Floral Park Handicap

The Floral Park Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Belmont Park on Long Island, New York in its fall meet. Established for fillies and mares, age three and up, it's a sprint, meaning a flat out, full throttle dash, set at 6 furlongs on the dirt and offers a purse of $100,000 added.

The Floral is a prep for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

The year 2007 saw the 13th running of the Floral Park which is named for Floral Park, New York, the site of a very early race track, one of America's first horse running courses. In those days races were not run on ovals; they were run in heats over hill and dale, usually four in number, and were exhausting affairs.

In December of 2006, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced the elimination of this race beginning in 2007 due to its poor placement on the Breeder's Cup Sprint run-up schedule.

On September 27 2007, NYRA scheduled the Floral Park Handicap as the Floral Park Stakes, with minor modifications. The race conditions were changed; it was run at seven furlongs, changed from six furlongs in previous editions, and it was restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares. The winner of this particular race in 2007 was Ice Cool Kitty [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2007-09-27-1825763140_x.htm Ice Cool Kitty purrs in Belmont's Floral Park Stakes - USATODAY.com ] ] . Whether the Floral Park Stakes (or Floral Park Handicap) will be run in similar conditions to 2007, or as it had been in years previous to 2007, in the future remains to be seen.

Past winners

* 2007 - Ice Cool Kitty (2007 edition named Floral Park Stakes, run at seven furlongs and restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares)----
* 2006 - Win McCool [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2006/September/16/Win-McCool-surprises-in-Floral-Park.aspx Win McCool surprises in Floral Park - Thoroughbred Times ] ]
* 2005 - Smokey Glacken [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2005/September/17/Pacesetter-Smokey-Glacken-clearly-best-in-Floral-Park.aspx Pacesetter Smokey Glacken clearly best in Floral Park - Thoroughbred Times ] ]
* 2004 - Feline Story [ [http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=24364 Well-Timed Kick Tells the Tale for Feline Story | bloodhorse.com ] ]
* 2003 - Bauhauser (ARG) [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2003/September/13/Shine-Again-dims-as-Bauhauser-sparkles-in-Floral-Park.aspx Shine Again dims as Bauhauser sparkles in Floral Park - Thoroughbred Times ] ]
* 2002 - Carson Hollow [ [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2002/September/14/Carson-Hollow-dominates-Floral-Park.aspx Carson Hollow dominates Floral Park - Thoroughbred Times ] ]
* 2001 - Gold Mover [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E5D91738F933A2575AC0A9679C8B63&n=Top%2FNews%2FScience%2FTopics%2FBreeding%20of%20Animals PLUS: HORSE RACING; Point Given to Stand in Bluegrass Country - New York Times ] ]
* 2000 - Big Bambu [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F06EEDC1E39F933A2575AC0A9669C8B63&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/D/Durso,%20Joseph HORSE RACING; Fantastic Light Turns It on in Man o'War - New York Times ] ]
* 1999 - Positive Gal
* 1998 - Blue Begonia
* 1997 - Creamy Dreamy
* 1996 - Lottsa Talc
* 1995 - Twist Afleet [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5D71631F935A2575AC0A963958260 HORSE RACING; Celebrity Horses Taking Center Stage at Belmont - New York Times ] ]

References