The Rancho Bernardo Handicap is a Grade III

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

Thoroughbred horse race Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

for

fillies 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 ...

and

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...

s age three and older run over a distance of six and one half

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...

s on the dirt held annually in August at

Del Mar Racetrack The Del Mar Fairgrounds is a event venue in Del Mar, California. The annual San Diego County Fair is held here, which was called the Del Mar Fair from 1984 to 2001. In 1936, the Del Mar Racetrack was built by the Thoroughbred Club with foundin ...

Del Mar, California Del Mar (; Spanish for "Of the Sea") is a beach town in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The Del Mar Horse Races are hosted on the De ...

. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.

History

The event named after the

master-planned community A planned community, planned city, planned town, or planned settlement is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed on previously undeveloped land. This contrasts with settlements that evolve ...

community

Rancho Bernardo, San Diego Rancho Bernardo is a master-planned community in the northern hills of the city of San Diego, California. Geography The topography of Rancho Bernardo consists of canyons and rolling hills that have large bedrock outcroppings. The major floral bio ...

located about 25 miles from Del Mar, was inaugurated on 14 October 1967 during the then Del Mar Fall meeting and held in split divisions for three-year-olds and older, and was run over a distance of one mile on the dirt track. The event was idle for five years and was resurrected in 1973 again in split divisions for three-year-olds and older, but this time on the grass track over miles. In 1974 the event was shortened to 6 furlongs and conditions were for

and

mares A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four y ...

three-years-old and older. In 1986 the distance for the event was increased to furlongs which is the current distance. In 1988 the event was classified as a Grade III race. In 1997 the John W. Sadler trained Track Gal won the event for the third time straight. Between 1990 and 1995 the race had

Breeders' Cup The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, ...

incentives which reflected in the name of the event. As of 2008, it is a

"Win And You're In" event, qualifying the winner to run in the

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is a 7-furlong (1408 m) Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred fillies and mares three years old and up. As its name implies, it is a part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-e ...

. The event has showcased some brilliant female sprinters that have gone on to capture

events. Of these mares, the 1995 winner Desert Stormer went onto win the

Breeders' Cup Sprint The Breeders' Cup Sprint is an American Weight for Age Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older. Run on dirt Corrected grade for Santa Anita sprintover a distance of 6 Furlongs ( mile), the race has been held annually si ...

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905. It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...

defeating males. The 2014 winner

Judy the Beauty Judy the Beauty (foaled 17 March 2009) is a Canadian-bred, American-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Adena Springs in Ontario, she has been owned and trained throughout her racing career by Wesley Ward who bought her for $20,000 as a year ...

went on to win the

and was crowned US Champion Female Sprint Horse that year.

Records

Speed record: * furlongs: 1:14.20 - Track Gal (1995) * 6 furlongs: 1:08.60 - Impressive Style (1974), Great Lady M. (1980), Lucky Lady Ellen (1982), Pleasure Cay (1984) Margins: * 5 lengths - Track Gal (1996) Most wins: * 3 - Track Gal (1995, 1996, 1997) 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 ...

: * 9 -

Laffit Pincay, Jr. Laffit Alejandro Pincay Jr. (born December 29, 1946, in Panama City, Panama) was once flat racing's winningest all-time jockey, still holding third place many years after his retirement. He competed primarily in the United States. Career Pincay ...

(1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2000) * 8 -

Chris McCarron Christopher John McCarron (born March 27, 1955, Boston, Massachusetts) is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He mounted his first horse ever at 16.5 years old and was racing professionally by 18. At only 19 years o ...

(1978, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) Most wins by a trainer: * 7 - John W. Sadler (1995, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2018, 2021, 2022) Most wins by an owner: * 3 - William H. Oldknow & Robert W. Phipps (1995, 1996, 1997) * 3 - Hronis Racing (2018, 2021, 2022)

Winners

''Legend:''

External site

2020 Del Mar Media Guide

References

{{reflist, 2 Del Mar Racetrack Horse races in California Graded stakes races in the United States Sprint category horse races for fillies and mares 1967 establishments in California Recurring sporting events established in 1967 Grade 2 stakes races in the United States Breeders' Cup Challenge series

History

Records

Winners

See also

External site

References