Sunset Handicap

The Sunset Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the third week of July at Hollywood Park Racetrack in inglewood, California. The Grade III event is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on turf. With the closure of Hollywood Park at the end of 2013 the Sunset Handicap ceased to exist.

Inaugurated in 1938 as the Aloha Handicap, in 1940 it was renamed the Sunset Handicap. It was raced on dirt until 1967. Since inception it has been contested at various distances:

• 9 furlongs : 1938, 1950
• 12 furlongs : 1939, 1940, 1967–1968, 1973–present
• 13 furlongs : 1941, 1946–1949, 1951–1966
• 16 furlongs : 1969-1972

In 1975, the Sunset Handicap was run in two divisions.

On December 2, 2009, this Grade II stakes race was downgraded to a Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

• In 1976, trainer Charles Whittingham saddled the first three finishers.

Speed record: (at current distance of 1+1⁄2 miles)

• 2:23.55 - Talloires (1996)

Most wins:

• 2 - Whodunit (1959, 1961)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 13 - Bill Shoemaker (1956, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1987)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 11 - Charles Whittingham (1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1992)

On dirt:

• Gallant Man Handicap
• Brooklyn Handicap
• Fort Harrod Stakes
• Tokyo City Cup
• Valedictory Stakes

On turf:

• Canadian International Stakes
• Carleton F. Burke Handicap
• San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap
• Stars and Stripes Handicap
• San Luis Obispo Handicap
• San Luis Rey Handicap

• The Sunset Handicap at Pedigree Query
• The 2009 Sunset Handicap at the NTRA