The Santa Anita Handicap is a major West Coast race for older horses held at Santa Anita Park each March at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. The race has been run since 1935, when it was inaugurated carrying a purse of $100,000. The amount was staggering for the time period and the race became known as the "Hundred-Grander." The race also earned another nickname, the "Big 'Cap," which is still used today, though the purse has grown to $1,000,000.
The Santa Anita Handicap is a major West Coast race for older horses held at Santa Anita Park each March at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. The race has been run since 1935, when it was inaugurated carrying a purse of $100,000. The amount was staggering for the time period and the race became known as the "Hundred-Grander." The race also earned another nickname, the "Big 'Cap," which is still used today, though the purse has grown to $1,000,000.
The Santa Anita Handicap has been won by such horses as Seabiscuit, Round Table, Ack Ack, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, John Henry (twice), Alysheba, Tiznow, Lava Man (twice), Game On Dude (three times) and Shared Belief.
Jockey Bill Shoemaker won the race an astounding 11 times and trainer Charlie Whittingham owns eight victories in the race.
Fastest Time (since 1976): 1:58:17
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 8 1/2 lengths
| Date | Past Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/28/2025 | Locked | Todd A. Pletcher | Jose L. Ortiz | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm LLC |
| 03/02/2024 | Newgate | Bob Baffert | Lanfranco Dettori | SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, et al |
| 03/03/2023 | Stilleto Boy | Ed Moger, Jr. | Kent J. Desormeaux | Steve Moger |
| 03/04/2022 | Express Train | John A. Shirreffs | Victor Espinoza | C R K Stable LLC |
| 03/05/2021 | Idol | Richard Baltas | Joel Rosario | Calvin Nguyen |
| 03/06/2020 | Combatant | John W. Sadler | Joel Rosario | Hronis Racing LLC |
| 04/05/2019 | Gift Box | John W. Sadler | Joel Rosario | Hronis Racing LLC |
| 03/09/2018 | Accelerate | John W. Sadler | Victor Espinoza | Hronis Racing LLC |
| 03/10/2017 | Shaman Ghost | James A. Jerkens | Javier Castellano | Stronach Stables |
| 03/11/2016 | Melatonin | David E. Hofmans | Joseph Talamo | Tarabilla Farms, Inc. |
| 03/06/2015 | Shared Belief | Jerry Hollendorfer | Mike E. Smith | Jungle Racing LLC, KMN Racing LLC, Hollendorfer, Litt, Solis II |
| 03/07/2014 | Game On Dude | Bob Baffert | Mike E. Smith | Diamond Pride Lanni Family Trust Mercedes Stable Bernie Schiappa |
| 03/01/2013 | Game On Dude | Bob Baffert | Mike E. Smith | Diamond Pride Lanni Family Trust Mercedes Stable Bernie Schiappa |
| 03/02/2012 | Ron the Greek | William I. Mott | Jose Lezcano | Brous Stable Wachtel Stable and Hammer Jack |
| 03/04/2011 | Game On Dude | Bob Baffert | Chantal Sutherland | Lanni Family Trust, Mercedes Stable LLC and Schiappa, Bernard C. |
| 03/05/2010 | Misremembered | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | Baffert, Natalie J. and Jacobs, George A. |
| 03/06/2009 | Einstein (BRZ) | Helen Pitts | Julien R. Leparoux | Midnight Cry Stable |
| 02/29/2008 | Heatseeker (IRE) | Jerry Hollendorfer | Rafael Bejarano | William DeBurgh |
| 03/02/2007 | Lava Man | Doug F. O'Neill | Corey S. Nakatani | STD Racing Stable and Wood, Jason |
| 03/03/2006 | Lava Man | Doug F. O'Neill | Corey S. Nakatani | STD Racing Stable and Wood, Jason |
| 03/04/2005 | Rock Hard Ten | Richard E. Mandella | Gary L. Stevens | Mercedes Stables LLC and Paulson, Madeleine |
| 03/05/2004 | Southern Image | Michael Machowsky | Victor Espinoza | Blahut Stables, LLC, Kagele Brothers, Tepper, Allen, et al |
| 02/28/2003 | Milwaukee Brew | Robert J. Frankel | Edgar S. Prado | Stronach Stables |
| 03/01/2002 | Milwaukee Brew | Robert J. Frankel | Kent J. Desormeaux | Stronach Stables |
| 03/02/2001 | Tiznow | Jay M. Robbins | Chris J. McCarron | Cooper, Michael and Cecilia Straub Revocable Trust |
| 03/03/2000 | General Challenge | Bob Baffert | Corey S. Nakatani | Golden Eagle Farm |
| 03/05/1999 | Free House | J. Paco Gonzalez | Chris J. McCarron | McCaffery, Trudy and Toffan, John A. |
| 03/06/1998 | Malek (CHI) | Richard E. Mandella | Alex O. Solis | Stud Panter |
| 03/01/1997 | Siphon (BRZ) | Richard E. Mandella | David Romero Flores | Rio Claro Thoroughbreds |
| 03/01/1996 | Mr Purple | Ronald L. McAnally | Eddie J. Delahoussaye | Alex G. Campbell, Jr. |
| 03/10/1995 | Urgent Request (IRE) | Rodney Rash | Gary L. Stevens | Stewart Aitken |
| 03/04/1994 | Stuka | Gary F. Jones | Chris W. Antley | Allan E. Paulson |
| 03/05/1993 | Sir Beaufort | Charles E. Whittingham | Patrick A. Valenzuela | Victoria Calantoni |
| 03/06/1992 | Best Pal | Gary F. Jones | Kent J. Desormeaux | Golden Eagle Farm |
| 03/08/1991 | Farma Way | D. Wayne Lukas | Gary L. Stevens | Quarter B. Farm |
| 03/03/1990 | Ruhlmann | Charles E. Whittingham | Gary L. Stevens | Moss Mr-Mrs J S |
| 03/04/1989 | Martial Law | Julio C. Canani | Martin A. Pedroza | Clover Rcg Sta & Hughes & Messina |
| 03/05/1988 | Alysheba | Jack C. Van Berg | Chris J. McCarron | Scharbauer Dorothy & Pamela |
| 03/07/1987 | Broad Brush | Richard W. Small | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Meyerhoff R E |
| 03/01/1986 | Greinton (GB) | Charles E. Whittingham | Laffit A. Pincay, Jr. | Bradley & Whittingham & Wynne |
| 03/02/1985 | Lord At War (ARG) | Charles E. Whittingham | William Shoemaker | Perkins P |
| 03/03/1984 | Interco | Ted West | Patrick A. Valenzuela | Sofro D I |
| 03/05/1983 | Bates Motel | John H. M. Gosden | Terry Lipham | Getty Phillips Jacqueline & Riordan |
| 03/06/1982 | John Henry | Ronald L. McAnally | William Shoemaker | Dotsam Stable |
| 03/07/1981 | John Henry | Ronald L. McAnally | Laffit A. Pincay, Jr. | Dotsam Stable |
| 03/01/1980 | Spectacular Bid | Grover G. Delp | William Shoemaker | Hawksworth Farm |
| 03/03/1979 | Affirmed | Lazaro S. Barrera | Laffit A. Pincay, Jr. | Harbor View Farm |
| 03/04/1978 | Vigors | Larry J. Sterling | Darrel G. McHargue | Hawn W R |
| 03/05/1977 | Crystal Water | Roger E. Clapp | Laffit A. Pincay, Jr. | Ring Mrs C M |
| 03/06/1976 | Royal Glint | Gordon R. Potter | Jorge Enrique Tejeira | Lasater D |
