Great Metropolitan Handicap

Great Metropolitan Handicap
Class 3 race
LocationEpsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom, England
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
SponsorWeatherbys
WebsiteEpsom
Race information
Distance1 mile 4 furlongs 6 yards (2,420 m) (previously 2 1/4 miles)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
WeightHandicap race
Purse£20,000 (2024)
1st: £10,308
Great Metropolitan Handicap
2024
Dark blue, pink hoops, chevrons on sleeves, dark blue cap Dark blue, white triple diamond, white sleeves, dark blue stars, white cap, dark blue star Dark blue, red chevron and sleeves
Champagne Piaff Think First Duke Of Verona
Previous years
2023
Violet, white quartered cap Maroon, yellow chevron, hooped sleeves, black cap Yellow, royal blue stars, light blue sleeves, royal blue armlets, light blue cap, yellow star
Sir Rumi Flyin' Solo Tashi
2022
Yellow, dark blue braces Grey, white triple diamond, grey sleeves, white stars, white cap, grey diamonds Black, light green and black chevrons on sleeves, light green cap
Going Gone Mascat Solent Gateway
2021
Royal blue, white hoop, striped sleeves, white cap, royal blue star Royal blue, white hollow box, checked sleeves and cap Pink, mauve star, mauve sleeves, pink stars, purple cap, pink stars
Group One Power Soto Sizzler Galahad Threepwood
2020-2011
2019
Royal blue, white hollow box, checked sleeves and cap White, orange seams, orange sleeves, white stars, white cap, orange star Dark blue, large yellow spots
Soto Sizzler Eddystone Rock Maybe Today
2018
Maroon, white sleeves, maroon cap, white star Yellow, dark blue chevrons on sleeves Red, white sleeves, blue and white striped cap
Royal Line Golden Wolf Fire Fighting
2017
White, emerald green hoops, white sleeves and cap Dark blue and pink diamonds, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets Dark blue and white check, dark blue sleeves, emerald green cap
Galapiat Whinging Willie Barwick
2016
Dark blue and white check, dark blue sleeves, emerald green cap Dark blue and pink diamonds, pink sleeves, dark blue armlets Light blue and yellow stripes, light blue sleeves, yellow stars, light blue cap
Barwick Whinging Willie Prendergast Hill
2015
Pink, dark blue stars, pink cap Royal blue and white check, royal blue sleeves Dark blue and white check, dark blue sleeves, emerald green cap
Lungarno Palace Jakey Barwick
2014
Lime green, orange sleeves and cap Yellow, red sash, red cap, yellow star Yellow and maroon (quartered), yellow sleeves, maroon stars, yellow cap, maroon stars
Beacon Lady Da Do Run Run Dark Ruler
2013
Pink, emerald green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, yellow stripe, yellow cap Dark blue, beige epaulets
Beyond Conceit Kuda Huraa Novirak
2012
White, emerald green hoop Black, red braces, red cap Dark green, red cross belts, hooped sleeves, red cap
Aiken First Avenue Communicator
2011
Black, red chevron, hooped sleeves and cap Light blue, pink star, dark blue sleeves, pink cap, dark blue stars Black, maroon sleeves and hoop on cap
Sunny Game Rock A Doodle Doo Harlestone Times
2010-2003
2010
Emerald green, pink seams, sleeves and star on cap Orange, maroon hoop and armlets, black and orange quartered cap Yellow, royal blue epaulets, royal blue sleeves, yellow armlets and star on royal blue cap
Coin Of The Realm Final Victory Mildoura
2009
Maroon, grey armlets, grey cap Emerald green, white chevron, purple sleeves and cap Black, mauve seams, black cap
Hatton Flight Mezzanisi Rajeh
2007
Royal blue, white disc, royal blue sleeves, white spots Red, emerald green triple diamond, armlets and diamond on cap Pink, grey striped sleeves
Lake Poet Solent Dzesmin
2006
Dark Blue and Red diamonds, Red sleeves and cap Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap Purple, grey star
Vengeance Red Racketeer Sporting Gesture
2005
Red, black sleeves, white cap Grey, pink epaulets, quartered cap White, Royal Blue chevron, chevrons on sleeves, Red cap
Tender Falcon Balkan Knight Midas Way
2004
Orange, Black stripe, Black sleeves, Orange armlets White, Emerald Green epaulets and stars on sleeves, Yellow cap Dark Blue and Red diamonds, Red sleeves and cap
Cold Turkey General Vengeance
2003
Emerald Green and Royal Blue check, Emerald Green sleeves, Emerald Green cap, Royal Blue star Pink, black chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap Red, black cross of lorraine, white cap
April Stock Adjawar Sir Brastias
 

The Great Metropolitan Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs and 6 yards (2,420 metres) at Epsom in April during the Epsom Spring meeting. Inaugurated in 1846 it originally attracted top-class racehorses in the 19th and early 20th century, but today its importance has been eclipsed by larger stakes races with more valuable purses.

History

The race was created through the efforts of pub landlord, Samuel Powell Beeton in response to a call for support from the Clerk of the Course at Epsom, who wanted to upgrade the Epsom Spring Meeting. Beeton ran The Dolphin pub, near to St Mary-le-Bow church in London, an establishment so well known as a betting premises, it became known as 'the Tattersalls of the East End'. Together with fellow licensees and bookmakers, he raised a collection of £300 to sponsor the race, which for its first year attracted a field of 29 runners.[1] It thus became one of the first horse races in Britain to be sponsored.[2] For this reason, it was, in its early years, referred to as The Publican's Derby.[3] The race proved so successful that more landlords were brought on board to set up another race shortly afterwards - the City and Suburban Handicap.

For more than a century of its existence, the Great Metropolitan was a unique race. It was run over its own two and a quarter mile course, starting at the winning post, running back down the track for three furlongs, turning right across the in-field before rejoining the main course a mile from home. The in-field at Epsom, however, was open to the public, making it difficult to maintain in racing condition. In 1985 legislation was passed allowing the racecourse to fence off part of Epsom Downs and charge for public admission to the in-field. Consequently the race was reduced to a mile and a half and run over the main Derby course.[4] In contrast to its early days, it is now a fairly typical middle ranking, middle distance handicap.

The first occasion that a photo-finish camera was used to decide a result at a British racecourse was for the 1947 Great Metropolitan, run on 22 April 1947, when second place was determined by the camera.[5]

In 1891, a race in United States adopted the same name. Nowadays, the American Metropolitan Handicap, which since 1904, with a few exceptions, has been run at Belmont Park, far eclipses its British counterpart. It is a Grade 1 race which in 2012 was won by Preakness Stakes winner, Shackleford.[6]

Winners since 1988

Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer Time
1988 Empire Blue 5 08-11 Richard Quinn Paul Cole 2:48.85
1989 Empire Blue 6 09-07 Richard Quinn Paul Cole 2:49.99
1990 Empire Blue 7 10-00 Richard Quinn Paul Cole 2:38.90
1991 Army Of Stars[a] 6 08-13 Frankie Dettori Clive Brittain 2:35.00
1992-1996: No race
1997 Prince Kinsky 4 09-02 David Harrison Jim Old 2:39.09
1998 Assured Gamble 4 09-00 Pat Eddery Clive Brittain 2:49.35
1999 Kinnescash 6 08-09 Ray Cochrane Peter Bowen 2:44.43
2000 Zilarator 4 09-06 Richard Quinn William Haggas 2:54.60
2001 Spring Pursuit 5 08-07 Paul Doe Richard Price 2:51.82
2002 Salim Toto 4 09-00 Richard Hughes Hughie Morrison 2:39.19
2003 April Stock 8 09-03 Kieren Fallon Gerard Butler 2:38.40
2004 Cold Turkey 4 08-12 Simon Whitworth Gary Moore 2:53.93
2005 Tender Falcon 5 08-07 Sam Hitchcott Ron Hodges 2:43.18
2006 Vengeance 6 09-03 Pat Dobbs Simon Dow 2:42.52
2007 Lake Poet 4 08-11 Seb Sanders Clive Brittain 2:40.31
2008 Abandoned: redevelopment
2009 Hatton Flight 5 09-00 William Buick Andrew Balding 2:38.56
2010 Coin Of The Realm 5 09-01 Ryan Moore Gary Moore 2:37.50
2011 Sunny Game 4 08-09 Jamie Spencer Michael Bell 2:39.15
2012 Aiken 4 09-03 William Buick John Gosden 2:52.66
2013 Beyond Conceit 4 08-13 Jamie Spencer Andrew Balding 2:37.54
2014 Beacon Lady 5 09-00 Jack Duern William Knight 2:40.65
2015 Lungarno Palace 4 08-11 Tom Queally John Gallagher 2:42.12
2016 Barwick 8 08-13 Steve Drowne George Baker 2:49.52
2017 Galapiat 4 09-11 Franny Norton Mark Johnston 2:41.79
2018 Royal Line 4 09-07 James Doyle John Gosden 2:40.36
2019 Soto Sizzler 4 08-09 Oisin Murphy William Knight 2:35.89
no race 2020 [b]
2021 Group One Power 4 08-11 Silvestre de Sousa Andrew Balding 2:43.58
2022 Going Gone 4 09-04 Pat Cosgrave Jim Boyle 2:42.67
2023 Sir Rumi 5 09-09 William Buick Richard Hannon Jr. 2:54.83
2024 Champagne Piaff 6 09–03 Ryan Moore Gary Moore 2:38.45
  1. ^ The 1991 running took place at Kempton Park
  2. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Lambie 2010, p. 23-24.
  2. ^ "English Racecourse Gazetteer: Epsom". Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  3. ^ "The Dorling Family and Their Connection to Epsom". Epsom and Ewell History Explorer. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  4. ^ Wright, Howard (1986). Encyclopaedia of flat racing (2nd ed.). London: Hale. pp. 90–91. ISBN 0709026390.
  5. ^ "History". Epsom Racecourse. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Race Histories 6: City and Suburban and Great Metropolitan Handicaps". geegeez.com. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus: Horse racing in Great Britain suspended until end of April". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020.

Bibliography