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.
Melanie Greene is a doctoral candidate in the faculty of education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed academic journals. She holds a BA and MA in sociology and has completed programs in equine studies at the University of Guelph. She is also the author of "Nasrullah: Forgotten Patriarch of the American Thoroughbred." Melanie has been an avid equestrian for much of her life.