greatest horse race and the staying championship of the world, the Melbourne Cup. Since 2008, no San Juan Capistrano winner has made the trip to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup. The event was downgraded to a Grade II in 2004 and to a Grade III race in 2015. The event for many runnings was held on the closing day of the Santa Anita spring meeting, which was in April. However, with the takeover of events from the close of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013, the event has been held in June, with three-year-olds allowed to enter. At age eight, Niarkos (1968) and Mashkour (1991) are the oldest horses to win the event. Two mares have won the event, La Zanzara (1975) and the Champion Argentine mare Miss Grillo (1949). The event had showcased many a champion and notable runnings. In 1950 the Irish-bred champion Noor defeated the 1948 Triple Crown champion Citation by a neck before a crowd of about 60,000. The March 12, 1966, edition of the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap was seen by 60,792 fans, the largest crowd of the season, who turned out to say farewell to retiring U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden. Without ever using the whip as he always did, Longden guided Canadian bred George Royal from fifteen lengths back in last place to a photo-finish win. Records Speed record: 2:42.96 – Bienamado (2001) Margins: 7 lengths – Fly Till Dawn (1992) 7 lengths – Lehmi Gold (1982) 7 lengths – Seabiscuit (1937) Most wins: 2 – Mioland (1940, 1941) 2 – Intent (1952, 1953) 2 – George Royal (1965, 1966) 2 – Niarkos (1967, 1968) 2 – T. H. Approval (2005, 2006) 2 – Bourbon Bay (2010, 2012) Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Johnny Longden (1950, 1951, 1955, 1965, 1966) 5 – Bill Shoemaker (1961, 1962, 1970, 1971, 1978) Most wins by a trainer: 14 – Charles Whittingham (1957, 1959, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989) Most wins by an owner: 4 – Charles S. Howard (1937, 1940, 1941, 1950) Winners Notes: § Ran as part of an entry ‡ Run 259 feet short of miles 1997–2001 See also List of American and Canadian Graded races Other North American Marathon races On dirt: Gallant Man Handicap Brooklyn Handicap Fort Harrod Stakes Tokyo City Cup Valedictory Stakes On turf: Canadian International Stakes Carleton