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The Jerome Handicap is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each fall at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $150,000. The race is a prep race to several races of the Breeders' Cup.

The Jerome is the second oldest stakes race in the country and in 2007 will be in its 138th running. Named after Leonard W. Jerome, the founder of the old Jerome Park in The Bronx, a predeccesor to Belmont Park...Mr. Jerome was the grandfather of The Right Honourable Sir Winston Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, etcetra.

On September 3, 1960, the great Kelso was ridden for the first time by Eddie Arcaro. They, of course, won the Jerome. In 1875, Aristides, the winner of the inaugural Kentucky Derby, won this race. In 1878, Duke of Magenta came home first. It's also been won by Fair Play in 1908, Bold Ruler in 1957, Carry Back in 1961, and Richter Scale in 1997.

Fitz Herbert, trained by the great Sam Hildreth, won this race on his way to the title of Horse of the Year in 1909 and in 1910.

The Jerome was first run at Jerome Park from 1866 to 1889, then at Morris Park until 1905. and also at Aqueduct Race Track in 1960 and from 1962 to 1967. It was not run at all from 1910 to 1913 and had two divisions from 1866 to 1870. It was set at two miles from 1871 to 1877; at a mile and three quarters from 1878 to 1889; at a mile and five sixteenths in 1890 1891 and 1903; at a mile and a half in 1892; at a mile and a quarter in 1893 1894 and from 1896 to 1909; at a mile and a furlong in 1895.

In 1977. To The Quick finished first but was disqualified and placed second and Affiliate who finished second was disqualified and placed third.