The Essex Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-year-olds and older at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in March at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The 1949 running was won by Mrs. Emil Denemark's entry of three-year-old Provocative and Enforcer in a small four horse field.
[5] In 1957 the winner Sir Tribal set a new track record for the 1 mile and 70 yards distance in 1:40 flat.
In 1966 the event was won by 1965 Arkansas Derby winner Swift Ruler who set a new track record for the 1 mile and 70 yards distance in 1:392⁄5.
[14] Sun Master, winner of the event at the new distance at 1:41 flat continues to hold the stakes record to date.
§ Ran as an entry Oaklawn Park Media Guide 2020 Archived 2021-02-01 at the Wayback Machine