San Diego Handicap


The San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late July/early August at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. This Grade II 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 furlongs : 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:
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
  • 3 - E. O. Stice & Sons
  • 3 - M/M Louis K. Shapiro

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.