City and Suburban Handicap

City and Suburban Handicap
Class 2 race
Location Epsom Downs
Epsom, England
Inaugurated 1851
Race type Flat / Thoroughbred
Website Epsom
Race information
Distance 1 mile 2 furlongs 17 yards (2,027 m)
Surface Turf
Track Left-handed
Qualification Four-years-old and up
Weight Handicap
Purse £50,000 (2022)
1st: £25,770
The finish of the 1915 running won by Black Jester
City And Suburban Handicap
2023
Dark blue, light blue chevron, dark blue sleeves, light blue stars White, royal blue cross belts, royal blue and white striped sleeves Royal blue, white hollow box, checked sleeves and cap
Bad Company Caius Chorister Soto Sizzler
Previous years
2022
Royal blue, white hollow box, checked sleeves and cap Emerald green, yellow stripe, yellow cap Orange, emerald green stars
Soto Sizzler Achelois Love Is Golden
2021
Black, white chevron, sleeves and diamond on cap Grey, brown seams, brown cap Dark blue and yellow check, yellow sleeves
Victory Chime Sky Defender Alfred Boucher
2020-2011
2019
Emerald green and white diabolo, white sleeves, quartered cap Royal blue, light green epaulets Light blue, purple star, dark blue sleeves, orange stars, purple cap, orange stars
Mountain Angel Aquarium Aasheq
2018
Yellow, large black spots and spots on cap Purple, light blue chevron, light blue cap Emerald green, red hoops, quartered cap
Ajman King Dash Of Spice Another Touch
2017
Black, gold cross and stripe on cap Royal blue, white hoops, yellow and white halved sleeves, yellow cap Maroon, white seams, halved sleeves, maroon and white hooped cap
Brorocco Banditry Gawdawpalin
2016
Light blue and red diamonds, light blue sleeves, red cap, light blue diamond Scarlet, royal blue sleeves, black cap Black, red chevron, sleeves and cap
Dark Red Pacify What About Carlo
2015
Light blue, dark blue braces and armlets Black, red epaulets, yellow sleeves, yellow cap, red star Red, white sleeves, blue and white striped cap
Collaboration Hold The Line Fire Fighting
2014
Pink, grey seams and armlets Gold and black check, pink sleeves and cap Yellow, dark blue spots on sleeves
Sennockian Star Clayton Soviet Rock
2013
Grey, beige star, grey sleeves, beige stars and stars on cap Gold and black check, pink sleeves and cap Light green, emerald green epaulets
Area Fifty One Clayton Vasily
2012
Royal blue and white check, royal blue sleeves Yellow, pink braces and sleeves, hooped cap Dark blue, light blue stars, striped sleeves, light blue cap, dark blue star
Right Step Sirvino Tres Coronas
2011
Red and yellow (halved), white cap Purple, yellow seams, yellow sleeves, purple armlets, purple cap, yellow star Orange, mauve stars on sleeves, mauve cap, orange stars
Spanish Duke Resurge Ramona Chase
2010-2003
2010
Royal blue, white epaulets, striped cap Orange, dark green disc Mauve, yellow star, armlets and star on cap
Alainmaar Hanoverian Baron Tartan Gunna
2009
Pink, white sleeves Royal blue, white disc, royal blue sleeves, white spots Red and yellow (halved), white cap
Duncan Lake Poet Dona Alba
2008
White, Dark Blue armlets and cap Red, White sleeves, Blue and White striped cap Royal Blue, White epaulets, striped cap
Cabinet Eradicate Heaven Knows
2007
Light Blue and Grey stripes, Light Blue sleeves, hooped cap Yellow, red sleeves, yellow armlets, red cap White, black star, white sleeves, black seams, black cap, white star
Blue Bajan Charlie Tokyo Benandonner
2006
Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap Grey and royal blue stripes, red sleeves and cap Red, white stars, diabolo on sleeves and stars on cap
All That And More Impeller Divine Gift
2005
Purple and white diamonds, striped sleeves and cap Yellow, black sash, white sleeves, black and white quartered cap Yellow, Dark Blue seams, Light Blue sleeves, Dark Blue seams, Dark Blue and Yellow hooped cap
King's Thought Shahzan House Counsel's Opinion
2004
Royal blue, white chevron, light blue cap Royal blue, white disc, royal blue sleeves, white spots Yellow, black sash, white sleeves, black and white quartered cap
Blythe Knight Bonecrusher Shahzan House
2003
Turquoise sleeves and cap Aquamarine, Yellow cap Yellow, royal blue hoops, diabolo on sleeves, yellow cap
Lingo Danelor The Glen
 

The City and Suburban Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 17 yards (2,027 metres) at Epsom in April during the Epsom Spring meeting. Inaugurated in 1851 it originally attracted top-class racehorses in the 19th and early 20th century; today its importance has been eclipsed by larger stakes races with more valuable purses.

History

The City and Suburban Handicap and its companion race, the Great Metropolitan Handicap, were devised by London hosteler Samuel Powell Beeton who owned The Dolphin in Cheapside. The establishment was well known for gambling and was dubbed "the Tattersalls of the east end" by the racing public. In 1846 Beeton and a collection of other tavern owners (known collectively as the "Licensed Victuallers of London") raised £300 to establish a purse for the first running of the Great Metropolitan Handicap. The race was popular with the city betting houses and by 1851 Beeton had raised additional money by drafting subscriptions from both city and suburban gambling houses to establish a second race on Epsom Downs, the City and Suburban.

The inaugural race was run on 4 April 1851 where it was open to three-year-old and older horses of either sex that had won a stakes race worth at least 200 sovereigns in their career. The winner was required to pay £10 out of the purse to the Licensed Victuallers' Protection Society, a fund and charity for retired British pub owners. The first running was held on the New Derby course at a mile and a quarter and was close match between Lord Eglinton's 5-year-old horse Elthiron sired by Pantaloon and Mr. Carew's mare Eva, Elthiron winning by a head in two minutes and 25 seconds. Hostelers contributed to the winnings purse until 1853 when the Betting Houses Act outlawed gambling in taverns and public houses.

The Handicap attracted some top-class racehorses in the late 19th and first half of the 20th century. Several British Classic race winners such as Virago, (1,000 Guineas), Reve d'Or (Oaks), Sefton (Derby), Bend Or (Derby), Robert the Devil (St. Leger) and Black Jester (St. Leger) won the race. The American-bred gelding Parole also won the City and Suburban and the Great Metropolitan Handicaps on consecutive days in 1879. The caliber of entries has declined in recent years and the City and Suburban is currently not a graded stakes race.

In 1916 during World War I, turf activities at Epsom were curtailed and many of the spring races were run elsewhere. The equivalent of the City and Suburban, dubbed the "Suburban" Handicap was run at Lingfield Park in June and was won by Lord Carnarvon's colt Julian. The race was not held in 1917 and 1918 due to the war and was canceled in 1921 due to concerns over petrol and coal availability. At the onset of World War II, the racing meetings at Epsom Downs were suspended in 1940 and did not resume until the summer of 1946. The City and Suburban was reinstated at Epsom on 5 August 1946 to allow time for the course to be refurbished after the long hiatus.

Winners

The race has been won by several mares including the Oaks winner Reve d'Or. The first mare to win the City and Suburban was Butterfly in 1852 and the last was Starlet in 1990. The race was open to three-year-old horses in its early years, with the last three-year-old winner under the race's formal title being Mushroom (1911) and the last under provisional title, the "Suburban" Handicap, being Julian (1916).

Records

Leading jockey (6 wins):

  • Morny Cannon: Reve d'Or (1890), Nunthorpe (1891), Reminder (1895), Worcester (1896), Newhaven II (1899), The Grafter (1900)
  • 5 wins: Fred Archer: Thunder (1876), Julius Caesar (1878), Parole (1879), Master Kildare (1880), Bend Or (1881)

1851–1911

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Owner
 Time
 Ref
1851 Elthiron 5 Marlow Lord Eglinton 2:25
1852 Butterfly 3 Kendall Mr. Henry 2:16
1853 Ethelbert 3 Wells Mr. Oliver 2:20 (dh)
1854 Virago 3 Wells Mr. Howard 2:15
1855 Ireland's Eye 5 Wells H. Hill
1856 Hospitality 3 Bullock Mr. Ridley
1857 Adamas 3 Fordham Mr. Mellish
1858 Madame de Chantilly 4 Spreoty Count Lagrange
1859 Glenbuck 3 J. Adams Captain Grey
1860 Comforter 4 Henry Custance Sir H. des Vceux
1861 Cantine 5 L. Snowden Lord Ailesbury
1862 Sawcutter 4 Tom Chaloner Mr. R. C. Naylor
1863 Adventurer 4 Noble Mr. J. Gilby
1864 Merry Hart 4 Morgan Lord Westmoreland
1865 Argonaut 6 Wells Joseph Hawley
1866 Delight 3 Kenyon C.H. Carew
1867 Abergeldie 4 Huxtable Mr. F. Swindell
1868 Speculum 3 Cameron Duke of Newcastle
1869 Alpenstock 3 Jeffrey Mr. Bevill
1870 Sabinus 3 Rowell William Graham
1871 Jack Spigot 3 Crickmere J. Parry
1872 Digby Grand 4 F. Webb Mr. Keswick
1873 Mornington 5 Mordan Mr. Brayley 2:14
1874 Aldrich 3 Morbey Lord Rosebery
1875 Dalham 4 Mills Mr. T. Smith
1876 Thunder 6 Fred Archer Mr. H.F.C. Vyner
1877 Julius Caesar 4 Fred Archer Mr. T. Gee
1878 Sefton 3 Gallon Mr. W. S. Crawford
1879 Parole 6 Fred Archer Pierre Lorillard
1880 Master Kildare 5 Fred Archer Lord Hastings
1881 Bend Or 4 Fred Archer 1st Duke of Westminster 2:07
1882 Passaic 4 Weston Lord Rossmore
1883 Roysterer 5 Gallon Lord Rosebery
1884 Quicklime 5 Tomlinson Lord Bradford
1885 Bird of Freedom 3 F. Barrett Mr. Tidy
1886 Royal Hampton 4 Charles Wood Mr. Childwick
1887 Merry Duchess 5 Sam Loates T.L. Wardle 2:11.2
1888 Fullerton 5 J. Woodburn Sir G. Chetwynd
1889 Goldseeker 4 Tom Cannon, Jr. Mr. Leybourne
1890 Reve d'Or 6 Morny Cannon Duke of Beaufort
1891 Nunthorpe 5 Morny Cannon Colonel North 2:20
1892 Buccaneer 4 George Barrett Lord Rosslyn
1893 King Charles 4 Gough Mr. Taylor King
1894 Grey Leg 3 Bradford Duke of Westmoreland 2:13.2
1895 Reminder 4 Morny Cannon Tom Cannon, Sr.
1896 Worcester 6 Morny Cannon Barney Barnato
1897 Balsamo 4 Otto Madden Duke of Devonshire
1898 Bay Ronald 5 W. Bradford Mr. L. Brassey
1899 Newhaven II 6 Morny Cannon Mr. W. Cooper 2:18
1900 The Grafter 7 Morny Cannon Mr. J. Clarke 2:11.6
1901 Australian Star 5 W. Halsey Mr. S. Gollan
1902 First Principal 5 W. Bray Mr. Stedall
1903 Brambilla 3 Thompson M Ephrussi
1904 Robert le Diable 5 W. Lane Lord Carnarvon
1905 Pharisee 6 Danny Maher Sir J. Miller
1906 Dean Swift 5 H. Randell J.B. Joel
1907 Velocity 5 Herbert Jones Mrs. H.V. Jackson
1908 Dean Swift 7 Randall J.B. Joel
1909 White Eagle 4 W. Saxby Mr. W. Hall Walker
1910 Bachelor's Double 4 C. Trigg J. Lowry
1911 Mushroom 3 W. Huxley Mr. T. Barling

1912–1987

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
 Ref
1912 Chili II 4 W. Huxley P. Hartigan Mr. R. Mills 2:06.8
1913 Drinmore 5 F. Cheshire P. Hartigan Mr. G. Edwarde 2:09.2
1914 Maiden Erlegh 5 W. Griggs C. Peck Mr. Sol Joel 2:04
1915 Black Jester 4 W. Huxley Charles Morton Jack Joel 2:06.8
1916 Julian* 3 Vic. Smyth Richard Dawson Lord Carnarvon 2:07.4
1917 no race
1918 no race
1919 Royal Banks 6 Steve Donoghue Robert Sievier Lady Queensbury 2:16.4
1920 Corn Sack 4 A. Balding Gilpin Sir Ernest Paget
1921 no race*
1922 Paragon 5 Archibald Gilpin Sir Ernest Paget
1923 Dry Toast 4 J. Townsend Ernest Piggott B.B. Davidson
1924 Ulula 7 W.H. McLachlan Bartholomew, Jr. Lady Torrington
1925 Greek Bachelor 5 J. Sirett Stanley Wootton Stanley Wootton
1926 Warden of the Marches 4 Steve Donoughue Fred Darling Lord Lyonsdale
1927 Embargo 5 Steve Donoughue F. Scott Maharaja of Rajpipla
1928 Priory Park 6 Brownie Carslake C. Peck Jack Joel
1929 Parwiz 4 Michael Beary Richard Dawson The Aga Khan
1930 Lucky Tor 5 Gordon Richards Lawson W.M.G. Singer
1931 Anthurium 4 Lynch Pratt James A. de Rothschild
1932 Clogheen 4 C. Richards Gilbert Mrs. C. Jones
1933 Great Scot 7 Collins Fergusson Chester Beatty
1934 Light Sussex 4 Harry Wragg Elsey Major C. Behrens
1935 Montrose 5 Gordon Richards Fred Darling Lord Woolavington
1936 His Reverence 5 T. Burns Wellesley G.F. Annesley and J. Wellesley
1937 William of Valence 5 Packham H. Smyth Mr. A Sainsbury
1938 Pigskin 6 C. Richards Lawson Mrs. Chester Beatty
1939 Bistolfi 4 Harry Wragg Captain Bell Mrs. Lionel Corbett
1940–1945 no race
1946 Hobo* 4 Eph Smith Jack Jarvis Lord Rosebery
1947 Banco 4 T. Burn W. Smyth Duchess of Norfolk
1948 Fast Soap 5 Eph Smith Gordon Johnson-Houghton A.A. Jarvis
1949 Impeccable 5 Gordon Richards J.B. Powell Mr. R. McIlhagga
1950 Iron Duke 4 Edgar Britt Marcus Marsh Mr. Gibson
1951 Burnt Brown 5 W.T. Evans N.C. Scoble Mrs. S. Jacobson
1952 Sunny Brae 4 E. Fordyee D. Smith Mrs. J.A. de Rothschild 2:19.6
1953 Damremont 6 Jimmy Lindley T.R. Rimell T.H. Degg 2:09.8
1954 Sunny Brae 6 W. Elliot D. Smith Mrs. J.A. de Rothschild 2:08.2
1955 Coronation Year 4 Doug Smith A. Thomas A.J. Thomas 2:07.2
1956 Great Pacha 6 Doug Smith trained in Ireland The Maharani of Baroda 2:08.2
1957 Coronation Year 6 Doug Smith A. Thomas A.J. Thomas 2:08
1958 Setting Star 6 S. Clayton Dick Hern Major L.B. Holliday 2:10
1959 Guersillus 4 Edward Hide Charles Elsey Phil Bull 2:12
1960 Firestreak 4 Lester Piggott Peter Nelson Mr. John Lewis 2:07.4
1961 Nerograph 5 T. Carter G. Todd T.F.C. Frost 2:08
1962 Eastern Nip 4 Bruce Raymond W. Stephenson Major L. Gardener 2:10
1963 Tahiri 4 S. Clayton Towser Gosden Sir Harold Wernher 2:10.2
1964 The Bo'Sun 4 S. Smith Jack Jarvis Lord Rosebery 2:21.5
1965 Minor Portion 4 Jimmy Lindley Jeremy Tree Sir P. Dunn
1966 no race
1967 Hotroy 6 Duncan Keith Walter Nightingall Mr A. Kennedy
1968 My Swanee 5 Lester Piggott Bill Marshall Mrs L. Napier
1969 Karabas 4 Lester Piggott Bernard van Cutsem Lord Iveagh
1970 Granados 4 Frankie Durr Geoffrey Barling Mr. E. Benjamin 2:13.5
1971 Tandy 5 Lester Piggott Brian Swift Mr B. Shine
1972 Owen Anthony 8 T. McKeown Douglas Smith Mr A. Samuel
1973 Buss 4 Geoff Lewis Arthur Budgett Mr L. van Moppes
1974 Belper 5 Wille Carson John Dunlop Lady Manton
1975 Swell Fellow 4 Tony Kimberley Jeremy Hindley Lord J. Crichton-Stuart
1976 Red Regent 4 Pat Eddery Peter Walwyn Sir D. Clague
1977 Turnpike 4 John Matthias Ian Balding Mrs. J. MacDougald 2:12.26
1978 Saros 4 Pat Eddery Peter Walwyn Carlo Vittadini 2:20.51
1980 Sea Chimes 4 Willie Carson John Dunlop John Thursby
1981 Lafontaine 4 Greville Starkey Clive Brittain Mrs. J Bigg 2:10.2
1982 African Pearl 4 J. McCaughay Bryn Crossley R. Simpson 2:07.89
1983 Cannon King 7 Willie Carson John Dunlop Eric Pensar
1984 My Tony 4 Taffy Thomas Geoff Lewis E. Holding 2:09.08
1985 Redden 7 Chris Rutter J. Pitt A. Bateson 2:12.09
1986 Nebris 5 Pat Eddery Reg Akehurst
1987 Ben Adhem 5 Henry Candy Gerald Kidd

1988–present

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
1988 Ben Adhem 6 Chris Rutter Henry Candy Gerald Kidd 2:14.7
1989 Dismiss 4 Michael Hills Ron Smyth Lord McAlpine 2:16.7
1990 Starlet 4 Dale Gibson Lord Huntingdon Queen Elizabeth II 2:08.1
1991 No Submission 5 Darryll Holland Charlie Nelson P F Warren 2:06.0
1992–1996 No race
1997 Major Change 5 Kieren Fallon Miss Gay Kelleway The Two In One Partnership 2:07.3
1998 Kewarra 4 Tim Sprake Rod Millman G Palmer 2:16.3
1999 Chief Cashier 4 Alan Daly Toby Balding Surgical Spirits 2:13.3
2000 Night Venture 4 Richard Hills Barry Hills Maktoum Al Maktoum 2:19.8
2001 Roman King 6 Keith Dalgleish Mark Johnston D J & F A Jackson 2:20.4
2002 Kirovski 5 Eddie Ahern Peter Harris Batten, Bowstead, Harris & Manning 2:08.1
2003 Lingo 4 Kieren Fallon Lynda Ramsden Swiss partners 2:06.4
2004 Blythe Knight 4 Frankie Dettori Ed Dunlop Maktoum Al Maktoum 2:21.6
2005 King's Thought 6 Darryll Holland Steve Gollings Mrs E Houlton 2:12.7
2006 All That And More 4 Michael Hills Barry Hills Gainsborough Stud 2:12.2
2007 Blue Bajan 5 Michael Hills Andrew Turnell Dr John Hollowood 2:08.2
2008 Cabinet 4 Ryan Moore Sir Michael Stoute The Royal Ascot Racing Club 2:13.9
2009 Duncan 4 Jimmy Fortune John Gosden Normandie Stud Ltd 2:08.7
2010 Alainmaar 4 Richard Hills Michael Jarvis Hamdan Al Maktoum 2:06.9
2011 Spanish Duke 4 Eddie Ahern John Dunlop Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc 2:07.5
2012 Right Step 5 Jim Crowley Alan Jarvis Allen B Pope & Jarvis Associates 2:19.03
2013 Area Fifty One 5 Jamie Spencer Richard Fahey Marwan Koukash 2:08.10
2014 Sennockian Star 4 Silvestre de Sousa Mark Johnston The Vine Accord 2:08.96
2015 Collaboration 4 David Probert Andrew Balding Another Bottle Racing 2 2:11.06
2016 Dark Red 4 Franny Norton Ed Dunlop Hon R J Arculli 2:18.01
2017 Brorocco 4 Jimmy Quinn Andrew Balding Kingsclere Racing Club 2:07.89
2018 Ajman King 4 Andrea Atzeni Roger Varian Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum 2:08.59
2019 Mountain Angel 5 Andrea Atzeni Roger Varian Za Galadari 2:06.65
no race 2020
2021 Victory Chime 6 Hector Crouch Ralph Beckett A Nevin 2:12.29
2022 Soto Sizzler 7 Ryan Moore David Menuisier I J Heseltine 2:09.04
2023 Bad Company 6 Pat Cosgrave Jim Boyle The Clean Sweep Partnership 2:19.20
  1. The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom

See also