The San Diego Handicap is an American
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 ...
held annually in late July/early 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 ...
in
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 ...
. This
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 ...
race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. It is considered the track's key prep race for its foremost attraction, the $1-million
Pacific Classic Stakes.
Inaugurated in 1937, it was first run on July 3 as part of the first-ever racecard at Del Mar Racetrack. Since inception it has been contested at various distances:
* 6
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 : 1937, 1945, 1946, 1947
* 1 mile : 1941
* miles : 1991-1993
* miles : 1938, 1948–1990, 1994–present
The race was not run in 1939-1940 and from 1942 through 1944.
From 2007 to 2014, the race was run on a
Polytrack artificial dirt surface.
Records
Speed record: (at current distance of miles)
* 1:40.00 - Windy Sands (1962)
* 1:40.00 -
Native Diver
Native Diver (April 16, 1959 – September 13, 1967) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Native Diver's nicknames included "the Diver," "The California Comet" and "The Black Horse." He compiled 34 stakes wins throughout his career, but never ...
(1965)
Most wins:
* 3 -
Native Diver
Native Diver (April 16, 1959 – September 13, 1967) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Native Diver's nicknames included "the Diver," "The California Comet" and "The Black Horse." He compiled 34 stakes wins throughout his career, but never ...
(1963, 1964, 1965)
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 ...
:
* 6 -
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 ...
(1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999)
* 6 -
Victor Espinoza
Victor Espinoza (born May 23, 1972) is a Mexican jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing who won the Triple Crown in 2015 on American Pharoah. He began riding in his native Mexico and went on to compete at racetracks in California. He has wo ...
(2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2016, 2017)
Most wins by a
trainer:
* 5 -
Charlie Whittingham
Charles Edward Whittingham (April 13, 1913 – April 20, 1999) was an American Thoroughbred race horse trainer who is one of the most acclaimed trainers in U.S. racing history.
Early career
Born in Chula Vista, California, Whittingham began w ...
(1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1989)
* 5 -
Robert J. Frankel (1976, 1982, 1999, 2000, 2001)
* 5 -
John W. Sadler (2003, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - E. O. Stice & Sons (1945, 1948, 1949)
* 3 - M/M Louis K. Shapiro (1963, 1964, 1965)
Winners
* † In 1976, Mark's Place finished first but was disqualified and set back to last.
* † In 1969, TripleTux finished first but was disqualified and set back to fourth.
References
{{Reflist
The 2009 San Diego Handicap at the NTRA
Del Mar Racetrack
Horse races in California
Graded stakes races in the United States
Open mile category horse races
Recurring events established in 1937