The Shoemaker Mile Stakes is a

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 ...

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 ...

for horses age three years old and older over a distance of one mile on the

turf Sod, also known as turf, is the upper layer of soil with the grass growing on it that is often harvested into rolls. In Australian and British English, sod is more commonly known as ''turf'', and the word "sod" is limited mainly to agricultu ...

held annually in late May at

Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races ...

Arcadia, California Arcadia is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, located about northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. It contains a series of adjacent parks consisting of th ...

, USA. The event currently carries a purse of $500,000.

History

Inaugurated in 1938 as the Premiere Handicap over a distance of six furlongs at

Hollywood Park Racetrack Hollywood Park was a thoroughbred race course located in Inglewood, California, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to the Forum indoor arena. In 1994, the original Hollywood Park Casino was added to the ...

Inglewood, California Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 107,762. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. The city is in the South Bay ...

. In 1950, there were two separate races, one in the Spring called Preview Handicap at six furlongs and the autumn race as The Premiere Handicap at seven furlongs. In 1984 & 1985, the event was run in two divisions and held on the turf for the first time. In 1990 it was renamed to honor U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey

Bill Shoemaker William Lee Shoemaker (August 19, 1931 – October 12, 2003) was an American jockey. For 29 years he held the world record for total professional jockey victories. Early life Referred to as "Bill", "Willie," and "The Shoe", William Lee Sh ...

. In 2014 when

closed the race was moved to

Distance

Since inception, the race has been contested at a variety of distances: * 1 mile on turf: 1988–1991, 1993–present * miles: 1978–1980 on main track, 1986–87 on Turf * 7 furlongs on main track: 1950 in Autumn Meet (Premiere Handicap) * 6 furlongs on main track: 1938–1941, 1944–1947, 1949, 1950 as Spring renewal (Preview Handicap), 1951–1977 * Not run in 1942–1943, 1948, 1981–1983, 1992

Winners

Other earlier winners

*1968 – Kissin' George *1953 – Pet Bully

References

{{reflist Graded stakes races in the United States Horse races in California Open mile category horse races Grade 1 turf stakes races in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1938 Santa Anita Park Breeders' Cup Challenge series 1938 establishments in California Grade 1 stakes races in the United States