The Metropolitan Handicap is a Grade I stakes race for Thoroughbred horses of either gender three-years-old and above. The race is run at Belmont Park for a $600,000 purse (with $450,000 given to the winner); its one-mile distance has earned it in the moniker the "Met Mile." The Met Mile is the first of three races in the New York Handicap Triple Crown Series, followed by the Suburban Handicap and Brooklyn Handicap. A graded stakes race is a term applied to a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay. ... The Thoroughbred is a horse breed developed in 18th century England when English mares were bred with imported Arabian stallions to create a distance racer. ... Horse-racing is an equestrian sporting activity which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races of Roman times were an early example, as was the contest of the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. ... Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in the hamlet of Elmont, New York in Nassau County on Long Island (just outside of New York City). ... The Suburban Handicap is a Grade I stakes race for Thoroughbred horses aged three and older. ... The Brooklyn Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses. ...

The Met Mile was first run in 1891 at Morris Park; prior to 1897, it was run at 1-1/8 mile. In 1904, its location was moved to Belmont Park. There it remained but for nine years—1960 to 1967, 1969, and 1975—when Aqueduct Racetrack hosted the event. It was not run in 1895, 1911, and 1912. Morris Park may refer to: Morris Park, Bronx, New York, a neighborhood in The Bronx, New York City Morris Park (IRT Dyre Avenue Line), a station on the 5 subway line Morris Park (racetrack), a racetrack that was once home to the Belmont Stakes http://www. ... Aqueduct Racetrack, known as the Big A, is a horse racetrack in the neighborhood of Ozone Park in Queens, New York. ...

Holy Bull won this race in 1994, Conquistador Cielo in 1982, Arts and Letters in 1969, Buckpasser in 1967, Carry Back in 1962, Kelso in 1961, Sword Dancer in 1959, Gallant Man in 1958, Native Dancer in 1954, Tom Fool in 1953, Gallorette in 1946, Grey Lag in 1923, Whisk Broom II in 1913, and Sysonby (in a dead heat with Race King) in 1905. Holy Bull is a famous American thoroughbred. ... Buckpasser was a beautiful bay thoroughbred racehorse born in 1963. ... // Early Career Kelso, born on April 4, 1957 was an American thoroughbred race horse and is considered to be among the best racehorses of the Twentieth century. ... Native Dancer (March 27, 1950-November 16, 1967), nicknamed the Gray Ghost, was one of the most celebrated and accomplished thoroughbred racehorses in history, the first horse made famous through the medium of television. ... Tom Fool (1949–1976) was an American thoroughbred horse racing champion. ... Gallorette (1942-1959) was a Maryland-bred Chestnut Thoroughbred filly Hall of Fame race horse. ... Born in Kentucky in 1902, Sysonby, was an American thoroughbred racehorse, the son of the 1885 Epsom Derby winner, Melton, out of the English mare Optime. ... To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. ...

Devil Diver is the only three-time winner in the 1943, 1944, and 1945 runnings. Five other horses have triumphed in the Met Mile twice: Gulch (1987, 1988); Forego (1976, 1977); Stymie (1947, 1948); Equipoise (1932, 1933); and Mad Hatter (1921, 1922). Equipoise also finished first in 1934, but was disqualified. [[Forego]] , bay gelding, 1970, by Forli (Aristhophanes) Lady Golconda by Hasty Road Owner, Lazy F Ranch, Bred by Lazy F Ranch, KY Trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. ... A small chestnut born on April 4, 1941 (who started out running with his head high, but unfortunately, also running slowly), Stymie was one of the greatest bargains in thoroughbred racing history. ... Equipoise (1928 - 1938) was a champion thoroughbred racehorse, a chestnut bred in the United States by Harry Payne Whitney and owned by his son, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney. ...

The race later became part of the Broadway play "Three Men on a Horse." Broadway theatre[1] is often considered the highest professional form of theatre in the United States. ...

Past winners

Winners of The Met Mile in the past six years are:

• 2006 - Silver Train
• 2005 - Ghostzapper
• 2004 - Pico Central
• 2003 - Aldebaran
• 2002 - Swept Overboard
• 2001 - Exciting Story