[1] The event was named in honor of Whirlaway, the fifth Triple Crown of Horse Racing winner in 1941.
The event was run in two divisions in 1975 and the winners were both trained and owned in part by Louie J. Roussel III.
[5] In 2005 the event was renamed for Hall of Fame inductee Mineshaft, who finished second in the 2003 running to Balto Star.
† The 1978 renewal of the Whirlaway Handicap was cancelled after several trainers removed their horses from the entry list and there were insufficient runners to hold the event.
† The 2006 renewal of the Mineshaft Handicap was not scheduled due to the shortened Fair Grounds meeting being transferred to Louisiana Downs with continuing after effects of Hurricane Katrina which damaged the racetrack.