What is the San Juan Capistrano Stakes?
The San Juan Capistrano Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Contested at about 1¾ miles on the turf for horses aged three and older, it is the longest graded Thoroughbred race in North America and one of the most unique events on the American racing calendar. The race begins at the top of Santa Anita's downhill hillside chute, descends the hill, makes a rare right-hand turn — one of only two locations in North American racing where a right turn is used — then completes a full lap of the turf oval. Inaugurated in 1935, the San Juan Capistrano has a storied history that includes Seabiscuit setting a track record in a 7-length romp in 1937, and the legendary duel between Noor and Triple Crown champion Citation in 1950. Once a Grade I event worth $250,000, the race was downgraded to Grade III in 2015. Since 2007, the winner has received ballot-free entry to the Melbourne Cup, the world's greatest staying race. The race is the traditional closing day feature of the Santa Anita spring meet. Charlie Whittingham holds the all-time trainer record with eight wins.
When is the San Juan Capistrano Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 San Juan Capistrano Stakes is scheduled for Sunday, June 14 at Santa Anita Park on closing day of the Hollywood Meet. Contested at about 1¾ miles on the hillside turf course with a purse of $100,000, the race draws the top long-distance turf horses on the West Coast, with the winner earning ballot-free entry to the Melbourne Cup.
San Juan Capistrano Stakes History & Notable Winners
The San Juan Capistrano has produced some of the most celebrated staying performances in California racing history. Nitti (IRE) delivered one of the biggest upsets in recent memory in 2025, making his graded stakes debut and rallying from last of five to win by 2½ lengths under Armando Ayuso for trainer Leonard Powell at 5-1. Planetario (BRZ) won back-to-back editions in 2023 and 2024, setting a new course record of 2:46.95 in 2024 under Hector Berrios for trainer Richard Mandella — breaking his own record of 2:48.08 set the year before. Breakpoint ended trainer Phil D'Amato's three-year dominance of the race in 2022 when he nosed out the field under Tyler Baze for trainer Neil Drysdale in 2:47.32. D'Amato had previously won three straight from 2019 to 2021, including Acclimate's wire-to-wire score in 2021 under Ricardo Gonzalez.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Nitti (IRE) | Armando Ayuso | [VERIFY] |
| 2024 | Planetario (BRZ) | Hector Berrios | 2:46.95* |
| 2023 | Planetario (BRZ) | Hector Berrios | 2:48.08 |
| 2022 | Breakpoint | Tyler Baze | 2:47.32 |
| 2021 | Acclimate | Ricardo Gonzalez | [VERIFY] |
* Course record.
The San Juan Capistrano Stakes is North America's longest graded race, a Santa Anita tradition since 1935, and one of only two events in the country that links American racing to the Melbourne Cup.
