Kentucky Handicap Horse Racing:: A History Of The Great Weight Carriers (sports)

In a handicap, horses are assigned weights based on their past performances as a way to try to create evenly matched fields. The better the horse, the heavier the weight assigned. In the United States, handicaps once accounted for the majority of stakes races and were known to boast large purses attracting the leading horses of the day. Kentucky-bred horses such as Discovery, Equipoise and Kelso won under the heaviest of weights, dominating the handicap division year after year, and were immortalized in the hall of fame. These equine stars brought recognition to the Sport of Kings and became renowned athletes for their courage, fortitude and durability. Join author and turf historian Melanie Greene as she recounts the harrowing tales of these noble steeds. History of the handicap Roseben,the big train Roame,the accidental champion Exterminator, old bones Equipoise, king of the handicap horses Discovery, the iron horse Devil diver, the record holder Tom Fool, horse of the decade Kelso,,king kelly Damascus, a king among giants Forego, the last great weight carrier End of an era Appendix A. Champion handicap male horse winners, 1900-70 Appendix B. Champion older male horse Eclipse Award winners, 1971-2013.