Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap

Horseraces infobox
class = Grade II
horse race = Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap


caption =
location = Hawthorne Race Course
Stickney/Cicero, Illinois, USA
inaugurated = 1928
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.hawthorneracecourse.com/ Hawthorne Race Course]
distance = 1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
track = Dirt, Left-handed
qualification = Three-year-olds and up
weight = Handicap
purse = $500,000
bonuses = The Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois each year. The Hawthorne Gold Cup trophy has always been made of solid gold.

The Hawthorne Gold Cup is currently a Grade II event open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-quarter miles (ten furlongs) on the dirt and carries a purse of $500,000.

The Hawthorne Gold Cup was not run in 1934 and 1936 as a result of the Great Depression, not during World War II from 1940 through 1945, and not in 1978 when the grandstand was destroyed by fire. While the facilities were being rebuilt, the 1979 race was hels at nearby Sportsman's Park.

Historically, a premier race of the season that attracted the best horses from across the United States, U.S. Hall of Fame horse Sun Beau won it three times in a row between 1929 and 1931. Other Hall of Fame iductees have their name on the Gold Cup, including Equipoise (1933), Discovery (1935), Challedon (1936), Round Table, who won it back-to-back in 1957 and 1958, Kelso (1960) and Dr. Fager in 1967.

In 1959, Day Court, ridden by Henry Moreno, set a new track record in winning the race, a record that stood until Ron Turcotte broke it again in 1970 aboard Gladwin.

In 1979, the race was run at 9 furlongs.

Records

Time record: (at current 1¼ miles distance)
* 1:59. 4/5 - Gladwin (1970) and Group Plan (1974)

Largest Winning Margin:
* 10 lengths - Cryptoclearance (1988)

Most wins:
* 3 - Sun Beau (1929, 1930, 1931)

Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - Willis Sharpe Kilmer (1929, 1930, 1931)
* 3 - Walmac Farm (1948, 1949, 1955)

Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 - William Boland (1952, 1956, 1962)

Most wins by a Trainer:
* 3 - Howard Wells (1948, 1949, 1950)
* 3 - Robert J. Frankel (1983, 1984, 1985)

Winners

References

* [http://www.barntowire.com/2006/HAWnotes060929a.html Chicago Barn to Wire history and details on the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap]