The San Marcos Stakes is an American Grade II

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 January or early February 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 ...

in Arcadia, California. Open to horses aged four and older, it is raced on

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 agricult ...

over a distance of one and one-quarter miles. Inaugurated in 1952 as a one-mile race on dirt, in 1954 it was changed to one and one-quarter miles and became Santa Anita Park's first

graded stakes race A graded stakes race is a thoroughbred horse race in the United States that meets the criteria of the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). A specific grade level (I, II, III or listed) is the ...

. It was raced on dirt again in 1956, 1962, 1969, 1973, 1975, 1978 through 1983, and in 1996. Run as handicap prior to 2000, it is now raced under allowance weight conditions, with specified weight reductions for horses who meet certain conditions. It was open to three-year-olds and up from 1955 through 1959. There was no race held in 1970 and for 1978 it was set at a distance of 1 and one-eighth miles.

Records

Time record: * 1:57.92 –

Johar Johar (foaled 1999 in Kentucky, died November 10, 2014)http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/88680/stallion-johar-dies-at-age-15#ixzz3Irqla5SG was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf in ...

(2003) Most wins: * 2 – Slim Shadey (2012, 2013) Most wins by an owner: * 2 – El Peco Ranch (1961, 1972) * 2 –

Elmendorf Farm Elmendorf Farm is a Kentucky Thoroughbred horse farm in Fayette County, Kentucky, involved with horse racing since the 19th century. Once the North Elkhorn Farm, many owners and tenants have occupied the area, even during the American Civil War. Mo ...

(1976, 1982) * 2 –

Trudy McCaffery Trudy V. McCaffery (April 10, 1944 – February 12, 2007) was a Thoroughbred racehorse owner-breeder in California who served on the board of directors of the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation, the NTRA Charities, the California Thoroughbred Breeder ...

John Toffan John Toffan was a Canadian-born American Thoroughbred racehorse owner-breeder in California. He came to fame with his partnership with Trudy McCaffery. He had a long career racing purebreds ranging from 1989-2012. Toffan began his career in 1989 ...

(1994, 2001) * 2 – David and Jill Heerensperger (2009, 2011) Most wins by a jockey: * 6 –

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 Sho ...

(1958, 1959, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1977) Most wins by a trainer: * 8 –

Charles Whittingham Charles Whittingham (16 June 1767 – 5 January 1840) was an English printer. Biography He was born at Caludon or Calledon, Warwickshire, the son of a farmer, and was apprenticed to a Coventry printer and bookseller. In 1789 he set up a smal ...

(1963, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1984, 1985)

Winners of the San Marcos Stakes

References

* Run in two divisions in 1972.{{refend Horse races in California Santa Anita Park Open middle distance horse races Graded stakes races in the United States Turf races in the United States Horse races established in 1952 1952 establishments in California