The Seabiscuit Handicap is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old and older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles ( furlongs) on the turf track scheduled annually in late November at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 17 July 1977 as the Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California over a distance of miles on the dirt track. The event was named after the eighth winner of the American Triple Crown in 1948, Citation. Citation had won the Hollywood Gold Cup at the Hollywood Park Racetrack in last victory of his career.

In 1979 for the third running of the event, American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III.

In 1980 the event was run over a mile and was won by the Irish-bred Caro Bambino who equalled the course record set by Swaps in 1956. In 1991 the event was downgraded and moved to the Hollywood Park autumn meeting and run at a distance of miles.

In 1983 the event was scheduled on the turf track over a distance of miles and was split into two divisions. The event also was run in split divisions in 1991.

In 1984 the event was upgraded back to Grade III but due to the unexpected wet weather the race was run on the dirt track which was rated as sloppy. US Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker teamed up with US Hall of Fame trainer Charles E. Whittingham to easily win on the Argentine-bred Lord At War by three lengths in a slow time of 1:50.

In 1987 the event was upgraded once more to Grade II and once again Charles E. Whittingham would train an Argentine-bred Forlitano to victory. Forlitano would win again in 1988.

In 1999 the distance of the event was decrease to back to the original miles. In 2004 the event was upgraded to the highest classification of Grade I.

The race was not run in 2005 due to problems with Hollywood Park's grass course not being ready after the turf course was reseeded.

The event was downgraded back to Grade II for the 2010 renewal.

With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was moved to Del Mar Racetrack. With the relocation of the event the Del Mar Administration renamed the event to the Seabiscuit Handicap in honor of the 1938 US Horse of the Year, Seabiscuit as set by Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards.

Records Speed record: miles: 1:39.67 – Ashkal Way (2006) miles: 1:44.78 – Fastness (IRE) (1995)

Margins: lengths – Al Mamoon (1986)

Most wins: 2 - Forlitano (ARG) (1987, 1988) 2 - Good Journey (2001, 2002)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Garrett K. Gomez (1998, 2006, 2011, 2012)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 - Philip D'Amato (2015, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023)

Most wins by an owner : 3 - Evergreen Farm (1987, 1988, 1995)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Del Mar – Seabiscuit Handicap2025Call Sign Seven 4Ricardo GonzalezMichael W. McCarthySavio-Cannon Thoroughbreds miles1:41.71$201,500II2024Mi Hermano Ramon 4Hector I. BerriosMark GlattRed Baron's Barn & Rancho Temescal miles1:41.07$203,500II2023Easter (FR)5Antonio FresuPhilip D'AmatoMadaket Stables miles1:39.96$201,500II2022Hong Kong Harry (IRE)5Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoScott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa & Tony Valazza miles1:39.79$251,500II2021Field Pass4Umberto RispoliMichael MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles1:41.85$251,000II2020Count Again4Juan J. HernandezPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable & Sam-Son Farm miles1:40.84$203,500II2019Next Shares6Jose Valdivia Jr.Richard BaltasDebby & Richard Baltas, Christopher T. Dunn, Jules & Michael Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Ritchie Robershaw & Mark Taylor miles1:42.00$201,404II2018Caribou Club4Joseph TalamoThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm miles1:41.38$202,415II2017Hunt (IRE)5Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoMichael House miles1:41.03$200,345II2016Ring Weekend5Drayden Van DykeH. Graham MotionSt Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds miles1:42.29$201,035II2015Midnight Storm4Victor EspinozaPhilip D'AmatoDye, Marjorie Post, A Venneri Racing & Little Red Feather Racing miles1:42.70$251,000II2014Kaigun4Corey NakataniMark E. CasseQuintessential Racing, Horse'n Around Racing Stable & Gary Barber miles1:41.38$250,750IIAt Hollywood Park – Citation Handicap2013Silentio4Rafael BejaranoGary MandellaWertheimer et Frère miles1:40.66$250,500II2012Data Link4Garrett K. Gomez Stuart S. Janney III miles1:41.00$250,000II2011Jeranimo5Garrett K. GomezMichael PenderRobert J. Wright miles1:40.87$250,000II2010Victor's Cry5Victor EspinozaEoin G. HartyEquilete Stable miles1:39.86$250,000II2009Fluke (BRZ)4Joseph TalamoHumberto AscanioPatricia Bozano miles1:40.48$300,000I2008Hyperbaric5Tyler BazeJulio C. CananiPrestonwood Racing miles1:41.29$400,000I2007Lang Field4Jon CourtArt ShermanNigel R. Shields miles1:39.72$400,000I2006Ashkal Way (IRE)4Garrett K. GomezSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing miles1:39.67$400,000I2005 Race not held20044Jon CourtRobert J. FrankelTNT Stud miles1:41.36$400,000I2003Redattore (BRZ)8Julie KroneRichard E. MandellaDr. Luis Alfredo Tannay miles1:40.74$400,000II2002Good Journey6Pat DayWallace DollaseFlaxman Holdings, Gary Margolis, Michael Jarvis & Partners miles1:41.45$500,000II2001§ Good Journey5Chris McCarronWallace DollaseFlaxman Holdings, Gary Margolis, Michael Jarvis & Partners miles1:44.30$500,000II2000 (GB)5Jose A. SantosChristophe ClementLa Marquise Soledad de Moratalla miles1:40.30$500,000II1999Brave Act (GB)5Alex O. SolisRon McAnallySidney Craig miles1:39.69$500,000II1998Military4Garrett K. GomezWallace DollaseThe Thoroughbred Corporation, Glencrest Farm & Green Lantern Stable miles1:50.58$300,000II1997Geri5Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson miles1:48.35$300,000II1996Gentlemen (ARG)4Gary L. StevensRichard E. MandellaHaras de la Pomme miles1:45.55$300,000II1995Fastness (IRE)5Gary L. StevensJenine Sahadi Evergreen Farm miles1:44.78$300,000II1994§ Southern Wish5Corey NakataniWallace DollaseRichard Stephen miles2:00.20$250,000II1993Jeune Homme3Thierry JarnetFrancois BoutinYoshio Asakawa miles1:45.84$250,000II1992Leger Cat (ARG)6Corey NakataniRichard E. MandellaEdward C. Allred & Randall D. Hubbard miles1:46.48$250,000II1991Notorious Pleasure5Laffit Pincay Jr.Darrell ViennaRobert, Karen, Marc, Mike & Rich Levey miles1:45.80$170,100IIFly Till Dawn5Laffit Pincay Jr.Darrell ViennaJosephine T. Gleis1:45.86$170,1001990Colway Rally (GB)6Corey BlackJulio C. CananiClover Racing Stable, Alexander Brittan et al. miles1:47.80$107,300II1989Fair Judgment5Richard C. MetteeTomonori Tsurumaki miles1:50.00$108,300II1988Forlitano (ARG)7Pat ValenzuelaCharles E. WhittinghamEvergreen Farm miles1:46.60$119,600II1987Forlitano (ARG)6Pat ValenzuelaCharles E. WhittinghamEvergreen Farm miles1:47.40$134,500II1986Al Mamoon5Gary L. StevensRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann & Bertram Firestone miles1:48.00$195,700III1985Zoffany5Eddie DelahoussayeJohn GosdenAnthony & John Bodie, Anthony Speelman miles1:44.80$118,600III1984Lord At War (ARG)4Bill ShoemakerCharles E. WhittinghamMrs. Diane Perkins miles1:50.60$163,300III1983Beldale Lustre4Chris McCarronJohn GosdenWilliam A. Bailey miles1:49.40$86,750 Pewter Grey4Ray SibilleRon McAnallyTadahiro Hotehama1:49.60$87,2501982Caterman (NZ)6Chris McCarronLouis R. CarnoMr. & Mrs. Tom Cavanagh miles1:41.00$80,4501981Tahitian King (IRE)5Bill ShoemakerJohnny LongdenJohnny Longden & Carr Stable miles1:48.80$226,000 1980Caro Bambino (IRE)5Pat ValenzuelaMary Jones Bradley 1 mile1:33.20$63,950III1979Text5Bill ShoemakerVincent ClyneElmendorf Farm miles1:40.40$108,600III1978Effervescing 5Laffit Pincay Jr.D. Wayne LukasMel Hatley & Albert Yank miles1:40.20$107,700 1977Painted Wagon4Chuck BaltazarMarvin G. WilliamsSilver Creek Ranch miles1:41.00$82,350

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2021 Del Mar Media Guide

References