The Hollywood Turf Cup is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-years-old or older over a distance of one and one-half miles (12 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 6 December 1981 under Weight-for-Age conditions with an impressive purse of US500,000 added. The event as planned by West Coast racing administration attracted some fine horses including Europeans who had come to the US to run in the Washington, D.C. International. The event was won by the Irish-bred Providential who raced in the US as Providential II and had previously won the Washington, D.C. International in a star studded field which included John Henry who was the leading stakes winner in the US at the time and started as the 2/5 odds-on favorite.

The race was run in two divisions in 1982 at a shorter distance of miles.

In 1983 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event with the highest status of Grade I. John Henry returned to make amends in 1983 to win and become the first racehorse to surpass $4 million in career earnings. In 1985 the distance of the event was returned to its initial distance of miles.

In 1991 the winner Miss Alleged was the only filly to ever win this race.

Horses who previously ran in the Breeders' Cup Turf would sometimes run in the Turf Cup since it is the last major turf race of the year.

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 not held in 2009 as several high profile events were cancelled in an effort to sustain overnight purses with a shortened meeting of only 27 days.

The event was downgraded in 2012 to Grade II. With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was moved to Del Mar Racetrack.

Records Speed record: miles: 2:24.61 – Boboman (2006) miles: 2:13.40 – The Hague (1982)

Margins: 6 lengths – Fraise (1993)

Most wins: 2 – Alphabatim (1984, 1986) 2 – Lazy Lode (1998, 1999) 2 - Truly Quality (2024, 2025)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Juddmonte Farms (Prince Khalid Abdullah) (1984, 1986, 2008)

Most wins by a jockey: 8 – Chris McCarron (1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Robert J. Frankel (1997, 2001, 2003, 2008) 4 – Richard E. Mandella (1986, 1999, 2006, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Del Mar2025Truly Quality5Mirco DemuroJonathan ThomasAugustin Stables miles2:29.67$202,000II2024Truly Quality4Vincent CheminaudJonathan ThomasAugustin Stables miles 2:28.54$202,000II2023Planetario (BRZ) 5Hector BerriosRichard E. MandellaRed Rafa Stud miles2:28.02$201,000II2022Prince Abama (IRE) 4Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoMichael House miles2:29.42$251,000II2021Say the Word6Kent DesormeauxPhilip D'AmatoAgave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm miles2:27.62$251,000II2020Arklow6Joel RosarioBrad H. CoxDonegal Racing, Joseph Bulger & Estate of Peter Coneway miles2:26.31$203,500II20196John R. VelazquezRichard BaltasNancy Messineo & Bruce Sands miles2:28.17$201,755II2018Chicago Style5Drayden Van DykeThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm miles2:28.53$200,690II2017Manitoulin4Mike E. SmithJames J. TonerDarby Dan Farm Racing miles2:30.16$200,690II2016Texas Ryano5Joseph TalamoCarla GainesWarren B. Williamson miles2:27.92$200,345II2015The Pizza Man6Mike E. SmithRoger A. BrueggemannMidwest Thoroughbreds miles2:31.75$252,250II2014Finnegans Wake5Victor EspinozaPeter L. MillerDonegal Racing & Rockingham Ranch miles2:27.35$251,250IIAt Hollywood Park2013Lucayan (FR)4Joel RosarioNeil D. DrysdalePandora Stud miles2:26.14$250,250II2012Grandeur (IRE)3Garrett K. GomezPatrick GallagherYvonne Jacques miles2:27.95$250,000II2011Sanagas (GER)5Rajiv MaraghH. Graham MotionAndreas Jacobs miles2:27.53$250,000I2010Unusual Suspect6Corey NakataniBarry AbramsBarry, David, & Dyan Abrams miles2:25.83$250,000I2009 Race not held2008Champs Elysees (GB)5Jose Valdivia Jr.Robert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms miles2:27.71$250,000I2007Sunriver4Garrett K. GomezTodd A. Pletcher Aaron & Marie Jones miles2:27.07$250,000I2006Boboman5Garrett K. GomezRichard E. MandellaWertheimer et Frère miles2:24.61$250,000I2005 Race not held2004Pellegrino (BRZ)5Gary L. StevensDonald J. Burke IIGary A. Tanaka miles2:29.73$250,000I2003‡ Continuously4Alex O. SolisRobert J. FrankelSaud bin Khaled miles2:29.01$250,000I2002Sligo Bay (IRE)4Laffit Pincay Jr.C. Beau GreelyColumbine Stable miles2:27.22$250,000I2001§ Super Quercus (FR)5Alex O. SolisRobert J. Frankel3 Plus U Stable miles2:29.86$250,000I2000Bienamado4Chris McCarronJ. Paco GonzalezTrudy McCaffery & John Toffan, Robert Sangster miles2:25.98$400,000I1999Lazy Lode (ARG)5Laffit Pincay Jr.Richard E. MandellaThe Thoroughbred Corporation miles2:25.85$400,000I1998Lazy Lode (ARG)4Corey NakataniWallace DollaseThe Thoroughbred Corporation miles2:28.36$500,000I1997River Bay4Alex O. SolisRobert J. FrankelEcurie Chalhoub miles2:26.47$500,000I1996Running Flame (FR)4Chris McCarronMike PuypeGary E. Biszantz miles2:28.53$500,000I1995Royal Chariot5Alex O. SolisEdwin J. GregsonD & V Enterprises miles2:25.18$500,000I1994Frenchpark (GB)4Corey BlackTerry KnightHubert Guy miles2:25.66$500,000I1993Fraise5Chris McCarronWilliam I. MottMrs. Madeleine Paulson miles2:32.34$500,000I1992† Bien Bien3Chris McCarronJ. Paco GonzalezTrudy McCaffery & John Toffan miles2:31.28$500,000I1991Miss Alleged4Chris McCarronFares Farms miles2:30.00$500,000I1990Itsallgreektome3Corey NakataniWallace DollaseJhayare Stables miles2:24.80$500,000I1989Frankly Perfect4Chris McCarronCharles E. WhittinghamBruce McNall & Wayne Gretzky miles2:26.60$500,000I 1988Great Communicator5Ray SibilleThad D. AckelClass Act Farm miles2:34.40$500,000I 1987Vilzak4Pat DayJack Van BergHarry T. Rosenblum miles2:27.00$500,000I 1986Alphabatim5Bill ShoemakerJohn GosdenPrince Khalid Abdullah miles2:25.80$500,000I 1985Zoffany5John GosdenAnthony & John Bodie, Anthony Speelman miles2:28.40$500,000I 1984Alphabatim3Chris McCarronJohn GosdenPrince Khalid Abdullah miles2:15.80$500,000I 1983John Henry8Chris McCarronRon McAnallyDotsam Stable miles2:16.60$500,000I 1982Prince Spellbound3Marco CastanedaLester HoltWilliam L. Pease miles 2:14.00$400,000 The Hague3Fernando ToroRichard E. MandellaElmendorf Farm2:13.40$400,000 1981Providential II (IRE)4Alain LequeuxCharles E. Whittingham Serge Fradkoff miles2:26.80$553,000

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

† In 1992, Fraise finished first but officials disqualified him and he was set back to second place for bumping Bien Bien in the stretch.

‡ In 2003, Epicentre won the race but was disqualied for interference in the stretch and set back to third.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2021 Del Mar Media Guide

References