The Del Mar Handicap is an American thoroughbred horse race run each year during the third week of August at the Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and three-eighths miles on the Jimmy Durante turf course.
Since inception, the Del Mar Handicap has been contested at various distances: miles: 1937–1948 miles: 1949–1969 about miles on dirt: 1976–1985 miles: 1970–1975, 1986–present
The Del Mar Handicap was run in two divisions in 1972.
In 1969, Figonero won the race in a world record time of 1:46.20 for miles.
Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles) 2:11.14 – Spring House (2008)
Most wins: 4 – Gold Phoenix (IRE) (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Most wins by an owner: 6 – Little Red Feather Racing (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Most wins by a jockey: 8 – Bill Shoemaker (1950, 1953, 1954, 1971, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1987)
Most wins by a trainer: 10 – Philip D'Amato (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Test Score4Juan J. HernandezH. Graham MotionAmerman Racing2:14.76 2025 Gold Phoenix (IRE) 7 Flavien Prat Philip D'Amato Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify 2:16.09 2024 Gold Phoenix (IRE) 6 Kyle Frey Philip D'Amato Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify 2:17.05 2023 Gold Phoenix (IRE) 5 Juan J. Hernandez Philip D'Amato Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify 2:15.34 2022 Gold Phoenix (IRE) 4 Flavien Prat Philip D'Amato Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables & Marsha Naify 2:14.51 2021 Astronaut 4 Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs John MB O'Connor 2:15.97 2020 Red King 6 Umberto Rispoli Philip D'Amato Little Red Feather Racing, G Jacobsen & P Belmonte 2:15.75 2019 Acclimate 5 Florent Geroux Philip D'Amato The Ellwood Johnston Trust & Timmy Time Racing 2:12.712018Fashion Business 4Flavien PratPhilip D'AmatoLittle Red Feather Racing and Naify, Marsha2:13.842017Hunt5Flavien Prat Philip D'AmatoMichael House 2:14.932016Ashleyluvssugar5Gary StevensPeter EurtonAlesia/Bran Jam Stable/Ciaglia Racing2:16.112015Big John B6Rafael BejaranoPhilip D'AmatoMichael House2:16.372014Big John B5Mike E. SmithPhilip D'AmatoMichael House2:12.812013Vagabond Shoes6Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing 2:11.942012Casino Host4Joseph TalamoRonald W. EllisGary & Mary West2:14.772011Celtic New Year4Victor EspinozaJohn W. SadlerMichael Jawl2:14.922010Champ Pegasus4Joel RosarioRichard MandellaDiamond A Racing/Vargas2:11.932009Spring House7Alex SolisJulio C. CananiRandall D. Hubbard2:12.612008Spring House6Corey NakataniJulio C. CananiRandall D. Hubbard2:11.142007After Market4Alex SolisJohn ShirreffsPam & Martin Wygod2:13.012006T.H. Approval5Alex SolisEduardo IndaTadahiro Hotehama2:12.342005Leprechaun Kid6Tyler BazeMike R. MitchellAnastasi, Ukegawa, et al. 2:12.812004Star Over The Bay6Tyler BazeMike R. MitchellG. Racing et al.2:12.712003Irish Warrior5Alex SolisWallace DollaseColeman, Dasaro, et al. 2:12.282002Delta Form6Goncalino AlmeidaJenine SahadiTeam Valor 2:12.152001Timboroa5Laffit Pincay Jr.Robert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann2:12.592000 Northern Quest5Chris McCarron Robert J. Frankel3 Plus U Stable2:12.651999Sayarshan4Brice BlancNick CananiDehaven/Prestonwood2:14.201998Bonapartiste4Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Ecurie Fabien Ouaki2:14.001997Rainbow Dancer6Alex SolisJenine SahadiEvergreen Farm2:13.601996Dernier Empereur6Pat ValenzuelaBen D.A. CecilGary A. Tanaka2:13.801995Royal Chariot5Laffit Pincay Jr.Edwin J. GregsonD&V Enterprises, Inc.2:13.601994Navarone6Pat ValenzuelaRodney RashRobert E. Hibbert2:14.201993Luazur4Pat DayRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann2:15.001992Navarone4Pat ValenzuelaRodney RashRobert E. Hibbert2:15.001991My Style4Kent DesormeauxDarrell ViennaDavid Milch2:13.201990Live The Dream4Alex SolisCharles Whittingham Bradley/Bradley/Chandler2:13.001989Payant5Robbie DavisCharles Whittingham Correas, Seabaugh et al.2:15.201988Sword Dance4Chris McCarron John GosdenDaniel Schwartz2:15.801987Swink4Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Nelson Bunker Hunt2:13.801986Raipillan4Russell BazeWarren StuteClement L. Hirsch2:14.601985Barberstown5Fernando ToroJohn GosdenBell Bloodstock & McDermott1:58.001984Precisionist3Chris McCarron L.R. FenstermakerFred W. Hooper1:56.801983Bel Bolide5Bill Shoemaker John GosdenStonechurch Stable1:58.201982Muttering3Bill Shoemaker D. Wayne LukasTartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger)1:57.001981Wickerr6Chris McCarron Robert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann1:57.601980Go West Young Man5Ed DelahoussayeMary Lou TuckWild Plum Farm1:58.201979Ardiente4Chris McCarron Edwin J. GregsonJan Siegel1:56.801978Palton5Henry E. MorenoHenry M. MorenoPinetree Stable1:57.601977Ancient Title7Darrel McHargueKeith L. Stucki Kirkland Stable1:55.601976Riot in Paris5Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham M. J. Bradley & Whittingham1:57.601975Cruiser II6Frank OlivaresRon McAnally Contreras, Mamakos, Stubrin2:14.601974Redtop III5Fernando ToroEvan S. JacksonDaniel Schwartz2:16.001973Red Reality7Braulio BaezaMacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables2:17.001972Hill Circus4Fernando ToroJohn H. AdamsEl Peco Ranch2:16.001972Chrisaway4Robert HowardPaul R. FoutBeverly R. Steinman2:16.201971Pinjara6Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Howard B. Keck2:15.601970Daryl's Joy4Johnny SellersCharles Whittingham Robert K. C. Goh2:15.601969Figonero4Álvaro PinedaWarren StuteClement L. Hirsch1:46.201968Quicken Tree5Bill HartackClyde TurkRowan & Whitney1:46.601967Native Diver8Jerry LambertBuster MillerickM/M Louis K. Shapiro1:46.601966Old Mose4Donald PierceJoseph ManziRobert E. Hibbert1:47.201965Terry's Secret3Alex MaeseCarl A. RolesPoltex Stable1:47.001964Viking Spirit4Kenneth ChurchJim NazworthyThomas E. Brittingham III1:48.001963Mr. Consistency5Kenneth ChurchJim NazworthyAnn Peppers1:47.001962Crazy Kid4 Alex MaeseJohn G. CantyVista Hermosa Stable1:47.601961Scotland5Merlin Volzke Charles Whittingham W. M. Ingram1:46.801960How Now7Edward BurnsCecil Jolly George C. Newell1:46.601959Twentyone Guns4George TaniguchiFred M. Smith M/M John Eyraud1:47.201958Noredski5Donald PierceReggie CornellJacques Braunstein1:47.601957How Now4Raymond YorkCecil JollyGeorge C. Newell1:47.601956Arrogate5Johnny Longden Reggie CornellM/M Dick Griegorian1:47.001955Arrogate4Johnny Longden Reggie CornellM/M Dick Griegorian1:47.601954Stranglehold5Bill Shoemaker Red McDanielM/M N. Gordon Phillips1:48.601953Goose Khal4Bill Shoemaker Willie F. AlvaradoHarry Brown1:48.601952Grantor4Johnny LongdenWilliam B. FinneganLouis B. Mayer1:47.601951Blue Reading4Bill PearsonRed McDanielM/M Clement L. Hirsch1:48.601950Frankly5Bill Shoemaker Buster MillerickFrank Frankel1:48.601949Top's Boy5Ralph NevesWilliam MolterKinsey Ranch1:48.801948Frankly3Jack WestropeBuster MillerickFrank Frankel1:42.601947Iron Maiden6William ParnellCharles T. LeavittEllwood B. Johnston1:43.201946Olhaverry7Melvin PetersonAnthony E. SilverPan de Azucar Stable1:43.201945Texas Sandman4Melvin PetersonEarl H. SorrellW. David Rorex1:43.201941Royal Crusader4Lester BalaskiPaul MeredithR. C. Stable1:43.601940Big Flash3Eugene Rodriguez Clyde PhillipsFrench Lick Springs St1:43.001939Wedding Call3Willis WardCharles E. McClainW. C. Gaffers & J. H. Sattler1:44.001938Ligaroti6Willie Moran Lindsay C. HowardBinglin Stable1:43.801937Sally's Booter5Tim Sena Joe LuddyAnthony Puccinelli1:44.80
References The 2008 Del Mar Handicap at the NTRA