From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Winners of the Santa Anita Handicap
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2007
Lava Man
Corey Nakatani
Doug O'Neill
STD Racing Stable/Jason Wood
2.02.11
2006
Lava Man
Corey Nakatani
Doug O'Neill
STD Racing Stable/Jason Wood
2.00.57
2005
Rock Hard Ten
Gary Stevens
Richard Mandella
Mercedes Stables & Madeleine Paulson
2.01.20
2004
Southern Image
Victor Espinoza
Michael Machowsky
Blahut Stables
2.01.64
2003
Milwaukee Brew
Edgar Prado
Robert J. Frankel
Stronach Stables
1.59.80
2002
Milwaukee Brew
Kent Desormeaux
Robert J. Frankel
Stronach Stables
2.01.02
2001
Tiznow
Chris McCarron
Jay Robbins
Michael Cooper & Cecilia Straub-Rubens
2.01.55
2000
General Challenge
Corey Nakatani
Bob Baffert
Golden Eagle Farm
2.01.49
1999
Free House
Chris McCarron
Paco Gonzalez
Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan
2.00.67
1998
Malek
Alex Solis
Richard Mandella
Stud Panter
2.02.26
1997
Siphon
David Flores
Richard Mandella
Rio Claro Thoroughbreds
2.02.23
1996
Mr. Purple
Eddie Delahoussaye
Ron McAnally
Alex G. Campbell, Jr.
2.02.04
1995
Urgent Request
Gary Stevens
Rodney Rash
Stewart Aitken
1.59.25
1994
Stuka
Chris Antley
Gary Jones
Allen E. Paulson
2.00.17
1993
Sir Beaufort
Pat Valenzuela
Charlie Whittingham
Victoria Calantoni
2.00.40
1992
Best Pal
Kent Desormeaux
Gary Jones
Golden Eagle Farm
1.59.00
1991
Farma Way
Gary Stevens
D. Wayne Lukas
Quarter B Farm
2.01.20
1990
Ruhlmann
Gary Stevens
Robert J. Frankel
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Moss
2.01.20
1989
Martial Law
Martin Pedroza
Julio Canani
Clover Racing Stable
1.58.80
1988
Alysheba
Chris McCarron
Jack van Berg
Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer
1.59.80
1987
Broad Brush
Angel Cordero, Jr.
Richard Small
Robert E. Meyerhoff
2.00.60
1986
Greinton
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Charlie Whittingham
Bradley, Whittingham & Wynne
2.00.00
1985
Lord at War
Bill Shoemaker
Charlie Whittingham
Peter Perkins
2.00.60
1984
Interco
Pat Valenzuela
Ted West, Sr.
David I. Sofro
2.00.60
1983
Bates Motel
Terry Lipham
John H. M. Gosden
Getty Phillips & Riordan
1.59.60
1982
John Henry †
Bill Shoemaker
Ron McAnally
Dotsam Stable
1.59.00
1981
John Henry
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Ron McAnally
Dotsam Stable
1.59.40
1980
Spectacular Bid
Bill Shoemaker
Bud Delp
Hawksworth Farm
2.00.60
1979
Affirmed
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laz Barrera
Harbor View Farm
1.58.60
1978
Vigors
Darrel McHargue
Larry Sterling
W. R. Hawn
2.01.20
1977
Crystal Water
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Roger Clapp
Mrs. Connie M. Ring
1.59.20
1976
Royal Glint
Jorge Tejeira
G. R. Potter
Dan Lasater
2.00.40
1975
Stardust Mel
Bill Shoemaker
Charlie Whittingham
Marjorie L. Everett
2.06.40
1974
Prince Dantan
Ron Turcotte
Frank "Pancho" Martin
Sigmund Sommer
2.03.60
1973
Cougar II
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Charlie Whittingham
Mary F. Jones
2.00.00
1972
Triple Bend
Donald Pierce
Vance Longden
Frank McMahon
2.00.00
1971
Ack Ack
Bill Shoemaker
Charlie Whittingham
Forked Lightning Ranch
2.03.00
1970
Quicken Tree
Fernando Alvarez
William T. Canney
Louis Rowan & Wheelock Whitney
1.59.60
1969
Nodouble
Eddie Belmonte
J. Bert Sonnier
Verna Lea Farm
2.01.80
1968
Mr. Right
Moises Yanez
Evan Jackson
Mrs. Peter Duchin
2.04.60
1967
Pretense
Bill Shoemaker
Charlie Whittingham
Llangollen Farm
2.00.80
1966
Lucky Debonair
Bill Shoemaker
Frank Catrone
Ada L. Rice
2.00.20
1965
Hill Rise
Donald Pierce
William B. Finnegan
El Peco Ranch
2.00.60
1964
Mr. Consistency
Ken Church
James Nazworthy
Ann Peppers
2.01.00
1963
Crozier
Braulio Baeza
J. E. Tinsley, Jr.
Fred W. Hooper
2.00.80
1962
Physician
Bill Shoemaker
Lynn A. Boice
Lynn A. Boice
2.02.60
1961
Prove It
Bill Shoemaker
Mesh Tenney
Rex C. Ellsworth
2.00.00
1960
Linmold
Donald Pierce
H. C. McBride
Mr. & Mrs. L. I. Nelson
2.00.60
1959
Terrang
William Boland
C. A. Roles
Poltex Stable & R. Bond
2.00.00
1958
Round Table
Bill Shoemaker
William Molter
Kerr Stables
1.59.80
1957
Corn Husker
Ralph Neves
Charlie Whittingham
Llangollen Farm
2.01.80
1956
Bobby Brocalo
Johnny Longden
William Molter
Mr. & Mrs. T. M. Kerr
2.04.60
1955
Poona II
Bill Shoemaker
Red McDaniel
Helbush Farm
2.03.00
1954
Rejected
Bill Shoemaker
William J. Hirsch
King Ranch
2.00.60
1953
Mark-Ye-Well
Eddie Arcaro
Horace A. Jones
Calumet Farm
2.01.20
1952
Miche
John S. Covalli
G. Don Cameron
Mrs. John P. Adams
2.01.00
1951
Moonrush
Johnny Longden
Willie Alvarado
Anita King & Gus Luellwitz
2.02.60
1950
Noor
Johnny Longden
Burley Parke
Charles S. Howard
2.00.00
1949
Vulcan's Forge
Dave Gorman
G. Don Cameron
I. J. Collins
2.02.80
1948
Talon
Eddie Arcaro
Horatio Luro
R. N. Ryan
2.03.40
1947
Olhaverry
Melvin Peterson
A. E. Silver
Pan De Azucar Stable
2.01.80
1946
War Knight
John Adams
Charlie Leavitt
Ethel Hill
2.01.60
1945
Thumbs Up
Johnny Longden
George M. Odom
Louis B. Mayer
2.01.20
1941
Bay View
Nick Wall
P. F. Dwyer
Mrs. Anthony Pelleteri
2.05.40
1940
Seabiscuit
Red Pollard
Tom Smith
Charles S. Howard
2.01.20
1939
Kayak II
John Adams
Tom Smith
Charles S. Howard
2.01.40
1938
Stagehand
Nick Wall
Earl H. Sande
Maxwell Howard
2.01.60
1937
Rosemont
Harry Richards
Richard E. Handlen
Foxcatcher Farms
2.02.80
1936
Top Row
Wayne D. Wright
Albert Anthony Baroni
Albert Anthony Baroni
2.04.20
1935
Azucar
George Woolf
James Rushton
F. M. Alger, Jr.
2.02.20
† In 1982, Perrault won the race but was disqualified to second place.