Santa Anita Handicap
Grade I race | |
---|---|
Santa Anita Handicap | |
Location | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States |
Inaugurated | 1935 |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Website | Santa Anita Park |
Race information | |
Distance | 1¼ miles (10 furlongs) |
Track | Dirt, left-handed |
Qualification | Four-year-olds and up |
Weight | Handicap |
Purse | $750,000 |
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season. The ten furlong Santa Anita Handicap offers a purse of $750,000.
The first race was held in 1935, just months after the track opened in late 1934, and was for three-year-olds and up until 1969. The Santa Anita Handicap instantly became one of the nation's top races because it offered a minimum purse of $100,000, then a staggering amount for a horse race. In its early years, the race was most commonly referred to among horsemen and racing media as the "Hundred-Grander." Another nickname for the race dating back to that time, "The Big 'Cap," is still in regular use.
Probably the dominant figure in the early years of the race was Seabiscuit, as the race proved to be a metaphor for his career. In his first two attempts to win it in 1937 and 1938, he lost in photo finishes, with the second loss to a horse carrying 30 pounds less than he was. He suffered what was believed to be a career-ending injury while preparing for the 1939 edition. Amazingly, he came back to run in the Hundred-Grander in 1940, finally winning in what would be his last race.
Records
Speed record:
- 1.58.60 - Affirmed (1979)
Most wins:
- 2 - John Henry (1981, 1982)
- 2 - Milwaukee Brew (2002, 2003)
- 2 - Lava Man (2006, 2007)
- 2 - Game On Dude (2011, 2013)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 11 - Bill Shoemaker (1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1985)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 8 - Charlie Whittingham (1957, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1993)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Charles S. Howard (1939, 1940, 1950)
Winners of the Santa Anita Handicap
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
2013 | Game On Dude | 6 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable LLC, & Schiappa | 2:00.14 |
2012 | Ron the Greek | 5 | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Brous Stable/Wachtel Stable/Hammer | 2:00.41 |
2011 | Game On Dude | 4 | Chantal Sutherland | Bob Baffert | Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable LLC, & Schiappa | 1:59.47 |
2010 | Misremembered | 4 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Jill Baffert & George Jacobs | 2:00.20 |
2009 | Einstein | 7 | Julien Leparoux | Helen Pitts-Blasi | Midnight Cry Stable | 2.01.93 |
2008 | Heatseeker | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Hollendorfer | William de Burgh | 2.00.42 |
2007 | Lava Man | 6 | Corey Nakatani | Doug O'Neill | STD Racing/Jason Wood | 2.02.11 |
2006 | Lava Man | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Doug O'Neill | STD Racing/Jason Wood | 2.00.57 |
2005 | Rock Hard Ten | 4 | Gary Stevens | Richard Mandella | Mercedes Stables/M. Paulson | 2.01.20 |
2004 | Southern Image | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Michael Machowsky | Blahut Stables | 2.01.64 |
2003 | Milwaukee Brew | 6 | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1.59.80 |
2002 | Milwaukee Brew | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 2.01.02 |
2001 | Tiznow | 4 | Chris McCarron | Jay M. Robbins | M. Cooper/C. Straub-Rubens | 2.01.55 |
2000 | General Challenge | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Bob Baffert | Golden Eagle Farm | 2.01.49 |
1999 | Free House | 5 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | McCaffery & Toffan | 2.00.67 |
1998 | Malek | 5 | Alex Solis | Richard Mandella | Stud Panter | 2.02.26 |
1997 | Siphon | 6 | David Flores | Richard Mandella | Rio Claro Thoroughbreds | 2.02.23 |
1996 | Mr. Purple | 4 | Ed Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | Alex G. Campbell, Jr. | 2.02.04 |
1995 | Urgent Request | 5 | Gary Stevens | Rodney Rash | Stewart Aitken | 1.59.25 |
1994 | Stuka † | 4 | Chris Antley | Gary F. Jones | Allen E. Paulson | 2.00.17 |
1993 | Sir Beaufort | 6 | Pat Valenzuela | Charlie Whittingham | Victoria Calantoni | 2.00.40 |
1992 | Best Pal | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | Gary F. Jones | Golden Eagle Farm | 1.59.00 |
1991 | Farma Way | 4 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Quarter B Farm | 2.00.30 |
1990 | Ruhlmann | 5 | Gary Stevens | Charlie Wittingham | Ann & Jerry Moss | 2.01.20 |
1989 | Martial Law | 4 | Martin Pedroza | Julio C. Canani | Hughes, Messina Et Al | 1.58.80 |
1988 | Alysheba | 4 | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer | 1.59.80 |
1987 | Broad Brush | 4 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | 2.00.60 |
1986 | Greinton | 5 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Charlie Whittingham | Bradley/Whittingham/H. Wynne | 2.00.00 |
1985 | Lord at War (ARG) | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Peter Perkins | 2.00.60 |
1984 | Interco | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Ted West | David I. Sofro | 2.00.60 |
1983 | Bates Motel | 4 | Terry Lipham | John H. M. Gosden | J. Getty Phillips/M. Riordan | 1.59.60 |
1982 | John Henry † | 7 | Bill Shoemaker | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 1.59.00 |
1981 | John Henry | 6 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 1.59.40 |
1980 | Spectacular Bid | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 2.00.60 |
1979 | Affirmed | 4 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1.58.60 |
1978 | Vigors | 5 | Darrel McHargue | Larry J. Sterling | William R. Hawn | 2.01.20 |
1977 | Crystal Water | 4 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Roger Clapp | Connie M. Ring | 1.59.20 |
1976 | Royal Glint | 6 | Jorge Tejeira | Gordon R. Potter | Dan Lasater | 2.00.40 |
1975 | Stardust Mel | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Marjorie L. Everett | 2.06.40 |
1974 | Prince Dantan | 4 | Ron Turcotte | Frank "Pancho" Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 2.03.60 |
1973 | Cougar II | 7 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Charlie Whittingham | Mary F. Jones | 2.00.00 |
1972 | Triple Bend | 4 | Donald Pierce | Vance Longden | Frank M. McMahon | 2.00.00 |
1971 | Ack Ack | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Forked Lightning Ranch | 2.03.00 |
1970 | Quicken Tree | 7 | Fernando Alvarez | William T. Canney | L. R. Rowan/W. Whitney | 1.59.60 |
1969 | Nodouble | 4 | Eddie Belmonte | J. Bert Sonnier | Verna Lea Farm | 2.01.80 |
1968 | Mr. Right | 5 | Moises Yanez | Evan S. Jackson | Cheray Duchin | 2.04.60 |
1967 | Pretense | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Llangollen Farm | 2.00.80 |
1966 | Lucky Debonair | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 2.00.20 |
1965 | Hill Rise | 4 | Donald Pierce | William B. Finnegan | El Peco Ranch | 2.00.60 |
1964 | Mr. Consistency | 6 | Kenneth Church | James I. Nazworthy | Ann Peppers | 2.01.00 |
1963 | Crozier | 5 | Braulio Baeza | Julius E. Tinsley, Jr. | Fred W. Hooper | 2.00.80 |
1962 | Physician | 5 | Donald Pierce | Lynn A. Boice | Lynn A. Boice | 2.02.60 |
1961 | Prove It | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 2.00.00 |
1960 | Linmold | 4 | Donald Pierce | Harold C. McBride | Mr. & Mrs. L. I. Nelson | 2.00.60 |
1959 | Terrang | 6 | William Boland | Carl A. Roles | Poltex Stable & R. Bond | 2.00.00 |
1958 | Round Table | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | William Molter | Kerr Stable | 1.59.80 |
1957 | Corn Husker | 4 | Ralph Neves | Charlie Whittingham | Llangollen Farm | 2.01.80 |
1956 | Bobby Brocato | 5 | Johnny Longden | William Molter | Kerr Stables | 2.04.60 |
1955 | Poona II | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Red McDaniel | Helbush Farm | 2.03.00 |
1954 | Rejected | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | William J. Hirsch | King Ranch | 2.00.60 |
1953 | Mark-Ye-Well | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2.01.20 |
1952 | Miche † | 7 | John S. Covalli | Don Cameron | Muriel Vanderbilt Adams | 2.01.00 |
1951 | Moonrush | 5 | Johnny Longden | Willie Alvarado | Anita King & Gus Luellwitz | 2.02.60 |
1950 | Noor | 5 | Johnny Longden | Burley Parke | Charles S. Howard | 2.00.00 |
1949 | Vulcan's Forge | 4 | Dave Gorman | Don Cameron | Isaac J. Collins | 2.02.80 |
1948 | Talon | 6 | Eddie Arcaro | Horatio Luro | Richard N. Ryan | 2.03.40 |
1947 | Olhaverry | 8 | Melvin Peterson | Anthony E. Silver | Pan De Azucar Stable | 2.01.80 |
1946 | War Knight | 6 | John H. Adams | Charlie Leavitt | Ethel Hill | 2.01.60 |
1945 | Thumbs Up | 6 | Johnny Longden | George M. Odom | Louis B. Mayer | 2.01.20 |
1941 | Bay View | 4 | Nick Wall | Patrick F. Dwyer | Anthony Pelleteri | 2.05.40 |
1940 | Seabiscuit | 7 | Red Pollard | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 2.01.20 |
1939 | Kayak II | 4 | John H. Adams | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 2.01.40 |
1938 | Stagehand | 3 | Nick Wall | Earl H. Sande | Maxwell Howard | 2.01.60 |
1937 | Rosemont | 5 | Harry Richards | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farms | 2.02.80 |
1936 | Top Row | 5 | Wayne D. Wright | Albert A. Baroni | Albert A. Baroni | 2.04.20 |
1935 | Azucar | 7 | George Woolf | James Rushton | Fred M. Alger, Jr. | 2.02.20 |
- † In 1952, Intent won the race but was disqualified to second place.
- † In 1982, Perrault won the race but was disqualified to second place.
- † In 1994, The Wicked North won the race but was disqualified to fourth place.
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