# Metropolitan Handicap

The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs). Starting in 2014, it is now run on the same day as the Belmont Stakes in early June.
The Met Mile is one of the most prestigious American races outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. It is known as a "stallion-making race" as the distance of a mile often displays the winner's "brilliance", referring to an exceptional turn of foot. Winners of the race who went on to become notable stallions include Tom Fool (1953), Native Dancer (1954), Buckpasser (1967), Fappiano (1981), Gulch (1987–88), and Ghostzapper (2005).

## History

The Met Mile was first run in 1891 at Morris Park Racetrack. Prior to 1897, it was run at a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles. In 1904, its location was moved to Belmont Park. There it remained except for nine years; 1960 to 1967, 1969, and 1975 when it was hosted by Aqueduct Racetrack. It was not run in 1895, 1911, and 1912.
The Met Mile was the first of three races in the New York Handicap Triple series, followed by the Suburban Handicap and Brooklyn Handicap. Four horses have won the Handicap Triple:
* Whisk Broom II (1913)
* Tom Fool (1953)
* Kelso (1961)
* Fit to Fight (1984)
The Met Mile and the Brooklyn are now run on the same day as part of the Belmont Stakes undercard, so it is no longer possible to complete the Handicap Triple.
There was a Dead Heat for first in 1905.

## Records

Time record:
* 1:32.73 – Frosted (2016)
Largest Margin
* 14 1/4 – Frosted (2016)
Most wins by an owner
* 6 – Greentree Stable (1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1953, 1963)
Most wins by a jockey
* 5 – John Velazquez (1996, 1999, 2010, 2012, 2014)
Most wins by a trainer
* 6 – John M. Gaver Sr. (1940, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1953, 1963)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Gr. |
| 2024 | National Treasure | 4 | Flavien Prat | Bob Baffert | SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A.Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan | 1:35.12 | I |
| 2023 | Cody's Wish | 5 | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Godolphin | 1:34.36 | I |
| 2022 | Flightline | 4 | Flavien Prat | John W. Sadler | Horonis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, & Siena Farm | 1:33.59 | I |
| 2021 | Silver State | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC | 1:35.45 | I |
| 2020 | Vekoma | 4 | Javier Castellano | George Weaver | R A Hill Stable & Gatsas Stables | 1:32.88 | I |
| 2019 | Mitole | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | William & Corinne Heiligbrodt | 1:32.75 | I |
| 2018 | Bee Jersey | 4 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Charles E. Fipke | 1:33.13 | I |
| 2017 | Mor Spirit | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Michael Lund Petersen | 1:33.71 | I |
| 2016 | Frosted | 4 | Joel Rosario | Kiaran McLaughlin | Godolphin | 1:32.73 | I |
| 2015 | Honor Code | 4 | Javier Castellano | Shug McGaughey | Lane's End Racing | 1:33.18 | I |
| 2014 | Palace Malice | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Dogwood Stable | 1:33.56 | I |
| 2013 | Sahara Sky | 4 | Joel Rosario | Jerry Hollendorfer | Goldmark Farm | 1:34.17 | I |
| 2012 | Shackleford | 4 | John Velazquez | Dale Romans | Lauffer/Cubbedge | 1:33.30 | I |
| 2011 | Tizway | 6 | Rajiv Maragh | H. James Bond | William Clifton Jr. | 1:32.90 | I |
| 2010 | Quality Road | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Edward P. Evans | 1:33.11 | I |
| 2009 | Bribon | 6 | Alan Garcia | Rob Ribaudo | Marc Keller | 1:34.15 | I |
| 2008 | Divine Park | 4 | Alan Garcia | Kiaran McLaughlin | James J. Barry | 1:36.91 | I |
| 2007 | Corinthian | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | James A. Jerkens | Centennial Farms | 1:34.77 | I |
| 2006 | Silver Train | 4 | Edgar Prado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Buckram Oak Farm | 1:34.27 | I |
| 2005 | Ghostzapper | 5 | Javier Castellano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1:33.20 | I |
| 2004 | Pico Central | 5 | Alex Solis | Paulo Lobo | Gary A. Tanaka | 1:35.40 | I |
| 2003 | Aldebaran | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Flaxman Holdings | 1:34.00 | I |
| 2002 | Swept Overboard | 5 | Jorge F. Chavez | Craig Dollase | J. Paul Reddam | 1:33.20 | I |
| 2001 | Exciting Story | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Harry T. Mangurian Jr. | 1:37.00 | I |
| 2000 | Yankee Victor | 4 | Heberto Castillo Jr. | Carlos Morales | Moreton Binn | 1:34.60 | I |
| 1999 | Sir Bear | 6 | John Velazquez | Ralph Ziade | Barbara Smollin | 1:34.40 | I |
| 1998 | Wild Rush | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Richard Mandella | Stronach Stables | 1:33.40 | I |
| 1997 | Langfuhr | 5 | Jorge F. Chavez | Mike Keogh | Gus Schickedanz | 1:33.00 | I |
| 1996 | Honour and Glory | 3 | John Velazquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1:32.80 | I |
| 1995 | You And I | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1:34.60 | I |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | 3 | Mike E. Smith | Jimmy Croll | Jimmy Croll | 1:33.80 | I |
| 1993 | Ibero | 6 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally | Frank E. Whitham | 1:34.20 | I |
| 1992 | Dixie Brass | 3 | Julio Pezua | Dennis J. Brida | Michael Watral | 1:33.60 | I |
| 1991 | In Excess | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Bruce L. Jackson | Jack J. Munari | 1:35.40 | I |
| 1990 | Criminal Type | 5 | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | Calumet Farm | 1:34.40 | I |
| 1989 | Proper Reality | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert E. Holthus | Mrs. James A. Winn | 1:34.00 | I |
| 1988 | Gulch | 4 | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | Peter M. Brant | 1:34.60 | I |
| 1987 | Gulch | 3 | Pat Day | LeRoy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | 1:34.80 | I |
| 1986 | Garthorn | 6 | Rafael Meza | Robert J. Frankel | Jerome S. Moss | 1:33.60 | I |
| 1985 | Forzando | 4 | Don MacBeth | John Sullivan | S. C. Chillingworth | 1:34.40 | I |
| 1984 | Fit to Fight | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1:34.00 | I |
| 1983 | Star Choice | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Frances A. Genter | 1:33.80 | I |
| 1982 | Conquistador Cielo | 3 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Henryk de Kwiatkowski | 1:33.00 | I |
| 1981 | Fappiano | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Jan H. Nerud | John A. Nerud | 1:33.80 | I |
| 1980 | Czaravich | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | William H. Turner Jr. | William L. Reynolds | 1:35.80 | I |
| 1979 | State Dinner | 4 | Chris McCarron | William E. Burch | C. V. Whitney | 1:34.00 | I |
| 1978 | Cox's Ridge | 4 | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 1:34.60 | I |
| 1977 | Forego | 7 | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Whiteley | Lazy F Ranch | 1:34.80 | I |
| 1976 | Forego | 6 | Heliodoro Gustines | Frank Whiteley | Lazy F Ranch | 1:34.80 | I |
| 1975 | Gold and Myrrh | 4 | Walter Blum | William F. Wilmot | William B. Wilmot | 1:33.60 | I |
| 1974 | Arbees Boy | 4 | Eddie Maple | George Weckerle | Otly Stable | 1:34.40 | I |
| 1973 | Tentam | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 1:35.00 | I |
| 1972 | Executioner | 4 | Eddie Belmonte | Eddie Yowell | October House Farm | 1:35.40 | |
| 1971 | Tunex | 5 | John Ruane | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1:35.80 | |
| 1970 | Nodouble | 5 | Jorge Tejeira | J. Bert Sonnier | Verna Lea Farm | 1:34.60 | |
| 1969 | Arts and Letters | 3 | Jean Cruguet | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1:34.00 | |
| 1968 | In Reality | 4 | John L. Rotz | Melvin Calvert | Frances A. Genter | 1:35.00 | |
| 1967 | Buckpasser | 4 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1:34.60 | |
| 1966 | Bold Lad | 4 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1:34.20 | |
| 1965 | Gun Bow | 5 | Walter Blum | Edward A. Neloy | Gedney Farm | 1:34.40 | |
| 1964 | Olden Times | 6 | Henry Moreno | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1:34.40 | |
| 1963 | Cyrano | 4 | Bobby Ussery | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:35.00 | |
| 1962 | Carry Back | 4 | John L. Rotz | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 1:33.60 | |
| 1961 | Kelso | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 1:35.60 | |
| 1960 | Bald Eagle | 5 | Manuel Ycaza | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 1:33.60 | |
| 1959 | Sword Dancer | 3 | Bill Shoemaker | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:35.20 | |
| 1958 | Gallant Man | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | John A. Nerud | Ralph Lowe | 1:35.60 | |
| 1957 | Traffic Judge | 5 | Eddie Arcaro | James W. Maloney | Louis P. Doherty | 1:36.00 | |
| 1956 | Midafternoon | 4 | William Boland | Thomas M. Waller | Mrs. Edward E. Robbins | 1:35.00 | |
| 1955 | High Gun | 4 | Anthony DeSpirito | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:35.60 | |
| 1954 | Native Dancer | 4 | Eric Guerin | Bill Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:35.20 | |
| 1953 | Tom Fool | 4 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:35.80 | |
| 1952 | Mameluke | 4 | Gerald Porch | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1:36.40 | |
| 1951 | Casemate | 4 | Dave Gorman | Robert Dotter | James Cox Brady Jr. | 1:35.40 | |
| 1950 | Greek Ship | 3 | Hedley Woodhouse | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:36.60 | |
| 1949 | Loser Weeper | 4 | Hedley Woodhouse | Bill Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:36.40 | |
| 1948 | Stymie | 7 | Conn McCreary | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:36.80 | |
| 1947 | Stymie | 6 | Basil James | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:37.40 | |
| 1946 | Gallorette | 4 | Job Dean Jessop | Edward A. Christmas | William L. Brann | 1:37.00 | |
| 1945 | Devil Diver | 6 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:36.40 | |
| 1944 | Devil Diver | 5 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:35.80 | |
| 1943 | Devil Diver | 4 | George Woolf | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:36.60 | |
| 1942 | Attention | 4 | Don Meade | Max Hirsch | Mrs. Parker Corning | 1:36.40 | |
| 1941 | Eight Thirty | 5 | Harry Richards | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:37.20 | |
| 1940 | Third Degree | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:35.40 | |
| 1939 | Knickerbocker | 3 | Fred A. Smith | Pete Coyne | Joseph E. Widener | 1:37.20 | |
| 1938 | Danger Point | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Eddie Hayward | James D. Norris | 1:38.00 | |
| 1937 | Snark | 4 | Johnny Longden | James Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1:37.80 | |
| 1936 | Good Harvest | 4 | Sam Renick | Bud Stotler | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:36.40 | |
| 1935 | King Saxon | 4 | Calvin Rainey | Charles H. Knebelkamp | Charles H. Knebelkamp | 1:38.20 | |
| 1934 | Mr. Khayyam | 4 | Robert Jones | Matthew P. Brady | Catawba Farm | 1:37.00 | |
| 1933 | Equipoise | 5 | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. whitney | 1:37.40 | |
| 1932 | Equipoise | 4 | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. whitney | 1:37.00 | |
| 1931 | Questionnaire | 4 | Raymond Workman | Andy Schuttinger | James Butler | 1:38.60 | |
| 1930 | Jack High | 4 | Linus McAtee | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:35.00 | |
| 1929 | Petee-Wrack | 4 | Steve O'Donnell | Willie Booth | John R. Macomber | 1:40.00 | |
| 1928 | Nimba | 4 | Harold Thurber | George M. Odom | Marshall Field III | 1:40.00 | |
| 1927 | Black Maria | 4 | Frank Coltiletti | William H. Karrick | William R. Coe | 1:37.40 | |
| 1926 | Sarazen | 5 | Fred Weiner | Max Hirsch | Fair Stable | 1:38.00 | |
| 1925 | Sting | 4 | Bennie Breuning | Jimmy Johnson | James Butler | 1:37.00 | |
| 1924 | Laurano | 3 | Harold Thurber | Johnny Loftus | Oak Ridge Stable | 1:38.20 | |
| 1923 | Grey Lag | 5 | Earl Sande | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 1:38.00 | |
| 1922 | Mad Hatter | 6 | Earl Sande | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 1:36.60 | |
| 1921 | Mad Hatter | 5 | Earl Sande | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 1:37.40 | |
| 1920 | Wildair | 3 | Eddie Ambrose | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:38.80 | |
| 1919 | Lanius | 4 | Johnny Loftus | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:42.40 | |
| 1918 | Trompe La Mort | 3 | Linus McAtee | Thomas Welsh | Joseph E. Widener | 1:38.40 | |
| 1917 | Ormesdale | 4 | John McTaggart | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 1:39.20 | |
| 1916 | The Finn | 4 | Andy Schuttinger | Edward W. Heffner | Harry C. Hallenbeck | 1:38.00 | |
| 1915 | Stromboli | 4 | Clarence Turner | Sam Hildreth | August Belmont Jr. | 1:39.80 | |
| 1914 | Buskin | 4 | Charles Fairbrother | John Whalen | John Whalen | 1:37.80 | |
| 1913 | Whisk Broom II | 6 | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:39.00 | |
| 1912 | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race |
| 1911 | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race |
| 1910 | Fashion Plate | 4 | Matt McGee | William H. Karrick | Oneck Stable | 1:37.80 | |
| 1909 | King James | 4 | Guy Burns | John E. Madden | Sam Hildreth | 1:40.00 | |
| 1908 | Jack Atkin | 4 | Carroll H. Shilling | Herman R. Brandt | Barney Schreiber | 1:38.60 | |
| 1907 | Glorifier | 5 | Charles Garner | James H. McCormick | James H. McCormick | 1:40.80 | |
| 1906 | Grapple | 4 | Charles Garner | Enoch Wishard | John A. Drake | 1:39.00 | |
| 1905 | Race King (DH) | 4 | L. Smith | Jim McLaughlin | Orville L. Richards | 1:41.60 | |
| 1905 | Sysonby (DH) | 3 | Willie Shaw | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 1:41.60 | |
| 1904 | Irish Lad | 4 | Willie Shaw | John E. Madden | Herman B. Duryea | 1:40.00 | |
| 1903 | Gunfire | 4 | Tommy Burns | John W. Rogers | William C. Whitney | 1:38.00 | |
| 1902 | Arsenal | 3 | J. Daly | Julius Bauer | Arthur L. Featherstone | 1:42.50 | |
| 1901 | Banastar | 6 | George M. Odom | Charles F. Hill | Charles H. Mackay | 1:42.00 | |
| 1900 | Ethelbert | 4 | Danny Maher | A. Jack Joyner | Perry Belmont | 1:41.00 | |
| 1899 | Filigrane | 4 | Richard Clawson | R. Wyndham Walden | A. H. Morris & D. H. Morris | 1:39.25 | |
| 1898 | Bowling Brook | 3 | Pete Clay | R. Wyndham Walden | A. H. Morris & D. H. Morris | 1:44.00 | |
| 1897 | Voter | 3 | John Lamley | William Lakeland | James R. Keene | 1:40.00 | |
| 1896 | Counter Tenor | 4 | Anthony Hamilton | William Lakeland | Jacob Ruppert Jr. | 1:53.00 | |
| 1895 | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race |
| 1894 | Ramapo | 4 | Fred Taral | John J. Hyland | Gideon & Daly | 1:52.50 | |
| 1893 | Charade | 4 | Samuel Doggett | William R. Jones | William R. Jones | 1:52.25 | |
| 1892 | Pessara | 4 | Fred Taral | John S. Campbell | Alfred F. Walcott & J. S. Campbell | 1:54.00 | |
| 1891 | Tristan | 3 | George Taylor | Louis Stuart | L. Stuart & Co. | 1:51.50 | |