Thunder Road Handicap
Encyclopedia
The Thunder Road Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race
run annually in early February at Santa Anita Park
in Arcadia, California
. It is open to horses age four and older and is contested on turf
at a distance of one mile (eight furlong
s). A Listed race, it was upgraded to a Grade III
event for 2009. However, due to wet weather the 2009 race was downgraded because it had to be taken off the turf and run on the Pro-Ride synthetic dirt track.
Most wins:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey
:
Most wins by a trainer
:
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
run annually in early February at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
. It is open to horses age four and older and is contested on turf
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
at a distance of one mile (eight furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s). A Listed race, it was upgraded to a Grade III
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
event for 2009. However, due to wet weather the 2009 race was downgraded because it had to be taken off the turf and run on the Pro-Ride synthetic dirt track.
Records
Speed record:- 1:33.77 - Fluke (2011)
Most wins:
- No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
:
- 2 - Victor EspinozaVictor EspinozaVictor Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California....
(2004, 2006)
Most wins by a trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
:
- No trainer has won this race more than once.
Winners
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
2011 | Fluke | 6 | Joe Talamo | Humberto Ascanio | Patricia Bozano | 1:33.77 |
2009 | Matto Mondo | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Richard Mandella | Yatse Stables I | 1:34.61 |
2008 | Storm Military | 6 | Garrett Gomez Garrett K. Gomez Garrett Keith Gomez is an American thoroughbred jockey.-Early career:Gomez learned to ride by watching his father, Louie, who was a jockey at many tracks in the Southwest United States... |
Robert J. Frankel | Castleton Lyons Castleton Lyons Castleton Lyons near Lexington, Kentucky, is an American horse racing stable and breeding business best known by the name Castleton Farm.... /La Biznaga |
1:34.17 |
2007 | Sweet Return | 7 | Alex Solis Alex Solis Alex O. Solis is a jockey based in the United States. He currently lives in Glendora, California and rides predominantly in Southern California... |
Ron McAnally Ron McAnally Ronald L. McAnally is an American Hall of Fame trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing. Called "one of the most honored and respected of North American trainers" by Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc, as a child, he and his four siblings were placed in an orphanage following the death of their mother... |
Red Oak Stable | 1:35.47 |
2006 | Senor Swinger | 6 | Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California.... |
Bob Baffert Bob Baffert Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his... |
Robert & Beverly Lewis | 1:34.00 |
2005 | Laura's Lucky Boy | 4 | Pat Valenzuela Pat Valenzuela Patrick Angel Valenzuela is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. Born into a racing family, his father plus three of his uncles, including Ismael Valenzuela, were jockeys. He rode his first career winner on November 10, 1978, at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico... |
Vladimir Cerin | Ernie Moody | 1:34.39 |
2004 | Singletary | 4 | Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza Victor Espinoza is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding in his native Mexico and earned his first win there in 1992 before moving the following year to compete at racetracks in California.... |
Don Chatlos Jr. | Billy Koch | 1:34.42 |