Silky Sullivan Handicap
Encyclopedia
The Silky Sullivan Handicap is an American
Thoroughbred
horse race run each year (until recently in March, then on November 5, and now in May) at Golden Gate Fields
in the San Francisco Bay Area
. Named for the "Heart Attack Horse," the great closer Silky Sullivan
, the race was a mile and an eighth, or 9 furlong
Grade III
turf
race——run on grass——with a purse of $100.000. It now offers a purse of $75,000, is open to males or females three years of age, and runs at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth. It is now restricted to California breds and is no longer graded.
The race was inaugurated in 1976. Over the years its racing date has often changed due to various track schedulings. For the past few years, racing in northern California
has been in a state of uncertain flux, which, for a time, forced Golden Gate Fields to cease its fall schedule. This caused the Silky Sullivan Handicap to be in temporary hiatus. The Silky Sullivan returned on May 2, 2009, the same day the Kentucky Derby
was run at Churchill Downs
.
Silky Sullivan died in 1977, one year later than the race in his name began, and is buried in the infield at Golden Gate Fields. The only other horse so honored is the great Lost in the Fog
who died of cancer in 2006.
s ran at least once on a New York
track in August, 2005, for a $75,000 purse. In it, the Sky Mesa colt Sky Turn to Black, Kingmambo's Puppet Regime, and the Pine Bluff colt Gingobell competed in a large field. This writer has yet to discover who won, or if the race is now established, and if so, where?——or was run once, and once only.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse race run each year (until recently in March, then on November 5, and now in May) at Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Fields
Golden Gate Fields is an American horse racing track straddling both Albany, California and Berkeley, California along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay adjacent to the Eastshore Freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area...
in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Named for the "Heart Attack Horse," the great closer Silky Sullivan
Silky Sullivan
Silky Sullivan was an American thoroughbred race horse best known for his come-from-behind racing style...
, the race was a mile and an eighth, or 9 furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
Grade III
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
turf
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
race——run on grass——with a purse of $100.000. It now offers a purse of $75,000, is open to males or females three years of age, and runs at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth. It is now restricted to California breds and is no longer graded.
The race was inaugurated in 1976. Over the years its racing date has often changed due to various track schedulings. For the past few years, racing in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
has been in a state of uncertain flux, which, for a time, forced Golden Gate Fields to cease its fall schedule. This caused the Silky Sullivan Handicap to be in temporary hiatus. The Silky Sullivan returned on May 2, 2009, the same day the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
was run at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
.
Silky Sullivan died in 1977, one year later than the race in his name began, and is buried in the infield at Golden Gate Fields. The only other horse so honored is the great Lost in the Fog
Lost in the Fog
Lost in the Fog was an American thoroughbred race horse. He won his first 10 starts , 11 of his 14 lifetime starts across the country, and career earnings of $978,099 until his life was cut short by lymphoma during his four-year-old season.-Bloodlines:Bred by Susan Seper and foaled in Florida, his...
who died of cancer in 2006.
Past winners
- 2009 - Feisty Suances (1:45.39) (Kyle Kaenel) (second to Pioneerof the NilePioneerof the NilePioneerof the Nile is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was one of the favorites going into the May 2, 2009 Kentucky Derby. Bred and raced by Zayat Stables, he was sired by 2003 Belmont Stakes winner, Empire Maker, a son of the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Unbridled...
in the 2009 San Felipe StakesSan Felipe StakesThe San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The San Felipe is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in mid-March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on dirt and currently...
.) (Run on dirt due to rain.) - 2008 - Not run due to schedule shifts.
- 2007 - Not run due to schedule shifts.
- 2006 - Not run due to schedule shifts.
- 2005 - Eastern Sand (Victor EspinozaVictor EspinozaVictor Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California....
, trained by Jeff Mullins) - 2004 -
- 2003 - Always Devilish (?)
- 2002 - Big Shot (Jason P. Lumpkins, trained by Racing Hall of FameNational Museum of Racing and Hall of FameThe National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
r Richard MandellaRichard MandellaRichard Eugene Mandella is a Thoroughbred horse trainer and a member of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame....
) - 2001 - Casino King (trained by Simon Bray)
- 2000 - B. Mr. Lucky (Joe M. Castro)
- 1999 - Sunday Stroll
- 1998 -
- 1997 -
- 1996 - Cavonnier (?)
- 1995 -
- 1994 -
- 1993 -
- 1992 - Music Prospector (trained by Steve Miyadi)
- 1991 -
- 1990 - Avenging Force (Roberto Gonzalez)
- 1989 - Simply Majestic (5) (Ron Hansen)
- 1988 - Variety Road (5) (Russell BazeRussell BazeRussell Avery Baze is a horse racing jockey. He holds the record for the most race wins in North American horse racing history, and is a member of the United States Racing Hall of Fame....
) (Owner also owned Silky SullivanSilky SullivanSilky Sullivan was an American thoroughbred race horse best known for his come-from-behind racing style...
- Kjell QvaleKjell QvaleKjell Qvale is a Norwegian-American business executive. Qvale is one of the key figures in the creation of the Jensen-Healey. Qvale became the first distributor for Jaguar on the Pacific West Coast. Qvale is one of the founders of the San Francisco Auto Show.-Early life:Kjell Qvale was born in...
) - 1987 - Dormello (6) (M. Castaneda)
- 1986 - Prince Don B. (5) (M. Castaneda)
- 1985 - Nak Ack (4) (J.C. Judice)
- 1984 - Songhay (5) (J.C. Judice)
- 1983 - Buckohoy (4) (W.M. Winland)
- 1982 - Regalberto (4) (D. Sorenson)
- 1981 - Fleet Tempo (4) (Russell BazeRussell BazeRussell Avery Baze is a horse racing jockey. He holds the record for the most race wins in North American horse racing history, and is a member of the United States Racing Hall of Fame....
) - 1980 - Capt. Don (5) (D.C. Hall)
- 1979 - Crafty Native (First Division) (6) (R. Galarsa)
- 1979 - Don Alberto (Second Division) (4) (R.M. Gonzalez)
- 1978 - Alias Smith (5) (M. Castaneda)
- 1977 - Never Slipping (First Division) (5) (J. Arterburn)
- 1977 - Ga Hai (Second Division) (6) (A.L. Diaz)
- 1976 - Austin Mittler (4) (Robyn C. Smith)
Another Silky race
"The Silky Sullivan Turf Special" for sophomore coltColt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
s ran at least once on a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
track in August, 2005, for a $75,000 purse. In it, the Sky Mesa colt Sky Turn to Black, Kingmambo's Puppet Regime, and the Pine Bluff colt Gingobell competed in a large field. This writer has yet to discover who won, or if the race is now established, and if so, where?——or was run once, and once only.