Belmont Park History: Handicapping The 1946 Withers

It is Saturday May 18th, 1946 and we're on our way to Belmont Park to enjoy a sporting afternoon courtesy of the Westchester Racing Association. Heading through the gates we pick up a program for a dime and silently thank WRA President George D. Widener for putting together a card featuring six special events including: The Aspinwall Handicap, The Stonewood, The Juvenile, The Stuyvesant Handicap, The Withers and The Oyster Bay Handicap.



Post-time is 1:30PM and we're treated to an opener of maiden two year-old fillies travelling four furlongs and a half on the Widener course. The Greentree Stable entry is looking good with top jock Eddie Arcaro piloting the unfortunately named Aching Back.
Ogden Phipps has the appropriately named Spring Thaw warming up in the paddock while the colts readying for the second race are doing their best to avoid the 12 horse, Miss Snip.



The second race feature is the Aspinwall Handicap. A young whippersnapper by the name of W.C Stephens is the conditioner of His Jewel. We'll see if this up-and-coming trainer can overcome the disastrous challenge of Stage Fire and Flood Town. Percentage punters take note of the dangerous combo of trainer Max Hirsch and jockey Warren Mehrtens who would go on to win the 1946 Triple Crown with Assault.

The third race is the running of The Stonewood for four year-olds and upward. The field of eight will travel about one mile and three-quarters over hurdles for a purse of $4,000. Refugio will carry high weight of 150lbs. Thomas T. Mott of Mott Motors owns Kennebunk who will be trained by Judy Johnson.



Race four is the 70th running of The Juvenile which was won in 1945 by Maine Chance Farm's They Say. Fourteen horses will fly through this five furlong fete on the Widener Course. I've got my eye on Frank Frankel's Fiddlers Three. In two year time, this owner would go on to win the Del Mar Handicap with Frankly. That's correct - Frank Frankel's Frankly to win the Del Mar Handicap.



Up next is the Stuyvesant Handicap. Wikipedia informs me that the Stuyvesant was not run at all from 1925 to 1936, nor from 1940 to 1962, however this program begs to differ. Interesting program note is the scratching of Eternity - the end is near people!

I'm happy to report that despite the doom and gloom surrounding The Stuyvesant, we will be entertained with the 71st running of The Withers. Jockey Wayne D. Wright piloted Polynesian to victory in the 1945 event and this year's race features eight three year-olds battling one mile carrying 126lbs. Johnny Longden will be riding Natchez for Mrs. W.M. Jeffords and owner Frank Frankel is in with a chance with Blunt Remark. However, if you want to win this race then put your money down on Foxcatcher Farms colt Hampden. Piloted by Eddie Arcaro, Hampden will sprint to victory in The Withers covering a mile in 1:36.



With the excitement of The Withers behind us, our program makes an important note for broke punters looking to leave: "New York City Busses Parked Between Hempstead TurnPike and Railroad Terminal."
Still, the seventh appears to be a solid race with eleven three year-olds contesting one mile and a furlong. Interesting to note that the track record is held by Marriage who went the distance quickest in 1:48 1/5. Rumour has it that Marriage finished his races so quickly he should have been named Divorce.

The eighth and final race of the day is the Oyster Bay Handicap for three year-olds and upward. Seven horses will travel one mile and a sixteenth with entrants from Belair Stud, Louis Prima, Frank Frankel and Railroad Stable. Best of luck with your late double!



I hope you enjoyed your afternoon at Belmont Park. Please note that winning pari-mutuel tickets must be presented for payment before April 1st of the year following the year of purchase.