Princess Turia4Bill HartackHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm1-1/4 m2:05.001956Flower Bowl4Logan BatchellerPreston M. BurchBrookmeade Stable1-1/4 m2:03.001955Parlo4Eric GuerinRichard E. HandlenFoxcatcher Farms1-1/4 m2:02.401954Gainsboro Girl4Augustine CatalanoWalter D. CarrollShawmut Farm (Richard A. Jenks)1-1/4 m2:02.601953Grecian Queen3Ted AtkinsonJames P. ConwayFlorence Whitaker1-1/4 m2:02.801952Kiss Me Kate4Ronnie NashOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords1-1/4 m2:02.601951Busanda4Eric GuerinBart SweenyOgden Phipps1-1/4 m2:04.601950Adile4John GilbertOscar WhiteWalter M. Jeffords1-1/16 m1:44.601949 Allie's Pal4Robert J. MartinMorrie SidellSamuel D. Sidell1-1/16 m1:46.401948Miss Grillo6Ira HanfordHoratio LuroMill River Stable1-1/16 m1:49.001947Elpis 5Arthur F. SkeltonLarney HansmanWilliam G. Helis1-1/16 m1:46.601946Bridal Flower3Abelardo DeLaraJames W. SmithJohn R. Bradley1-1/16 m1:43.801945Plucky Maud4Robert PermaneOleg DubassoffLazy F Ranch1-1/16 m1:42.601944Everget3Arnold KirklandVirgil W. RainesBrandywine Stable1-1/16 m1:44.801943 Race not held due to wartime restrictions1942Monida5Abelardo DeLaraWilliam S. CottonConstance Morabito1-1/16 m1:45.601941Dotted Swiss4Maurice PetersMax HirschW. Arnold Hanger1-1/16 m1:49.001940Tedbriar3Jimmy LynchJohn Porter JonesWilliam H. Lipscomb1-1/16 m1:43.801939Shangay Lily7Ruperto DonosoJohn L. RobertsWilliam V. McGrath1-1/16 mn/a1938Marica5Robert DotterHoward WellsThomas D. Taggart1-1/16 m1:45.601937Rosenna3Maurice PetersRichard E. HandlenWilliam du Pont Jr.1-1/16 m1:43.80

References

External links History of the Delaware Handicap New Castle served as Delaware Handicap's predecessor Ten Things You Should Know About the Delaware Handicap at Hello Race Fans