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: (at current distance of miles) 1:40.00 - Windy Sands (1962) 1:40.00 - Native Diver (1965)

Most wins: 3 - Native Diver (1963, 1964, 1965)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 - Chris McCarron (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999) 6 - Victor Espinoza (2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2016, 2017)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 - Charlie Whittingham (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 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time<be>2026Journalism4Umberto RispoliMichael W. McCarthy Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 & Robert V. LaPenta, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor1:42.652025Nysos4Flavien PratBob BaffertBaoma Corp1:42.612024Dr. Venkman4Antonio FresuMark GlattAgnew, Dan J., Bunch, Clint, Cohen, Mark L. and Hailey, James1:43.362023Senor Buscador5Geovanni FrancoTodd W. FincherPeacock Family Holdings LP1:42.542022Royal Ship6Mike E. SmithRichard E. MandellaFox Hollow Racing LLC and Siena Farm LLC1:42.752021Express Train4Juan HernandezJohn ShirreffsCRK Stable, LLC1:43.372020Maximum Security4Abel CedilloBob BaffertMary E. & Gary L. West, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith1:44.542019Catalina Cruiser 5Joel RosarioJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing LLC (Kosta & Pete Hronis)1:44.202018Catalina Cruiser 4Drayden Van DykeJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing LLC (Kosta & Pete Hronis)1:42.952017Accelerate4Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing LLC (Kosta & Pete Hronis)1:42.152016California Chrome5Victor EspinozaArt ShermanCalifornia Chrome, LLC1:40.842015Catch a Flight5Gary StevensRichard E. MandellaHaras Santa Maria de Araras1:43.082014Fed Biz5Martin GarciaBob BaffertKaleem Shah/Fed Biz1:41.002013Kettle Corn6Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerC R K Stable1:41.832012Rail Trip7Jose Valdivia Jr.Ronald W. EllisJay Em Ess Stable (Samantha Siegel)1:43.142011Tres Borrachos6Rafael BejaranoMartin F. JonesGeorge Hicker1:42.712010Dakota Phone5Joel RosarioJerry HollendorferHollendorfer/Todaro/Carver/Halo Farms1:43.552009Informed5Tyler BazeDouglas F. O'NeillBob & Beverly Lewis Trust1:41.912008Well Armed5Aaron GryderEoin G. HartyWinStar Farm1:41.572007Sun Boat5Michael BazeMike R. MitchellBongo Racing Stable1:45.392006Giacomo4Mike E. Smith John ShirreffsAnn & Jerry Moss1:42.152005Choctaw Nation5Victor EspinozaJeff MullinsRobert D. Bone1:42.402004Choctaw Nation4Victor EspinozaJeff MullinsRobert D. Bone1:42.322003Taste Of Paradise4Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerAbrahams & Bloom1:42.622002Grey Memo5Eddie DelahoussayeWarren StuteManzani, Ridgeley Farm1:43.482001Skimming5Garrett GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:41.622000Skimming4Garrett GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1:41.061999Mazel Trick4Chris McCarronRobert J. FrankelJones & 3+U Stable1:40.601998Mud Route4Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJanis Whitham1:41.001997Northern Afleet4Chris McCarronDavid E. HofmansAnderson & Waranch1:41.801996Savinio6Chris AntleyWalter GreenmanBiszantz/Greenman/Vandeweghe1:40.801995Blumin Affair4Chris McCarronJack Van BergBowman & Vogel1:41.201994Kingdom Found4Chris McCarronGary F. Jones Ray Dilbeck1:41.201993Fanatic Boy6Chris McCarronRon McAnallyCharles J. Cella1:48.401992Another Review4Laffit Pincay Jr. Chris SpeckertBuckland Farm1:47.001991Twilight Agenda5Corey NakataniD. Wayne Lukas Moyglare Stud1:47.601990Quiet American4Kent Desormeaux Gary F. Jones Sheikh Mohammed1:40.401989Lively One4Robbie DavisCharlie WhittinghamJohn G. Sikura1:40.801988Cutlass Reality6Gary StevensCraig A. LewisH. Crash & J. Hankoff1:41.401987Super Diamond7Laffit Pincay Jr.Edwin J. GregsonRoland Sahm 1:40.801986Skywalker4Laffit Pincay Jr.Michael WhittinghamOak Cliff Stable1:40.801985Super Diamond5Rafael Meza Edwin J. GregsonRoland Sahm1:41.401984Ancestral4Eddie DelahoussayeJerry M. FanningC. B. Singer1:41.201983Bates Motel4Terry LiphamJohn Gosden Jacqueline Getty & M. Riordan1:41.001982Wickerr7Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann1:41.401981Summer Time Guy5Sandy HawleyWillard L. ProctorWilliam R. Hawn1:41.001980Island Sultan5Marco CastanedaDavid E. HofmansDavid Ringler1:41.801979Always Gallant5Darrel McHargue David La CroixJoseph W. La Croix1:41.001978Vic's Magic5Fernando Toro Randy WinickM. & R. Harpenau1:40.201977Mark's Place5Bill ShoemakerJohn G. CantyBob D. Bird1:40.601976Good Report †6Laffit Pincay Jr. Robert J. FrankelDr. A. J. Chlad1:42.401975Chesapeake6Frank OlivaresT. F. RichardsonMrs. C. J. Dorfman1:40.601974 Matun5Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamM. L. Everett1:41.001973Kennedy Road5Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamHelen G. Stollery1:41.401972Figonero7Fernando AlvarezWarren StuteClement L. Hirsch1:40.801971Advance Guard5Bill ShoemakerCharlie WhittinghamBurt Bacharach1:41.001970T.V. Commercial5Donald PierceCharlie WhittinghamBwamazon Farm1:41.401969Kissin' George †6William MahorneyBuster Millerick DeCourcy Graham1:41.401968Rivet4Miguel YanezDale LandersPierce Doty1:40.801967French Fox5Dean HallMort LiptonVicgray Farm1:41.601966Old Mose4Donald Pierce Joe Manzi Robert E. Hibbert1:41.401965Native Diver6Jerry LambertBuster MillerickM/M Louis K. Shapiro1:40.001964Native Diver5Jerry LambertBuster MillerickM/M Louis K. Shapiro1:41.201963Native Diver4Ralph NevesBuster MillerickM/M Louis K. Shapiro1:40.601962Windy Sands5Raymond YorkJack M. PhillipsConnie M. Ring1:40.001961New Policy4Robert Mundorf John H. AdamsRalph Lowe1:41.001960Eddie Schmidt7Alex Maese Frank L. CarrElobee Farm1:41.201959Twentyone Guns4George TaniguchiFred M. Smith M/M John Eyraud1:42.001958How Now5Willi HarmatzCecil JollyGeorge C. Newell1:42.001957Eddie Schmidt4Ismael ValenzuelaFrank L. Carr Elobee Farm1:42.001956Honeys Alibi4Raymond YorkWillie F. AlvaradoW-L Ranch Co.1:41.401955Trigonometry4Rogelio Trejos Howard LongOwl Stable1:41.201954Stranglehold5Billy PearsonRed McDanielN. Gordon Phillips1:41.801953Goose Khal4Bill ShoemakerWillie F. AlvaradoHarry Brown1:42.801952Moonrush6Ralph NevesWillie F. AlvaradoKing & Luellwitz1:42.201951Blue Reading4Billy PearsonRed McDanielM/M Clement L. Hirsch1:41.601950Manyunk5George MooreAllen Drumheller Sr.Foster & Collins1:42.401949Prevaricator6Mike CaffarellaLyle SechrestE. O. Stice & Sons1:42.001948Prevaricator5Alan GrayWilliam MolterE. O. Stice & Sons1:42.601947Ended8Jimmy NicholsW. Robertson W. Robertson1:11.001946Lovonsite3Nick WallL. Meirpol Mildred Factor 1:10.401945High Resolve4William BaileyWilliam MolterE. O. Stice & Sons1:10.001941Step By6J. Robertson W. Osborne Fair Hill Stable1:37.201938King Saxon7John Adams Richard F. Carman Jr.Richard F. Carman Jr.1:45.201937Clean Out5D. Smith William B. FinneganVera S. Bragg1:12.00

† 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

The 2009 San Diego Handicap at the NTRA