The Sunset Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the third week of July at Hollywood Park Racetrack in inglewood, California. The Grade III event is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on turf. With the closure of Hollywood Park at the end of 2013 the Sunset Handicap ceased to exist.
Inaugurated in 1938 as the Aloha Handicap, in 1940 it was renamed the Sunset Handicap. It was raced on dirt until 1967. Since inception it has been contested at various distances: 9 furlongs : 1938, 1950 12 furlongs : 1939, 1940, 1967–1968, 1973–present 13 furlongs : 1941, 1946–1949, 1951–1966 16 furlongs : 1969-1972
In 1975, the Sunset Handicap was run in two divisions.
On December 2, 2009, this Grade II stakes race was downgraded to a Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
Historical notes
In 1976, trainer Charles Whittingham saddled the first three finishers.
Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles) 2:23.55 - Talloires (1996)
Most wins: 2 - Whodunit (1959, 1961)
Most wins by a jockey: 13 - Bill Shoemaker (1956, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1987)
Most wins by a trainer: 11 - Charles Whittingham (1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1992)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey TrainerOwner Time2013Marketing Mix (mare)5Gary StevensTom ProctorGlen Hill Farm2:26.782012Dhaamer (IRE) 5Julien LeparouxMike MitchellEdward Brown Jr. / Jay Manoogian2:29.132011Imponente5Chantal SutherlandA.C. AvilaJessica Coudelaria2:26.652010Marlang5Joel RosarioNeil D. DrysdaleGustav Schickedanz2:25.452009Black Astor5Joseph TalamoLisa L. LewisA Breed Apart, LLC & Stephen R. Humphrey2:27.102008Warning Zone4Mike SmithJohn W. Sadler Rising Sun Racing Stable2:26.952007Runaway Dancer8Alex SolisDan L. HendricksR L Stables (Michael & Katie Kennedy)2:27.682006T.H. Approval5Alex SolisEduardo IndaTadahiro Hotehama2:26.652005Always First4Victor EspinozaNeil D. DrysdaleSheikh Mohammed2:27.002004Star Over The Bay4Tyler BazeMike MitchellG Racing et al.2:26.472003Puerto Banus4Victor EspinozaKristin MulhallSteve Taub et al. 2:26.952002Grammarian4Brice BlancKellyn GorderLindsey Williams2:26.592001Blueprint6Gary StevensRobert B. Hess Jr.Fog City Stable (David Shimmon & William Bianco)2:26:162000Bienamado4Chris McCarronJ. Paco GonzalezJ. Toffan/T. McCaffery2:25.061999Plicck4David FloresRon McAnallyAl & Sandee Kirkwood2:26.971998River Bay5Alex SolisRobert FrankelHenri Chalhoub2:27.401997Marlin4David FloresD. Wayne LukasMichael Tabor2:25.391996Talloires6Kent DesormeauxEdwin J. GregsonRandall D. Hubbard, et al.2:23.551995Sandpit6Corey NakataniRichard E. MandellaSierra Thoroughbreds2:25.501994Grand Flotilla7Gary StevensJenine SahadiMike Sloan2:26.351993Bien Bien4Chris McCarronJ. Paco GonzalezJ. Toffan & T. McCaffery2:25.691992Qathif5Alex SolisCharles WhittinghamAnn & Jerry Moss2:26.721991Black Monday5Corey NakataniGary F. JonesAbrams, Hicker & Lima2:26.001990Petite Ile4Corey BlackEdwin J. GregsonJean-Francois Malle2:25.601989Pranke5Pat ValenzuelaEdwin J. GregsonHector Sanchez2:28.001988Roi Normand5Fernando ToroRobert FrankelEdmund A. Gann2:24.601987Swink4Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamNelson Bunker Hunt2:25.001986Zoffany6Eddie DelahoussayeJohn GosdenA. Speelman / J. & A. Bodie2:25.201985Kings Island4Fernando ToroJerry M. FanningDan Agnew & Charles Baumbach 2:25.801984John Henry9Chris McCarronRon McAnallyDotsam Stable2:24.801983Craelius4Chris McCarronCharles WhittinghamHoward B. Keck2:26.401982Erins Isle4Angel Cordero Jr.Charles WhittinghamBrian Sweeney, et al.2:25.601981Galaxy Libra5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamLouis R. Rowan2:25.801980Inkerman5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamEdward Hudson Sr.2:24.401979Sirlad5Darrel McHargueCharles WhittinghamAbram S. Hewitt2:24.001978Exceller5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamNelson Bunker Hunt2:27.001977Today 'n Tomorrow 4Bill ShoemakerRoger ClappConnie M. Ring2:27.601976Caucasus4Fernando ToroCharles WhittinghamFred Sahadi2:26.401975Barclay Joy5Bill ShoemakerA. Thomas DoyleJohn McShain2:26.801975Cruiser II 6Frank OlivaresRon McAnallyContreras, Mamakos & Stubrin2:27.001974Greco II5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamE. E. Fogelson2:27.001973Cougar II7Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamMary F. Jones2:26.001972Typecast (mare)6Johnny SellersA. Thomas DoyleWesterly Stud3:20.601971Over The Counter7Jerry LambertRobert FrankelH. T. Sheridan3:19.201970One For All4Laffit Pincay Jr.Horatio LuroJohn A. Bell III3:21.801969Petrone5Johnny SellersRobert L. WheelerFlag Is Up Farms & E. Constantine3:18.001968Fort Marcy4Laffit Pincay Jr.J. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable2:26.601967Hill Clown4Bill ShoemakerWilliam B. FinneganEl Peco Ranch2:27.801966O'Hara4Donald PierceWilliam J. HirschGreentree Stable2:40.401965Terry's Secret3Alex MaeseCarl A. RolesPoltex Stable (William R. Hawn et al.)2:41.801964Colorado King5Bill ShoemakerWally DunnPoltex Stable (William R. Hawn et al.)2:40.801963Arbitrage5Pete MorenoReggie CornellLinda Cornell2:41.201962Prove It5Bill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth2:39.601961Whodunit6Manuel YcazaWilliam C. WinfreyMrs. Jan Burke2:39.001960Dotted Swiss4Edward BurnsRobert L. WheelerC. V. Whitney2:40.201959Whodunit4Raymond YorkWilliam C. WinfreyMrs. Jan Burke2:40.801958Gallant Man4Bill ShoemakerJohn A. NerudRalph Lowe2:41.001957Find7Ralph NevesWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II2:40.001956Swaps4Bill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth2:38.201955Social Outcast5Eric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II2:40.601954Fleet Bird5Ralph NevesHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm2:40.801953Lights Up6Jack WestropeHack RossClifford H. Jones & Sons 2:41.201952Great Circle5Reg HeatherWarren StuteJohn T. de Blois Wack2:41.801951Alderman4Jack WestropeWillie DennisBreel Stable (George C. Newell)2:42.001950Hill Prince3Eddie ArcaroCasey HayesChristopher Chenery1:48.601949Ace Admiral4Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterMaine Chance Farm2:39.801948Drumbeat3Thearl WilliamsJack T. EngleAndrea Leeds Howard2:41.001947Cover Up4Robert PermaneRoss BrinsonZack T. Addington 2:41.201946Historian5Ovie ScurlockEdward AnspachHerbert Woolf2:40.80 1945 NO RACE 1944 194319421941King Torch4Johnny DeeringGraceton PhilpotLouis B. Mayer2:44.401940Kayak II5John H. AdamsTom SmithCharles S. Howard2:30.201939Sorteado4Ralph NevesTom SmithCharles S. Howard2:29.001938Ligaroti7Noel RichardsonLindsay C. HowardBinglin Stable1:50.40
Other North American Marathon races On dirt: Gallant Man Handicap Brooklyn Handicap Fort Harrod Stakes Tokyo City Cup Valedictory Stakes
On turf: Canadian International Stakes Carleton F. Burke Handicap San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap Stars and Stripes Handicap San Luis Obispo Handicap San Luis Rey Handicap
References The Sunset Handicap at Pedigree Query The 2009 Sunset Handicap at the NTRA