The Hollywood Turf Cup is a
Grade II
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
American
Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old or older over a distance of one and one-half miles (12
furlongs) on the
turf track scheduled annually in late November at
Del Mar Racetrack in
Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.
History
The inaugural running of the event was on 6 December 1981 under Weight-for-Age conditions with an impressive purse of US500,000 added. The event as planned by West Coast racing administration attracted some fine horses including Europeans who had come to the US to run in the
Washington, D.C. International. The event was won by the Irish-bred
Providential
Providential (February 6, 1977 – May 1998) was an Irish-born Thoroughbred racehorse who competed successfully in France and won the most important race on turf in the United States. Bred and raced by Bertram R. Firestone, he was sired by Ru ...
who raced in the US as Providential II and had previously won the
Washington, D.C. International in a star studded field which included
John Henry who was the leading stakes winner in the US at the time and started as the 2/5 odds-on favorite.
[
The race was run in two divisions in 1982 at a shorter distance of miles.]American Graded Stakes Committee {{short description, Organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders
The American Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) based in Lexington, Kentucky is a trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders. ...
classified the event with the highest status of Grade I
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
. John Henry returned to make amends in 1983 to win and become the first racehorse to surpass $4 million in career earnings.[ In 1985 the distance of the event was returned to its initial distance of miles.]Miss Alleged
Miss Alleged (1987–2008) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who was a Champion in the United States and one of only two fillies to ever win the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Background
Foaled in Kentucky, she was out of the mare, Miss Tusculum. He ...
was the only filly
A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use:
*In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old.
*In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...
to ever win this race.[
Horses who previously ran in the ]Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current ...
would sometimes run in the Turf Cup since it is the last major turf race of the year.
The race was not run in 2005 due to problems with Hollywood Park's grass course not being ready after the turf course was reseeded.
Records
Speed record:
* miles: 2:24.61 – Boboman (2006)
* miles: 2:13.40 – The Hague (1982)
Margins:
*6 lengths – Fraise
Fraise (1988–2005) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1992 Breeders' Cup Turf.
Background
Fraise was a bay horse bred by Allen E. Paulson. He was sired by Strawberry Road, the 1983 Australian Horse of the Year, a ...
(1993)
Most wins:
* 2 – Alphabatim (1984, 1986)
* 2 – Lazy Lode (1998, 1999)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Juddmonte Farms (Prince Khalid Abdullah
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
) (1984, 1986, 2008)
Most wins by a jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
:
* 8 – Chris McCarron (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2000)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Robert J. Frankel
Robert Julian Frankel (July 9, 1941 – November 16, 2009) was an American thoroughbred race horse trainer whom ESPN called "one of the most successful and respected trainers in the history of thoroughbred racing."Privman, Jay"Robert Frankel Dies ...
(1997, 2001, 2003, 2008)
Winners
''Legend:''
''Notes:''
§ Ran as an entry
† In 1992, Fraise finished first but officials disqualified him and he was set back to second place for bumping Bien Bien
Bien Bien (1989–2002) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse bred by William S. Farish III & William S. Kilroy and raced by Trudy McCaffery and John Toffan.
He won eight stakes races during his career, including four Grade I events. He set a ...
in the stretch.
‡ In 2003, Epicentre won the race but was disqualied for interference in the stretch and set back to third.
See also
List of American and Canadian Graded races
The List of American and Canadian Graded races is a list of Thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada that meet the graded stakes standards maintained by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders A ...
External links
2021 Del Mar Media Guide
References
{{reflist, 2
Horse races in California
Del Mar Racetrack
Graded stakes races in the United States
Grade 2 stakes races in the United States
Open middle distance horse races
Recurring sporting events established in 1981
1981 establishments in California