The San Luis Obispo Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on the turf. A Grade II event, it offers a purse of $150,000.
Inaugurated as the Washington's Birthday Handicap in 1950, it was run on dirt until 1954 when it became a turf race. For 1973, 1980 and 2005, the race was transferred to the dirt track. There was no race from 1963 through 1967 but returned in 1968 as the San Luis Obispo Handicap, named for the city of San Luis Obispo further up the Central Coast of California from Santa Anita Park.
It was started on the turf course's backstretch, instead of the hillside, in 1990, 1992 and 1993. Since inception it has been contested at various distances: 7 furlongs : 1950, 1952–53 miles (10 furlongs) : 1951, 1954, 1970 About miles (about 12 furlongs) : 1968, 1972 and 1993 miles (12 furlongs) : 1955–1969, 1971, 1973–1992, 1994–present
The San Luis Obispo Handicap was run in two divisions in 1968, 1972, and 1974.
Records Speed record: (at current distance of miles) 2:23.80 – Captain Cee Jay (1974)
Most wins: 2 – St. Vincent (1955, 1957) 2 – Great Communicator (1988, 1989) 2 – Spring House (2008, 2009)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Johnny Longden and/or Alberta Ranches (1955, 1957, 1982)
Most wins by a jockey: 9 – Bill Shoemaker (1952, 1956, 1962, 1972 (2), 1977, 1980, 1983, 1987)
Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Charles Whittingham (1968, 1971, 1972 (2), 1977, 1983, 1987, 1990)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2011Champ Pegasus5Joel RosarioRichard MandellaDiamond A Racing Corporation and Arturo Vargas2:31.552010Bourbon Bay4Rafael BejaranoNeil DrysdaleDavid and Jill Heerensperger2:28.892009Spring House7Alex SolisJulio C. CananiRandall D. Hubbard2:27.262008Spring House6Garrett GomezJulio C. CananiRandall D. Hubbard2:27.212007Obrigado4Garrett GomezNeil D. DrysdaleG. Seidler & P. Vegso2:27.212006Atlando5Martin PedrozaDarrell ViennaGary A. Tanaka2:23.952005License To Run5Patrick ValenzuelaRobert J. FrankelTNT Stud2:28.722004Puerto Banus5Victor EspinozaKristin MulhallNoctis Stable et al.2:28.002003The Tin Man5Mike E. SmithRichard MandellaAury & Ralph Todd2:31.222002Nazirali5Brice BlancJulio C. CananiMichael House2:26.092001Persianlux5Tyler BazeWallace DollaseHorizon Stable et al.2:27.702000Dark Moondancer5Chris McCarronRon McAnallyCharles J. Cella2:39.611999Kessem Power7Gary StevensMike R. MitchellRobert J. Baron2:28.021998Bienvenido5Chris McCarronRon McAnallySidney Craig2:29.341997Shanawi5Brice BlancJenine SahadiGhanem & Sloan2:24.511996Windsharp5Ed DelahoussayeWallace DollaseRichard & Martha Stephen2:30.331995Square Cut6Chris AntleyJoseph DevereuxE. W. Racing Stable2:26.041994Fanmore6Kent DesormeauxRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms2:27.031993Kotashaan5Kent DesormeauxRichard MandellaLa Presle Farm2:27.641992Quest for Fame5Gary StevensRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms2:28.791991Rial6Jorge VelásquezEnrique BoelckeEnrique Boelcke2:24.001990Frankly Perfect5Chris McCarronCharles WhittinghamW. Gretzky/Summa Stable2:28.001989Great Communicator6Ray SibilleThad AckelClass Act Stable (George Ackel)2:30.201988Great Communicator5Ray SibilleThad AckelClass Act Stable (George Ackel)2:27.601987Louis Le Grand5Bill ShoemakerCharles Whittingham Allen E. Paulson2:28.401986Talakeno6Pat ValenzuelaLaz BarreraHappy Valley Farm2:33.201985Western7Gary StevensLaz BarreraAaron U. Jones2:26.001984Sir Pele5Rafael MezaLaz BarreraAaron U. Jones2:27.401983Pelerin6Bill Shoemaker Charles WhittinghamDoherty & Snowden2:24.601982Regal Bearing6Joe Steiner Johnny LongdenLongden & Carr Stables2:27.201981John Henry6Laffit Pincay Jr.Ron McAnallyDotsam Stable2:24.001980Silver Eagle6Bill Shoemaker Thomas Bell Jr. Gayno Stable et al.2:30.201979Fluorescent Light5Laffit Pincay Jr.Angel Penna Sr. Ogden Mills Phipps2:28.201978Copper Mel6Sandy HawleyTommy DoyleCathryn Charles2:28.001977Royal Derby II8Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamFogelson/Whittingham2:24.801976Announcer4Fernando ToroVincent ClyneElmendorf Farm2:30.801975Madison Palace7Laffit Pincay Jr.Farrell W. JonesSultan & Valenti2:30.201974Captain Cee Jay4Fernando AlvarezSyl VeitchSaron Stable2:23.801974Astray5Jacinto VásquezDavid A. WhiteleyWilliam Haggin Perry2:24.401973Queen's Hustler4Rudy RosalesGene ClevelandLaguna Seca & Ward2:27.201972 Practicante6Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamClaiborne Farm2:26.401972 Lord Derby5Bill ShoemakerCharles WhittinghamLlangollen Farm2:27.401971Daryl's Joy5Johnny SellersCharles WhittinghamRobert K. C. Goh2:29.201970Quilche6Jerry LambertSteve IppolitoKerr Stable1:58.001969Quicken Tree6Bill HartackClyde TurkL. R. Rowan/W. Whitney Jr.2:37.601968Dr. Isby4Walter Blum Bob R. RobertsBent Tree Ranch2:27.801968Tumble Wind4Johnny SellersCharles WhittinghamRock Spring & Langollen2:27.00no race 1963–1967 1962The Axe II4 Bill ShoemakerRobert L. WheelerGreentree Stable2:37.001961Geechee Lou5Johnny LongdenGilbert GuarigliaLawrence J. Krakower2:26.001960Twentyone Guns5George TaniguchiT. F. M. SmithEyrauds & Sandahl2:26.001959Hakuchikara6Raymond YorkRobert L. WheelerHiroshi Nishi2:32.401958Tall Chief II6Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterGolden Gate Stables2:30.201957St. Vincent6Johnny Longden Vance Longden Gardiner/Alberta Ranches2:26.001956Blue Volt7Bill ShoemakerEdward D. Cox Altandor Stable & Cox2:26.801955St. Vincent4Johnny Longden Vance Longden Gardiner/Alberta Ranches2:25.40195413 of Diamonds5Johnny LongdenVance LongdenAlberta Ranches, Ltd.2:00.001953Reighs Bull5Jack WestropeAllen Drumheller Sr.Tom Ross & Asa Brunk1:22.801952Pet Bully4Bill ShoemakerHoward HoffmanAda L. Rice1:22.401951Be Fleet4Nick WallGeorge E. MayberryAndrew J. Crevolin2:01.801950But Why Not6William BolandWilliam J. Hirsch King Ranch1:23.20
External links The 2009 San Luis Obispo Handicap at the NTRA