The Yellow Ribbon Handicap is a Grade II Thoroughbred race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf for fillies and mares aged three and older, it is the premier distaff turf race of the Del Mar summer meet and one of the most prestigious handicap events for older fillies and mares on the West Coast. Originally inaugurated in 1945 as the Palomar Handicap, one of the founding races of the Del Mar meet, the race was renamed the Yellow Ribbon Handicap after the legendary California-bred mare Yellow Ribbon, who won eight consecutive Grade I races in California between 1977 and 1978 and retired with earnings of $1.1 million. Classified Grade II in 1973 and upgraded to Grade I in 1979, the race was downgraded to Grade II in 2010, where it has remained. Robert J. Frankel holds the all-time trainer record with eight wins between 1986 and 2007, while Bill Shoemaker leads all jockeys with five victories. The speed record of 1:39.67 was set by Mea Domina in 2006. Umberto Rispoli has become the dominant jockey in the modern era, winning three consecutive editions from 2022 to 2024 for three different trainers — a remarkable achievement in a race that typically changes winners frequently.
The 2026 Yellow Ribbon Handicap is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at Del Mar Racetrack. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf with a purse of $200,000, the race draws the top older fillies and mares on the West Coast targeting the fall distaff turf championship circuit.
Heredia (GB) gave trainer H. Graham Motion and jockey Juan Hernandez a front-running 2025 victory in 1:42.92 for Wathnan Racing, the Irish-bred leading every step in a wire-to-wire score. Anisette (GB) gave trainer Leonard Powell and jockey Umberto Rispoli a 2024 win in 1:40.94 for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners — the same filly who won the San Clemente Handicap earlier in the meeting. Closing Remarks gave trainer Carla Gaines and Rispoli a 2023 score in 1:42.01 for Harris Farms, rallying from well off the pace to score a popular California-bred victory. Going Global gave trainer Phil D'Amato and Rispoli a 2022 win in 1:41.18 for CYBT and Saul Gevertz, giving the British-bred her biggest American victory. Princess Grace gave trainer Michael Stidham and jockey Kent Desormeaux a 2021 score in 1:40.84 for John and Susan Moore, the daughter of Ghostzapper producing a stunning late rally.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Heredia (GB) | Juan Hernandez | 1:42.92 |
| 2024 | Anisette (GB) | Umberto Rispoli | 1:40.94 |
| 2023 | Closing Remarks | Umberto Rispoli | 1:42.01 |
| 2022 | Going Global | Umberto Rispoli | 1:41.18 |
| 2021 | Princess Grace | Kent Desormeaux | 1:40.84 |
The Yellow Ribbon Handicap is the premier distaff turf race of the Del Mar summer meet and one of the most prestigious events for older fillies and mares on the West Coast each August.
