The Bel Air Handicap was a Thoroughbred horse race run in mid July at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Open to horses age three and older, it was contested on dirt at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth. In its final year it was a Grade III event offering a purse of U.S$.$100,000.
First run in 1939, the Bel Air Handicap was not run again until 1968. From 1980 through 1982 there was no race run.
In 1997, winner Crafty Friend equaled the Hollywood Park track record for a mile and a sixteenth with a time of 1:40 flat.
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2001Smile Again6 Laffit Pincay, Jr.Ron McAnallySidney & Jenny Craig1:41.742000Euchre4Alex SolisRobert J. FrankelFrank Stronach1:41.761999River Keen7Chris AntleyBob BaffertHugo Reynolds1:40.691998Free House4Chris McCarronJ. Paco Gonzalez Toffan & McCaffery1:41.601997Crafty Friend4Alex SolisWallace Dollase The Thoroughbred Corp.1:40.001996Cleante7Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJanis R. Whithamnf1995Soul of the Matter4Gary StevensRichard MandellaBurt Bacharach1:41.00
Earlier winners 1994 - Region 1993 - Marquetry 1992 - Renegotiable 1991 - Twilight Agenda 1990 - Prospectors Gamble 1989 - Rahy 1988 - Cutlass Reality 1987 - Judge Angelucci 1986 - Super Diamond 1985 - My Habitony 1984 - Bid Us 1983 - Poley 1979 - Sirlad 1978 - Vigors 1977 - Ancient Title 1976 - Riot In Paris 1975 - Stardust Mel 1974 - Finalista 1973 - Tri Jet 1972 - Dating 1971 - What Goes On 1970 - Summer Sorrow 1969 - Boughs O' Holly 1968 - Nevada Marga 1939 - Leading Article
References June 15, 1939 Los Angeles Times article on the Bel Air Handicap July 17, 1989 Los Angeles Times article titled "Bel Air Handicap Rahy Flirts With World Record, Settles for Win" July 8, 2001 Los Angeles Times article on the Bel Air Handicap