Coney Island Handicap


The Coney Island Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1894 through 1910 at Sheepshead Bay Race Track in New York state. An event that always attracted a quality field, the conditions for entry allowed horses of either sex, aged three and older. Both the inaugural 1894 and the 1895 running's were on the track's Futurity Course at a distance of 5¾ furlongs after which it was moved to the main track and run at 6 furlongs each year thereafter except for 1909 when it was run at 6½ furlongs.

Demise

In 1908, the administration of Governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law the Hart–Agnew bill that effectively banned all racetrack betting in the state of New York. The legislation allowed for fines and up to a year in prison which was strictly enforced.
A 1910 amendment to the Hart–Agnew legislation added further restrictions that made the owners and directors of a racetrack personally liable for any betting done on their premises, with or without their consent. Such an onerous liability was intolerable and meant that by 1911 all racetracks in the state ceased operations. Although a February 21, 1913, ruling by the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division paved the way for racing to resume that year, by then it was too late for horse racing at Sheepshead Bay Race Track and it went out of business.

Records

Speed record:
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner: