Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
WHAT HORSE HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE FASTEST RUN SANTA MARGARITA INVITATIONAL HANDICAP?
4/26/2019
Even with the hype for the Kentucky Oaks and Derby we find a significant race for 4-year-olds and up run at Santa Anita this weekend –the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (GII). The race was first run in 1935. Over the 84 years of running it has been run at four different distances. From 1935-36 it was run at 7 furlongs. In 1937 it dropped back to 6 furlongs. From 1938 to 1954 it was run at 8.5 furlongs with two exceptions. It was not run from 1942-45 because of World War II and from 1949-52 it was run at 9 furlongs, its current distance. Some champion female horses have won the race ---Lady Secret (1986), Zenyatta (2010) and Val Dori (2018). The record for the race at 9 furlongs (1 1/8 miles) was set in 1986 and remains the record by Lady Secret (1:47.00). She was trained for that race by Hall of Fame Trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, and ridden by Hall of Fame Jockey (1990), Jorge Velasquez.