| Class: | Grade I |
| Horse Race: | Santa Anita Handicap |
| Location: | Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States |
| Inaugurated: | 1935 |
| Race Type: | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Distance: | miles (10 furlongs) |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | left-handed |
| Qualification: | Four-year-olds and up |
| Weight: | Handicap |
| Purse: | $400,000 (2024) |
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[1] and was once considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season. The ten-furlong Santa Anita Handicap currently offers a purse of $400,000.
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.[2]
Speed record:
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Miles) | Time | Win $ | Gr. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Newgate | 4 | Frankie Dettori | Bob Baffert | SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing Et Al | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.49 | $242,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2023 | Stilleto Boy | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Ed Moger Jr. | Steve Moger | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.96 | $300,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2022 | Express Train | 5 | Victor Espinoza | John Shirreffs | C R K Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.22 | $390,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2021 | Idol | 4 | Joel Rosario | Richard Baltas | Calvin Nguyen | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.46 | $240,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2020 | Combatant | 5 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing LLC (Kosta & Pete Hronis) | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.32 | $360,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2019 | Gift Box | 6 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing LLC (Kosta & Pete Hronis) | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.02 | $355,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2018 | Accelerate | 5 | Victor Espinoza | Hronis Racing LLC (Kosta & Pete Hronis) | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.83 | $355,000 | G1 | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Shaman Ghost | 5 | Javier Castellano | Jimmy Jerkens | Adena Springs | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.57 | $450,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2016 | Melatonin | 5 | Joseph Talamo | David E. Hofmans | Tarabilla Farms Inc. (Susan Osborne) | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.01 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2015 | Shared Belief | 4 | Mike Smith | Jerry Hollendorfer | Jungle Racing (Jim & Janet Rome) | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.67 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2014 | Game On Dude | 7 | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert | Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & Bernard C. Schiappa | 1-1/4 m | 1:58.17 | $450,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2013 | Game On Dude | 6 | Mike Smith | Bob Baffert | Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & Bernard C. Schiappa | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.14 | $450,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2012 | Ron the Greek | 5 | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Brous Stable (Nils Brous), Wachtel Stable (Adam Wachtel), Jack T. Hammer | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.41 | $450,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2011 | Game On Dude | 4 | Chantal Sutherland | Bob Baffert | Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & Bernard C. Schiappa | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.47 | $450,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2010 | Misremembered | 4 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | Jill Baffert & George Jacobs | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.20 | $450,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2009 | Einstein | 7 | Julien Leparoux | Helen Pitts-Blasi | Midnight Cry Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.93 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2008 | Heatseeker | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Hollendorfer | William de Burgh | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.42 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2007 | Lava Man | 6 | Corey Nakatani | Doug O'Neill | STD Racing (Dave & Steve Kenly) & Jason Wood | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.11 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2006 | Lava Man | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Doug O'Neill | STD Racing (Steve & Dave Kenly) & Jason Wood | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.57 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2005 | Rock Hard Ten | 4 | Gary Stevens | Richard Mandella | Mercedes Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2004 | Southern Image | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Michael Machowsky | Kagele Bros, Tepper and Blahut | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.64 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2003 | Milwaukee Brew | 6 | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.80 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2002 | Milwaukee Brew | 5 | Kent Desormeaux | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.02 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2001 | Tiznow | 4 | Chris McCarron | Jay M. Robbins | Michael Cooper & Cecilia Straub-Rubens | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.55 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 2000 | General Challenge | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Bob Baffert | Golden Eagle Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.49 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1999 | Free House | 5 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | McCaffery & Toffan | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.67 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1998 | Malek | 5 | Alex Solis | Richard Mandella | Stud Panter (Francisco Cortez) | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.26 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1997 | Siphon | 6 | David Flores | Richard Mandella | Rio Claro Thoroughbreds (Linneo Eduardo De Paula Machado) | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.23 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1996 | Mr. Purple | 4 | Ed Delahoussaye | Ron McAnally | Alex G. Campbell Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.04 | $600,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1995 | Urgent Request | 5 | Gary Stevens | Rodney Rash | Stewart Aitken | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.25 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1994 | Stuka † | 4 | Chris Antley | Gary F. Jones | Allen E. Paulson | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.17 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1993 | Sir Beaufort | 6 | Pat Valenzuela | Charlie Whittingham | Victoria Calantoni | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.40 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1992 | Best Pal | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | Gary F. Jones | Golden Eagle Farm | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.00 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1991 | Farma Way | 4 | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Quarter B Farm (George R. Bunn) | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.30 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1990 | Ruhlmann | 5 | Gary Stevens | Charlie Whittingham | Ann & Jerry Moss | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1989 | Martial Law | 4 | Martin Pedroza | Julio C. Canani | Hughes, Messina Et Al | 1-1/4 m | 1:58.80 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1988 | Alysheba | 4 | Chris McCarron | Jack Van Berg | Dorothy & Pamela Scharbauer | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.80 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1987 | Broad Brush | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.60 | $550,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1986 | Greinton | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Charlie Whittingham | Mary Jones Bradley, Whittingham, Howell Wynne | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.00 | $689,500 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1985 | Lord at War (ARG) | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Peter Perkins | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.60 | $275,600 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1984 | Interco | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Ted West | David I. Sofro | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.60 | $298,650 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1983 | Bates Motel | 4 | Terry Lipham | John H. M. Gosden | Jacqueline Getty Phillips & Michael D. Riordan | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.60 | $317,350 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1982 | John Henry † | 7 | Bill Shoemaker | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.00 | $318,800 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1981 | John Henry | 6 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.40 | $238,150 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1980 | Spectacular Bid | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.60 | $190,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1979 | Affirmed | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1-1/4 m | 1:58.60 | $192,800 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1978 | Vigors | 5 | Darrel McHargue | Larry J. Sterling | William R. Hawn | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $180,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1977 | Crystal Water | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Roger Clapp | Connie M. Ring | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.20 | $173,550 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1976 | Royal Glint | 6 | Jorge Tejeira | Gordon R. Potter | Dan Lasater | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.40 | $155,900 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1975 | Stardust Mel | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Marjorie L. Everett | 1-1/4 m | 2:06.40 | $105,500 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1974 | Prince Dantan | 4 | Ron Turcotte | Frank "Pancho" Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.60 | $105,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1973 | Cougar II | 7 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Charlie Whittingham | Mary F. Jones | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.00 | $105,000 | G1 | |||||||||
| 1972 | Triple Bend | 4 | Donald Pierce | Vance Longden | Frank M. McMahon | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.00 | $105,000 | ||||||||||
| 1971 | Ack Ack | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Forked Lightning Ranch | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.00 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1970 | Quicken Tree | 7 | Fernando Alvarez | William T. Canney | Louis R. Rowan & Wheelock Whitney Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.60 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1969 | Nodouble | 4 | Eddie Belmonte | J. Bert Sonnier | Verna Lea Farm (Gene Goff) | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.80 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1968 | Mr. Right | 5 | Moises Yanez | Evan S. Jackson | Cheray Duchin | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.60 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1967 | Pretense | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charlie Whittingham | Llangollen Farm Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.80 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1966 | Lucky Debonair | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.20 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1965 | Hill Rise | 4 | Donald Pierce | William B. Finnegan | El Peco Ranch | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.60 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1964 | Mr. Consistency | 6 | Kenneth Church | James I. Nazworthy | Ann Peppers | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.00 | $102,100 | ||||||||||
| 1963 | Crozier | 5 | Braulio Baeza | Julius E. Tinsley Jr. | Fred W. Hooper | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.80 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1962 | Physician | 5 | Donald Pierce | Lynn A. Boice | Lynn A. Boice | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.60 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1961 | Prove It | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.00 | $100,000 | ||||||||||
| 1960 | Linmold | 4 | Donald Pierce | Harold C. McBride | Linne I. & Hazel Nelson | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.60 | $97,900 | ||||||||||
| 1959 | Terrang | 6 | William Boland | Carl A. Roles | Poltex Stable (Lawrence S. Pollock) & Roland Bond | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.00 | $97,900 | ||||||||||
| 1958 | Round Table | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | William Molter | Kerr Stable | 1-1/4 m | 1:59.80 | $97,900 | ||||||||||
| 1957 | Corn Husker | 4 | Ralph Neves | Charlie Whittingham | Llangollen Farm Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.80 | $103,600 | ||||||||||
| 1956 | Bobby Brocato | 5 | Johnny Longden | William Molter | Kerr Stable | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.60 | $97,900 | ||||||||||
| 1955 | Poona II | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Red McDaniel | Helbush Farm (Herman H. Helbush) | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.00 | $103,300 | ||||||||||
| 1954 | Rejected | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | William J. Hirsch | King Ranch | 1-1/4 m | 2:00.60 | $105,900 | ||||||||||
| 1953 | Mark-Ye-Well | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $97,900 | ||||||||||
| 1952 | Miche † | 7 | John S. Covalli | Don Cameron | Muriel Vanderbilt Adams | 2:01.00 | 1-1/4 m | $104,100 | - | 1951 | Moonrush | 5 | Johnny Longden | Willie Alvarado | Anita King & Gus Luellwitz | 2:02.60 | 1-1/4 m | $97,900 |
| 1950 | Noor | 5 | Johnny Longden | Burley Parke | Charles S. Howard | 2:00.00 | 1-1/4 m | $97,900 | ||||||||||
| 1949 | Vulcan's Forge | 4 | Dave Gorman | Don Cameron | Isaac J. Collins | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.80 | $102,000 | ||||||||||
| 1948 | Talon | 6 | Eddie Arcaro | Horatio Luro | Richard N. Ryan | 1-1/4 m | 2:03.40 | $102,500 | ||||||||||
| 1947 | Olhaverry | 8 | Melvin Peterson | Anthony E. Silver | Pan De Azucar Stable (Raoul Espinosa) | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.80 | $98,900 | ||||||||||
| 1946 | War Knight | 6 | John H. Adams | Charlie Leavitt | Ethel Hill | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $101,220 | ||||||||||
| 1945 | Thumbs Up | 6 | Johnny Longden | George M. Odom | Louis B. Mayer | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $82,925 | ||||||||||
| 1941 | Bay View | 4 | Nick Wall | Patrick F. Dwyer | Anthony Pelleteri | 1-1/4 m | 2:05.40 | $89,360 | ||||||||||
| 1940 | Seabiscuit | 7 | Red Pollard | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.20 | $86,650 | ||||||||||
| 1939 | Kayak II | 4 | John H. Adams | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.40 | $91,100 | ||||||||||
| 1938 | Stagehand | 3 | Nick Wall | Earl H. Sande | Maxwell Howard | 1-1/4 m | 2:01.60 | $91,450 | ||||||||||
| 1937 | Rosemont | 5 | Harry Richards | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farms | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.80 | $90,700 | ||||||||||
| 1936 | Top Row | 5 | Wayne D. Wright | Albert A. Baroni | Albert A. Baroni | 1-1/4 m | 2:04.20 | $104,600 | ||||||||||
| 1935 | Azucar | 7 | George Woolf | James Rushton | Frederick M. Alger Jr. | 1-1/4 m | 2:02.20 | $108,400 | ||||||||||