The Santa Maria Handicap is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A race for fillies and mares age four and older, it is contested on Pro-Ride synthetic dirt over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs).
Since the inaugural running in 1934, the Santa Maria Handicap has been contested at various distances:
- 6 furlongs: 1934–1936, 1938–1940
- 3 furlongs: 1941
- 8 furlongs (1 mile): 1946, 1947, 1952–1953
- 7 furlongs: 1954–1956
- 8.5 furlongs (11/ miles): 1957–present
The Santa Maria was run as a stakes from 1938 through 1947 and was raced in two divisions in 1983 and 1984.
There was no race in 1937, nor from 1948 through 1951.
Famous quotes containing the words santa, maria and/or handicap:
“On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.”
—Johnny Mercer (1909–1976)
“In each event of life, how clear
Thy ruling hand I see!
Each blessing to my soul more dear,
Because conferred by Thee.”
—Helen Maria Williams (18th century)
“I have the handicap of being born with a special language to which I alone have the key.”
—Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880)