Bel Air Handicap
Introduction The '''Bel Air Handicap''' was a Thoroughbred horse race run in mid July at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Open to horses age three and older, it was contested on dirt at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth. In its final year it was a Grade III event  offering a purse of U.S$.$100,000.First run in 1939, the Bel Air Handicap was not run again until 1968.From 1980 through 1982 there was no race run.In 1997, winner Crafty Friend equaled the Hollywood Park track record for  a mile and a sixteenth with a time of 1:40 flat.
Winners  '''Year''' '''Winner''' '''Age''' '''Jockey''' '''Trainer''' '''Owner''' '''Time'''2001Smile Again6 Laffit Pincay, Jr.Ron McAnallySidney & Jenny Craig1:41.742000Euchre4Alex SolisRobert J. FrankelFrank Stronach1:41.761999River Keen7Chris AntleyBob BaffertHugo Reynolds1:40.691998Free House4Chris McCarronJ. Paco Gonzalez Toffan & McCaffery1:41.601997Crafty Friend4Alex SolisWallace Dollase The Thoroughbred Corp.1:40.001996Cleante7Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJanis R. Whithamnf1995Soul of the Matter4Gary StevensRichard MandellaBurt Bacharach1:41.00
Earlier winners *1994 - Region*1993 - Marquetry*1992 - Renegotiable *1991 - Twilight Agenda*1990 - Prospectors Gamble*1989 - Rahy*1988 - Cutlass Reality*1987 - Judge Angelucci*1986 - Super Diamond*1985 - My Habitony*1984 - Bid Us*1983 - Poley*1979 - Sirlad*1978 - Vigors*1977 - Ancient Title*1976 - Riot In Paris*1975 - Stardust Mel*1974 - Finalista*1973 - Tri Jet*1972 - Dating*1971 - What Goes On*1970 - Summer Sorrow*1969 - Boughs O' Holly*1968 - Nevada Marga*1939 - Leading Article
References * June 15, 1939 ''Los Angeles Times'' article on the Bel Air Handicap* July 17, 1989 ''Los Angeles Times'' article titled "''Bel Air Handicap Rahy Flirts With World Record, Settles for Win''"* July 8, 2001 ''Los Angeles Times'' article on the Bel Air Handicap