The Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of miles on the dirt held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California in May. The race currently offers a purse of $200,000.

History Early beginnings The race inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California as the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Hollywood Park Racetrack opened its doors on June 10, 1938, and Seabiscuit, under jockey George Woolf, won the $50,000 added race's inaugural running on July 16.

The race was not run in 1942 or 1943 due to Hollywood Park being closed and used as an airplane parts storage depot during World War II.

Post World War II In 1949, the Hollywood Gold Cup, as well as the entire 1949 meeting, was held at Santa Anita Park, due to a devastating fire at Hollywood Park on the night of May 5, 1949. Solidarity won the 1949 running on July 16. The Hollywood Park grandstand was rebuilt and the facility reopened in time for a two-part split 1950 season. The 1950 Hollywood Gold Cup, won by Noor, was held in the second part or Fall–Winter part of the split, on December 9, 1950. The following summer, the race returned to its usual mid-July running and Citation, in his final race, won the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 14, 1951, becoming the first thoroughbred racehorse to hit the career earnings mark of one million dollars.

Modern Era

In 1980, Mary Lou Tuck became the first woman trainer to win the Hollywood Gold Cup with Go West Young Man.

In 1999, the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century was published, and fourteen horses on the list had won the Hollywood Gold Cup: Citation, Affirmed, Round Table, Cigar, Swaps, Seabiscuit, Skip Away, Gallant Man, Challedon, Ack Ack, Native Diver, Noor, Two Lea and Exceller.

In the 73rd running of the Hollywood Gold Cup in 2012, Chantal Sutherland, aboard Game On Dude, became the first female jockey to win the race. Game On Dude had also been Sutherland's mount in the previous year's running, finishing second by a nose to First Dude. The ride had given Sutherland the distinction of being the first female jockey to have a mount in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Fillies or Mare winners

Only three fillies or mares have ever won the (Hollywood) Gold Cup. Happy Issue was the first in 1944, followed by Two Lea in 1952 and Princessnesian in 1968.

Change of venue Following the closure of Hollywood Park, the race moved to Santa Anita Park in 2014 (where the race was run in 1949 because of a fire at Hollywood Park) and renamed the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes.

The event is a Breeders' Cup Classic "Win and You're In" qualifier.

The event is one of the premier distance races on the West Coast of the United States, along with the Santa Anita Handicap from Santa Anita Park, and the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack.

In 2020 the name of the event reverted to the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Race conditions It was run as a handicap race until 1997, when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions. In 2005, the Gold Cup returned to the original handicap format.

Records Time record: 1:58.20 – Quack (1972) (on natural dirt) (New track record, equaled world record) 2:00.75 – Rail Trip (2009) (on Cushion Track)

Most wins: 3 – Native Diver (1965, 1966, 1967) 3 – Lava Man (2005, 2006, 2007)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Charles S. Howard (1938, 1939, 1950) 3 – Calumet Farm (1951, 1952, 1990) 3 – Louis K. Shapiro (1965, 1966, 1967) 3 – STD Racing Stable/Jason Wood (2005, 2006, 2007)

Most wins by a jockey: 9 – Laffit Pincay Jr. (1970, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1986, 2001, 2002)

Most wins by a trainer: 10 – Bob Baffert (1999, 2003, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Santa Anita Park – Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes2026Forged Steel4Flavien PratSaffie A. Joseph Jr.C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stables miles2:01.58$200,000II2025Skippylongstocking 6Irad Ortiz Jr. Saffie Joseph Jr. Daniel Alonso miles2:01.64$201,000II2024Mr Fisk 4Kazushi Kimura Bob BaffertSunny Brook Stables miles2:03.01$200,000II2023Defunded 5Juan HernandezBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman miles2:02.85$400,500I2022There Goes Harvard 4Irad Ortiz JrMichael W. McCarthyCannon Thoroughbreds miles2:02.66$400,000I2021Country Grammer 4Flavien PratBob BaffertWinStar Farm miles2:02.23$301,000I2020Improbable4Drayden Van DykeBob BaffertWinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing miles2:01.69$300,500IGold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes2019Vino Rosso4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable miles2:03.00$500,702I2018Accelerate5Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing miles2:01.38$500,345I2017Cupid4Rafael BejaranoBob BaffertMichael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith miles2:00.89$500,690I2016Melatonin5Joseph TalamoDavid E. HofmansTarabilla Farms miles1:59.79$501,035I2015Hard Aces5Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing miles2:02.46$501,500I2014Majestic Harbor6Tyler BazeSean McCarthyGallant Stable miles2:01.53$500,500IAt Hollywood Park – Hollywood Gold Cup2013Game On Dude6Mike E. SmithBob BaffertDiamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & B. Schiappa miles2:01.88$500,000I2012Game On Dude5Chantal SutherlandBob Baffert Diamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable & B. Schiappa miles2:04.19$500,000I2011First Dude6Martin GarciaBob BaffertDonald R. Dizney miles2:01.57$500,000I2010Awesome Gem7David R. FloresCraig DollaseWestPoint Thoroughbreds miles2:03.31$500,000I2009Rail Trip4Jose Valdivia Jr.Ronald W. EllisJay Em Ess Stable miles2:00.75$700,000I2008Mast Track4Tyler BazeRobert J. FrankelRobert J. Frankel miles2:01.37$750,000I2007Lava Man6Corey NakataniDoug F. O'NeillSTD Racing & Jason Wood miles2:03.21$750,000I2006Lava Man5Corey NakataniDoug F. O'NeillSTD Racing & Jason Wood miles2:01.16$750,000I2005Lava Man4Pat ValenzuelaDoug F. O'NeillSTD Racing & Jason Wood miles1:59.63$750,000I2004Total Impact (CHI)6Mike E. SmithLaura de SerouxSultan bin Mohammed Al Kabeer & S. A. Bridport miles2:00.72$750,000I2003Congaree5Jerry D. BaileyBob BaffertStonerside Stable miles2:00.48$750,000I2002Sky Jack6Laffit Pincay Jr.Doug F. O'NeillRene & Margie Lambert miles2:01.73$750,000I20014Laffit Pincay Jr.Robert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles2:01.79$750,000I2000Early Pioneer5Victor EspinozaVladimir CerinDavid & Holly Wilson miles2:01.40$1,000,000I1999Real Quiet4Jerry D. BaileyBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram miles1:59.67$1,000,000I1998Skip Away5Jerry D. BaileySonny HineCarolyn Hine miles2:00.16$1,000,000I19975Gary L. StevensRichard E. MandellaAndrea E. Stable & R. D. Hubbard miles1:59.26$1,125,000I1996Siphon (BRZ)5David R. FloresRichard E. MandellaRio Claro Thoroughbreds miles2:00.50$1,000,000I1995Cigar5Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson miles1:59.46$1,000,000I1994Slew of Damascus6Gary L. StevensCraig G. RobertsEdris Harbeston, George Losh & Vic Naccarote miles2:00.76$750,000I1993Best Pal 5Corey BlackGary F. JonesGolden Eagle Farm miles2:00.17$750,000I1992Sultry Song4Jerry D. BaileyPatrick J. KellyLive Oak Racing miles2:00.23$1,037,500I1991Marquetry4David R. FloresRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles1:59.50$1,000,000I1990Criminal Type 5José A. SantosD. Wayne LukasCalumet Farm & Jurgen K. Arnemann miles1:59.80$1,000,000I1989Blushing John 4Pat DayRichard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson miles2:00.40$500,000I 1988Cutlass Reality6Gary L. StevensCraig Anthony LewisHoward Crash/Jim Hankoff miles1:59.40$500,000I1987Ferdinand4Bill ShoemakerElizabeth A. Keck miles2:00.60$500,000I 1986Super Diamond 6Laffit Pincay Jr.Edwin J. GregsonRoland & Ramona Sahm miles2:00.40$500,000I1985Greinton (GB)4Laffit Pincay Jr.Charles E. WhittinghamMary J. Bradley, Charles Whittingham & Howell Wynne miles1:58.40$500,000I 1984Desert Wine4Eddie DelahoussayeJerry M. FanningT90 Ranch miles2:00.40$500,000I 1983Island Whirl3Eddie DelahoussayeLaz BarreraElcee-H Stable miles1:59.40$500,000I1982Perrault (GB)5Laffit Pincay Jr.Charles E. WhittinghamThierry van Zuylen & Serge Fradkoff miles1:59.20$500,000I 1981° Eleven Stitches4Sandy HawleyDonn L. LubyMorey & Claudia Mirkin miles2:00.40$500,000I19805Mary Lou TuckWild Plum Farm miles1:58.80$400,000I1979Affirmed4Laffit Pincay Jr.Laz BarreraHarbor View Farm miles1:58.40$500,000I1978Exceller 5Bill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamNelson Bunker Hunt & Belaire Stud miles1:59.20$350,000I 1977Crystal Water4Laffit Pincay Jr.Roger E. ClappConnie M. Ring miles2:00.00$350,000I 1976Pay Tribute4Marco CastanedaRon McAnallyElmendorf Farm miles1:58.80$250,000I 1975Ancient Title5Laffit Pincay Jr.Keith L. Stucki Sr.Kirkland Stable miles1:59.20$150,000I 1974 4Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamPin Oak Stud miles1:59.80$150,000I 1973Kennedy Road 5Bill ShoemakerCharles Whittingham Mrs. A. W. Stollery miles1:59.40$150,000I 1972Quack3Donald PierceCharles WhittinghamBwamazon Farm miles1:58.20$175,000 1971Ack Ack5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamForked Lightning Ranch miles1:59.80$175,000 1970Pleasure Seeker 4Laffit Pincay Jr.Carl Vandervoort Jr.Carl Vandervoort Jr., Donald Brokaw, A. L. Johnson miles1:59.40$162,1001969Figonero (ARG)4Álvaro PinedaWarren StuteClement L. Hirsch miles1:58.80$162,1001968∞§ Princessnesian4Donald PierceJames W. MaloneyWilliam Haggin Perry miles1:59.80$162,1001967Native Diver8Jerry LambertBuster MillerickMr. & Mrs Louis K. Shapiro miles1:58.80$162,1001966Native Diver7Jerry LambertBuster MillerickMr. & Mrs Louis K. Shapiro miles2:00.00$162,100 1965Native Diver6Jerry LambertBuster MillerickMr. & Mrs Louis K. Shapiro miles2:00.20$162,10019645Ray YorkWally DunnPoltex Stable, Fritz Hawn, Keith Freeman & Roland Bond miles2:00.40$162,1001963Cadiz (NZ)7Eddie BurnsRobert L. WheelerVicgray Farm miles1:59.60$162,1001962Prove It5Henry E. MorenoMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth miles2:00.00$162,100 1961§ Prince Blessed4Johnny LongdenJames I. NazworthyKerr Stable miles1:59.80$162,100 1960Dotted Swiss4Eddie BurnsRobert L. WheelerCornelius V. Whitney miles1:59.40$162,100 1959Hillsdale4Tommy Barrow Martin L. Fallon Jr. Clarence Whitted Smith miles1:59.20$162,100 1958Gallant Man4Bill ShoemakerJohn A. NerudRalph Lowe miles2:01.60$162,1001957Round Table3Bill ShoemakerWilliam MolterKerr Stable miles1:58.60$162,100 1956Swaps4Bill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth miles1:58.60$162,1001955Rejected5Gordon GlissonWilliam J. HirschKing Ranch miles1:59.60$137,100 1954Correspondent4Eddie ArcaroWally DunnMrs. Gordon Guiberson miles2:00.80$137,100 19535Johnny LongdenVance LongdenAlberta Ranches, Ltd. miles2:00.80$137,1001952∞ Two Lea6Steve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm miles2:00.20$137,1001951§ Citation6Steve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm miles2:01.00$137,100 1950Noor5Johnny LongdenBurley ParkeCharles S. Howard miles1:59.80$137,100At Santa Anita Park 1949Solidarity4Ralph NevesCarl A. RolesBernice Curland Goldstone miles2:01.20$137,100 At Hollywood Park 1948§ Shannon II (AUS)7Johnny AdamsWilliam MolterNeil S. McCarthy miles2:01.60$113,700 1947Cover Up4Robert PermaneRoss BrinsonZack Addington miles2:00.00$118,5001946Triplicate5Basil JamesClyde PhillipsFred Astaire miles2:00.40$114,9001945Challenge Me4Anthony SkoronskiEarl G. PorterBrolite Farm miles2:00.40$78,400 1944∞ Happy Issue4Hedley WoodhouseJean Charles PinonHappy Stable miles2:01.60$87,6501942–1943Race not held1941§ Big Pebble5Jack WestropeWilliam FinneganCircle M Ranch miles2:02.60$89,5501940Challedon4George WoolfLouis SchaeferWilliam L. Brann miles2:02.00$53,700 19394George WoolfTom SmithCharles S. Howard miles2:02.60$52,5751938Seabiscuit5George WoolfTom SmithCharles S. Howard miles2:03.80$55,650

Legend:

Notes:

† Futural won the race but was disqualified for interference

§ Ran as part of an entry

° Caterman was first past the post but was disqualified and placed second

∞ Filly or Mare

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races Gold Cup at Santa Anita top three finishers

References

External links