Santa Anita Handicap

Santa Anita Handicap

Grade I race
Location	Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated	1935
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.santaanita.com
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Four-year-olds and up
Weight	Handicap
Purse	$600,000 thousand

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 $1 million.

The first race was held in 1935, just months after the track opened in late 1934, and the event was open to 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. He came back to run in the Hundred-Grander in 1940, finally winning in his last race.

The 2019 race was postponed from early March to early April due to Santa Anita's safety-related suspension of live racing.

Records

Speed record:

• 1.58.17 - Game On Dude (2014)

Most wins:

• 3 - Game On Dude (2011, 2013, 2014)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 11 - Bill Shoemaker (1954, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1985)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 9 - Charlie Whittingham (1957, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1993)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Charles S. Howard (1939, 1940, 1950)
• 3 - Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & Schiappa (2011, 2013, 2014)

Winners of the Santa Anita Handicap

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2018	Accelerate	5	Victor Espinoza	John W. Sadler	Hronis Racing LLC	2:01.83
2017	Shaman Ghost	5	Javier Castellano	Jimmy Jerkens	Adena Springs	2:01.57
2016	Melatonin	5	Joseph Talamo	David E. Hofmans	Tarabilla Farms	2:02.01
2015	Shared Belief	4	Mike Smith	Jerry Hollendorfer	Jungle Racing	2:00.67
2014	Game On Dude	7	Mike Smith	Bob Baffert	Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & Schiappa	1:58.17
2013	Game On Dude	6	Mike Smith	Bob Baffert	Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & 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 & 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 Whittingham	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 (horse)	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.

External links

• Santa Anita Handicap at Pedigree Query
• Ten Things You Should Know about the Santa Anita Handicap at Hello Race Fans!