Agua Caliente Handicap

Last updated
Agua Caliente Handicap
Classdiscontinued stakes
Location Agua Caliente Racetrack
Tijuana, Mexico
Inaugurated1917
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
Distance1116 miles (8.5 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and up

The Agua Caliente Handicap is a defunct thoroughbred horse race that was once the premier event at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, and the richest race in North America. Inaugurated in 1917 as the Coffroth Handicap, it was named in honor of James Wood Coffroth, President of the Lower California Jockey Club. [1] It was run at the Tijuana Racetrack through 1929 after which it was hosted by the newly built Agua Caliente Racetrack. [2]

Contents

In the 1930s the event offered a $100,000 purse which drew high-profile stable owners from the United States and Canada such as Adolph B. Spreckels, [3] J. K. L. Ross, [4] Charles Howard, Suzanne Mason and the Seagram family stables. Among the champions to win the race were Round Table, Gallant Sir, who won it twice and in record time, Seabiscuit, and Phar Lap, who won the 1932 race, ridden by Billy Elliot, in track record time. It was the great Australian champion's only North American appearance.

After the 1934 racing season, the government of Mexico outlawed gambling until 1938 by which time the track had been effectively replaced by the new Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, United States, the choice of convenience for owners as a place to train, stable, and race their horses. The Agua Caliente Handicap was only run twice more: in 1938, when it was won by Seabiscuit, and in 1958, when it was won by Round Table.


Distances:

Records

Speed record: (at 1¼ miles)

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
1958 Round Table 4 Bill Shoemaker William Molter Kerr Stable 1116 M1:41.20$31,800
1939- 1957Race not held
1938 Seabiscuit 5Noel Richardson Tom Smith Charles S. Howard 118 M1:50.40$8,600
1935- 1937Race not held
1934 Gallant Sir 5 Red Pollard Elwood L. FitzgeraldNorthway Stable (Norman W. Church)114 M2:02.80$23,300
1933 Gallant Sir 4 George Woolf Elwood L. FitzgeraldNorthway Stable (Norman W. Church)114 M2:02.60$24,200
1932 Phar Lap 6 Billy Elliot Tommy Woodcock David Davis & Harry R. Telford114 M2:02.80$50,050
1931 Mike Hall 7Steve O'DonnellWalter W. TaylorRobert M. Eastman114 M2:03.00
1930 Victorian 5George Ellis J. Thomas Taylor Warm Stable (Suzanne Mason & W. A. Hanger)114 M2:03.20$98,400
1929Golden Prince5Jack ParmaleeHarry M. UnnaHarry M. Unna1316 M2:03.60$98,250
1928Crystal Pennant4 Tommy Luther Earl LinnellR. C. Stable (Walter H. Hoffman)114 M2:05.00$92,700
1927 Sir Harry 3 Ovila Bourassa William H. Bringloe Seagram Stables 114 M2:03.40$84,400
1926Carlaris3Willie MundenFred KraftChula Vista Stable114 M2:02.60$70,700
1925Atherstone5Harry WakoffDavid R. McDanielMrs. Victor Vivaudou114 M2:07.40$56,425
1924Runstar5Edgar BarnesCharles W. Carroll Adolph B. Spreckels 114 M2:05.40$43,650
1923Rebuke4William Pool Henry McDaniel J. K. L. Ross 114 M2:06.20$29,475
1922 Mulciber 4Jack HuntamerGribley R. AllenGribley R. Allen114 M2:06.40$15,000
1921Be Frank5W. McIntyreHarry M. UnnaBronx Stable (George P. Fuller)114 M2:05.60$14,775
1918- 1920Race not held
1917Sasin4 Willie Kelsay Clarence Buxton Clarence Buxton114 M2:22.00$4,000

References