The Yellow Ribbon Handicap (formerly known as the Palomar Handicap) is an American
Thoroughbred horse race held annually at
Del Mar Racetrack in
Del Mar, California. The
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 run on
turf at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5
furlongs) and is open to
fillies 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 up.
The Palomar Handicap was first run in 1945 as a six furlong race on dirt for three-year-olds. It was not run again until 1952 when it was made an event for three-year-old fillies. After being put on hiatus again, it became an annual event in 1955. Since 1970, it has been contested on turf. From its inception, the race has been contested at various distances:
* 6 furlongs : 1945–1969
* 7.5 furlongs : 1970–1976
* 8 furlongs (1 mile) – 1977–1987
* 8.5 furlongs ( miles) : 1988–present
It was raced in two divisions in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1982, and 1991.
This race is now called the Yellow Ribbon Handicap. (The original Yellow Ribbon Stakes run during the
Oak Tree Racing Association
The Oak Tree Racing Association is an American nonprofit corporation that exists to conduct live thoroughbred horse racing in Southern California.
Graded Stakes races at the Oak Tree meet
Since Oak Tree Racing moved to Hollywood Park in 2010, some ...
Meeting is now called the
Rodeo Drive Stakes.)
Records
Speed record: (at current distance of 8.5 furlongs)
* 1:39.67 – Mea Domina (2006)
Most wins:
* 2 –
Tranquility Lake (2000, 2001)
*2 – Gotta Have Her (2009, 2010)
* 2 – She's Not Here (2015, 2016)
*2 – Cambodia (2017,2018)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 –
Juddmonte Farms (1992, 2004, 2005)
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 ...
:
* 5 –
Bill Shoemaker (1952, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1982)
Most wins by a
trainer:
* 8 –
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 ...
(1986, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007)
* 7 –
Charles Wittingham (1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1989)
Winners
† In 1984,
Royal Heroine
Royal Heroine (1980–2002) was a Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Champion racehorse foaled in Ireland who raced in England and France and then in the United States where she set a North American record for a mile on turf while winning the inaugur ...
finished first but was disqualified and set back to third.
References
{{Reflist
The 2009 Palomar Handicap at the NTRA
Del Mar Racetrack
Horse races in California
Graded stakes races in the United States
Mile category horse races for fillies and mares
Turf races in the United States
Recurring sporting events established in 1945