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Santa Anita Handicap

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The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season. The Santa Anita Handicap offers a purse of $1,000,000.

The first race was held in 1935, just months after the track opened in late 1934. 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 the legendary 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 him. 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.

Recent winners:

Year Win Place Show Time
2007 Lava Man Molengao Boboman 2:02.11
2006 Lava Man Magnum Wilko 2:00.57
2005 Rock Hard Ten Congrats Borrego 2:01.20
2004 Southern Image Island Fashion Saint Buddy 2:01.64
2003 Milwaukee Brew Congaree Kudos 1:59.80
2002 Milwaukee Brew Western Pride Kudos 2:02.02
2001 Tiznow Wooden Phone Trubinal 2:01.55

Past winners:

  • 2000 : General Challenge
  • 1999 : Free House
  • 1998 : Malek
  • 1997 : Siphon
  • 1996 : Mr Purple
  • 1995 : Urgent Request
  • 1994 : Stuka
  • 1993 : Sir Beaufort
  • 1992 : Best Pal
  • 1991 : Farma Way
  • 1990 : Ruhlmann
  • 1989 : Martial Law
  • 1988 : Alysheba
  • 1987 : Broad Brush
  • 1986 : Greinton
  • 1985 : Lord at War
  • 1984 : Interco
  • 1983 : Bates Motel
  • 1982 : John Henry
  • 1981 : John Henry
  • 1980 : Spectacular Bid
  • 1979 : Affirmed
  • 1978 : Vigors
  • 1977 : Crystal Water
  • 1976 : Royal Glint
  • 1975 : Stardust Mel
  • 1974 : Prince Dantan
  • 1973 : Cougar
  • 1972 : Triple Bend
  • 1971 : Ack Ack
  • 1970 : Quicken Tree
  • 1969 : Nodouble
  • 1968 : Mr. Right
  • 1967 : Pretense
  • 1966 : Lucky Debonair
  • 1965 : Hill Rise
  • 1964 : Mr. Consistency
  • 1963 : Crozier
  • 1962 : Physician
  • 1961 : Prove It
  • 1960 : Linmold
  • 1959 : Terrang
  • 1958 : Round Table
  • 1957 : Corn Husker
  • 1956 : Bobby Brocato
  • 1955 : Poona
  • 1954 : Rejected
  • 1953 : Mark-Ye-Well
  • 1952 : Miche
  • 1951 : Moonrush
  • 1949 : Vulcan's Forge
  • 1948 : Talon
  • 1947 : Olhaverry
  • 1946 : War Knight
  • 1945 : Thumbs Up
  • 1944 : World War II - No Race held
  • 1943 : World War II - No Race held
  • 1942 : World War II - No Race held
  • 1941 : Bay View
  • 1940 : Seabiscuit
  • 1939 : Kayak II
  • 1938 : Stagehand
  • 1937 : Rosemont
  • 1936 : Top Row
  • 1935 : Azucar
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