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Massachusetts Handicap

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The Massachusetts Handicap , frequently referred to as the "MassCap", was a flat thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and up held annually at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Massachusetts , United States. It was an ungraded stakes race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt . The race received Grade III status by the American Graded Stakes Committee for 2009, but the race was never held. The MassCap was stripped of its graded status in 2011 as a result of not being run for two consecutive years.

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37-495: The Massachusetts Handicap was won by some of the biggest names in Thoroughbred racing history including Hall of Fame inductees Riva Ridge , Stymie , Seabiscuit , Eight Thirty and Triple Crown winner Whirlaway who broke the track record in his 1942 win. On August 7, 1937, the great Seabiscuit won his seventh consecutive stakes race in track record time for the $ 70,000 purse of the 1937 MassCap. The MassCap had been

74-725: A Thoroughbred . It must also reside permanently at the yard of a trainer licensed by the BHA or a permit holder. Similarly the horse's owner or owners must be registered as owners. Thoroughbred racing is governed on a state-by-state basis in Australia. Racing NSW administers racing in New South Wales , Racing Victoria is the responsible entity in Victoria , the Brisbane Racing Club was an amalgamation in 2009 of

111-423: A graded stakes race from 1973 through 1989. Notables horses such as Riva Ridge , Dixieland Band , and Private Terms all won during this time frame. In 1987, Waquoit beat Broad Brush in a thrilling race. In the 1955 Massachusetts Handicap, jockey Sam Boulmetis, Sr. rode Helioscope to a track record time of 2:01 for 1¼ miles. The Suffolk Downs track continued to fight for its economic life since closing for

148-400: A jockey : Most wins by a trainer : * Day Court finished first in 1959 but was disqualified and placed second. * Raced in two divisions in 1977. Thoroughbred racing Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses . It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing,

185-516: A different coloured cap) or the race club colours may be used. The horse owner typically pays a monthly retainer or, in North America, a "day rate" to his or her trainer , together with fees for use of the training center or gallops (if the horse is not stabled at a race track), veterinarian and farrier (horseshoer) fees and other expenses such as mortality insurance premiums, stakes entry fees and jockeys' fees. The typical cost of owning

222-631: A license in order to train. The earnings of horse trainers may be different depending on the country and the place of employment. According to the United States Department of Labor, "The median annual wage for animal trainers was $ 25,270 in May 2012. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $ 17,580, and the top 10 percent earned more than $ 49,840." The Government of Western Australia Department of Training and Workforce Development, in their section about horse trainers, state that $ 43,399 may be

259-518: A mile or longer. An additional $ 100,000 was to be awarded if the winner had won one Grade I or Group 1 race and at least one other graded stakes race at a mile or longer in 2007. Part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the winner of the 2008 Massachusetts Handicap -- which would prove to be the final MassCap held -- automatically qualified for the Breeders' Cup Classic . Time record: Largest margin of victory: Most wins: Most wins by

296-401: A percentage of the winnings that they charge the owner for training the horse. Outside horse racing, most trainers specialize in a certain equestrianism discipline, such as show jumping , reining , rodeo , sport horse disciplines, training of a specific horse breed , starting young horses, or working with problem horses. There are a wide variety of horse training methods used to teach

333-684: A pursuit has been documented as early as 1350 BC, by Kikkuli , the Hurrian "master horse trainer" of the Hittite Empire . Another source of early recorded history of horse training as a discipline comes from the Greek writer Xenophon , in his treatise On Horsemanship . Writing circa 350 BC, Xenophon addressed starting young horses, selecting older animals, and proper grooming and bridling . He discussed different approaches to spirited and dull horses and how to deal with vices . His approach

370-493: A race horse in training for one year is in the order of £15,000 in the United Kingdom and as much as $ 35,000 at major race tracks in North America. The facilities available to trainers vary enormously. Some trainers have only a few horses in the yard and pay to use other trainers' gallops. Other trainers have every conceivable training asset. It is a feature of racing that a modest establishment often holds its own against

407-502: A three-year period beginning in 1989. The MassCap was a frequent casualty of those circumstances. Later, in an attempt to bring the MassCap back to its former glory, new ownership offered a purse of $ 500,000 in 1995 and quickly drew the likes of Cigar and Skip Away to the track. By 1997, the race was, once again, a graded race. Suffolk Downs also provided a bonus of $ 200,000 if the winner won multiple Grade I or Group 1 stakes races at

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444-417: Is credited as the first known method of training horses through a sympathetic approach, wherein the trainer attempts to understand the natural instincts of the horse and build a relationship. In horse racing , a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter. Leading horse trainers can earn a great deal of money from

481-458: Is distinguished between hurdles races and chases: the former are run over low obstacles and the latter over larger fences that are much more difficult to jump. National Hunt races are started by flag, which means that horses line up at the start behind a tape. Jump racing is popular in the UK, Ireland, France and parts of Central Europe, but only a minor sport or completely unknown in most other regions of

518-556: Is generally seen as serving the purpose of gambling rather than identifying the fastest horses, some of the best known races in the world, such as the Grand National or Melbourne Cup are run as handicaps. Flat races can be run under varying distances and on different terms. Historically, the major flat racing countries were Australia, England, Ireland, France and the United States, but other countries, such as Japan and

555-523: Is the rulemaking and enforcement body, whilst Horse Racing Ireland governs and promotes racing. In 2013, Ireland exported more than 4,800 Thoroughbreds to 37 countries worldwide with a total value in excess of €205 million ($ 278 million). This is double the number of horses exported annually from the U.S. In Great Britain , Thoroughbred horse racing is governed by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) which makes and enforces

592-651: The Woodbine Entertainment Group , formerly Ontario Jockey Club. While British Columbia's major venue is Hastings Racecourse with popular events like the annual BC Derby. Thoroughbred racing is divided into two codes: flat racing and jump races. The most significant races are categorised as Group races or Graded stakes races . Every governing body is free to set its own standards, so the quality of races may differ. Horses are also run under different conditions, for example Handicap races , Weight for Age races or Scale-Weight. Although handicapping

629-782: The Queensland Turf Club and Brisbane Racing Club, and administers racing in Queensland . Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne is home to the Melbourne Cup , the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. The race is held on the first Tuesday in November during the Spring Racing Carnival , and is publicised in Australia as "the race that stops a nation". In

666-598: The Royal Ascot Racing Club, 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, owned by a group of 10 partners organized as Sackatoga Stable, and 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, owned by IEAH stables, a horse racing hedgefund organization. Historically, most race horses have been bred and raced by their owners. Beginning after World War II , the commercial breeding industry became significantly more important in North America , Europe and Australasia ,

703-564: The United Arab Emirates, have emerged in recent decades. Some countries and regions have a long tradition as major breeding centers, namely Ireland and Kentucky. In Europe and Australia, virtually all major races are run on turf (grass) courses, while in the United States, dirt surfaces (or, lately, artificial surfaces such as Polytrack ) are prevalent. In Canada, South America and Asia, both surface types are common. Jump races and steeplechases , called National Hunt racing in

740-486: The United Kingdom and Ireland, are run over long distances, usually from two miles (3,200 m) up to four and a half miles (7,200 m), and horses carry more weight. Many jump racers, especially those bred in France, are not Thoroughbreds, being classified as AQPS . Novice jumping races involve horses that are starting out a jumping career, including horses that previously were trained in flat racing. National Hunt racing

777-522: The United States, safety regulations and drug restrictions are primarily controlled at the federal level by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority . Other aspects of racing regulation are highly fragmented. Generally, a racing commission or other state government entity in each U.S. state that conducts racing will license owners, trainers and others involved in the industry, set racing dates, and oversee wagering. Pedigree matters and

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814-526: The animals' physical needs, as well as teaching them good behaviors and/or coaching them for events, which may include contests and other riding purposes. The level of education and the yearly salary they can earn for this profession may differ depending on where the person is employed. Horse domestication by the Botai culture in Kazakhstan dates to about 3500 BC. Written records of horse training as

851-559: The bigger players even in a top race. This is particularly true of national hunt racing . In 1976, Canadian Bound became the first Thoroughbred yearling racehorse ever to be sold for more than US$ 1 million when he was purchased at the Keeneland July sale by Canadians, Ted Burnett and John Sikura Jr. Per the Oxford English Dictionary the concept of a jockey club dates to at least 1775 and is, in

888-513: The field of equine. The acceptable purpose of drugs in this area is to reduce the suffering of injuries in racehorses, but sometimes drugs are used unlawfully to get an advantage over other horses, which can result in penalties for the horse trainer in question. With the numerous weekly deaths of racehorses, drugs are a disputed cause of death in horses. The intoxication of horses is concerning to some people, such as veterinarians and legislators. Some trainers defend drugs, implying that they are not

925-436: The generic, a "club or association for the promotion and regulation of horse racing." There are scores of national and regional jockey clubs, also called racing associations, worldwide. In addition to thoroughbreds, jockey clubs may race standardbred horses, Quarter Horses , or Arabians . Racing is governed on an All-Ireland basis, with two bodies sharing organising responsibility. The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board

962-428: The horse to do the things humans want them to do. Some fields can be very lucrative, usually depending on the value of the horses once trained or prize money available in competition. As a rule, most horse trainers earn at best a modest income which often requires supplementation from a second job or additional horse-related business, such as horse boarding or riding lessons. Horse trainers are typically deemed to have

999-462: The latter known as National Hunt racing in the UK and steeplechasing in the US. Jump racing can be further divided into hurdling and steeplechasing . Traditionally, racehorses have been owned by wealthy individuals. It has become increasingly common in the last few decades for horses to be owned by syndicates or partnerships. Notable examples include the 2005 Epsom Derby winner Motivator , owned by

1036-457: The racetrack or for male horses, possibly its success as a sire, little publicity is given to the brood mares. Such is the case of La Troienne , one of the most important mares of the 20th century to whom many of the greatest Thoroughbred champions, and dams of champions can be traced. Horse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some responsibilities trainers have are caring for

1073-688: The registration of racing colors are the province of The Jockey Club , which maintains the American Stud Book and approves the names of all Thoroughbreds. The National Steeplechase Association is the official sanctioning body of American steeplechase horse racing. Regulation of horse racing in Canada is under the Jockey Club of Canada . There are a few racing venues across Canada, but the major events are mainly in Ontario and managed by

1110-421: The result of which being that a substantial portion of Thoroughbreds are now sold by their breeders, either at public auction or through private sales. Additionally, owners may acquire Thoroughbreds by "claiming" them out of a race (see discussion of types of races below). A horse runs in the unique colours of its owner. These colours must be registered under the national governing bodies and no two owners may have

1147-433: The rules, issues licences or permits to trainers and jockeys, and runs the races through their race course officials. The Jockey Club in the UK has been released from its regulatory function but still performs various supporting roles. A significant part of the BHA's work relates to the disciplining of trainers and jockeys, including appeals from decisions made by the course stewards. Disciplinary enquiries usually relate to

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1184-399: The running of a horse, for example: failure to run a horse on its merits, interference with other runners, excessive use of the whip. The emergence of internet betting exchanges has created opportunities for the public to lay horses and this development has been associated with some high-profile disciplinary proceedings. In order to run under rules a horse must be registered at Weatherbys as

1221-411: The same colours. The rights to certain colour arrangements ("cherished colours") are valuable in the same way that distinctive car registration numbers are of value. It is said that Sue Magnier (owner of George Washington, Galileo etc.) paid £50,000 for her distinctive dark blue colours. If an owner has more than one horse running in the same race then some slight variant in colours is often used (normally

1258-481: The standard yearly wages in Western Australia. Racehorse trainers in the UK can earn up to a standard yearly amount of £45,000, depending on the level of expertise a person possesses. For independent horse trainers, their status, and the amount of work they do can influence the salary. "Race winnings" can also provide a trainer with additional money. Drug usage in horses has been a disputed topic in

1295-510: The status of agents for the horse owners. As such, they have legal obligations to their owners, as well as authority to represent and even bind their owners to certain transactions. Graduation from some form of secondary school, which is usually mandatory to become an animal trainer, is one of the qualifications a horse trainer may need. While this is a requirement for some employers, others may only require that horse trainers learn as they go along. Beginners in horse training can learn more about

1332-532: The subject at a college institution, which can be beneficial for their profession, but it is not always mandatory for horse trainers. Apprenticeship is also another option if a person wants to gain more knowledge about the profession. When starting out in the profession, a horse trainer may not be given the assignments of a more learned and seasoned trainer until they gain more maturity in the job. Or, prior to their employment, they can learn and develop their skills elsewhere. A horse trainer may also need to acquire

1369-423: The world. National Hunt flat races (or "bumpers") without fences or hurdles are also staged to provide experience for horses which have not taken part in flat racing . In the world's major Thoroughbred racing countries, breeding of racehorses is a huge industry providing over a million jobs worldwide. While the attention of horseracing fans and the media is focused almost exclusively on the horse's performance on

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