Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes
| Non-graded stakes race | |
| Location | Hollywood Park Racetrack Inglewood, California, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1953 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.hollywoodpark.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 5.5 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Two-year-olds |
| Weight | 120 lbs. Non-winners of a race other than claiming allowed 3 lbs. Maidens allowed 5 lbs. |
| Purse | US$75,000+ |
| Bonuses | US$22,500 for horses bred in California |
The Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late May at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Open to two-year-old horses, it is contested on dirt over a distance of five and one half furlongs. The event offers a purse of US$75,000 added plus a $22,500 bonus for horses bred in the State of California.
In 1999 and 2000, the race was contested at four and one half furlongs and at five furlongs from 2001 through 2005.
Inaugurated in 1953 as the Westchester Stakes, for that first year only it was restricted to fillies. From 1979 through 1982 the race was run as the First Act Stakes. There was no race in 1983 and in 1984 it reverted to its original Westchester Stakes title until 2000 when it was renamed to honor for long-time California trainer Willard L. Proctor who died in 1998.
The race was on hiatus from 1985 through 1994. In 1964 and 1976 it was run in two divisions.
Records
Speed Record: (at 5 1/2 furlongs)
- 1:02.97 - J P's Gusto (2010)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 6 - Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 2000)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - Jerry Dutton (1978, 1995, 1999)
- 3 - Michael C. Harrington (1996, 2003, 2005)
- 3 - Peter Miller (2007, 2008, 2011)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - Heinz Steinmann (1996, 2003, 2005)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance |
Time |
Win $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | To Honor and Serve | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Live Oak Plantation | 1:34.84 | ||
| 2011 | Majestic City | David Flores | Peter Miller | Majestic Racing Stable, LLC | 5 1/2 F | 1:04.16 | 45,570 |
| 2010 | J P's Gusto | Joe Talamo | David Hofmans | Gem Stable | 5 1/2 F | 1:02.97 | 36,960 |
| 2009 | Classical Slew | Michael Baze | Douglas F. O'Neill | Joseph LaCombe | 5 1/2 F | 1:03.69 | 43,110 |
| 2008 | Backbackbackgone | Corey Nakatani | Peter Miller | Gerson Racing | 5 1/2 F | 1:03.04 | 46,380 |
| 2007 | Thoroughly | Corey Nakatani | Peter Miller | Gerson Racing | 5 1/2 F | 1:05.71 | 46,725 |
| 2006 | Genuine Talent | Paul Atkinson | Danny Velasquez | Jocelyn Dickey McKathan | 5 1/2 F | 1:06.13 | 39,990 |
| 2005 | Wild Uncle Kurt | Isaias Enriquez | Michael C. Harrington | Heinz Steinmann | 5 F | 0:58.85 | 59,535 |
| 2004 | Chandtrue | Corey Nakatani | Robert B. Hess, Jr. | Harold F. Greene | 5 F | 0:58.10 | 47,205 |
| 2003 | Alpenfest | Victor Espinoza | Michael C. Harrington | Heinz Steinmann | 5 F | 0:57.97 | 59,805 |
| 2002 | Crowned Dancer | Alex Solis | Christopher Paasch | C. R. Cono et al. | 5 F | 0:57.86 | 40,080 |
| 2001 | Expected Program | Tyler Baze | James K. Chapman | C. Chapman & T. McArthur | 5 F | 0:56.81 | 46,170 |
| 2000 | Squirtle Squirt | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Jose Garcia, Jr. | David J. Lanzman | 4 1/2 F | 0:51.87 | 46,260 |
| 1999 | Always Game | Gary L. Stevens | Jerry Dutton | Bettis/Dutton/Yanke | 4 1/2 F | 0:52.00 | 57,270 |
| 1998 | Sea Twister | Martin A. Pedroza | Brian A. Mayberry | Mr. & Mrs. Alan B. Thomas | 4 1/2 F | 0:51.91 | 39,780 |
| 1997 | Majorbigtimesheet | Corey Nakatani | Jenine Sahadi | Cardiff Stud Farm | 4 1/2 F | 0:52.14 | 40,700 |
| 1996 | Swiss Yodeler | Alex Solis | Michael C. Harrington | Heinz Steinmann | 4 1/2 F | 0:51.28 | 31550 |
| 1995 | Distinguish Forum | Eddie Delahoussaye | Jerry Dutton | Dutton and J & J Racing | 5 F | 0:57.67 | 40,900 |
| 1984 | Milord | Fernando Toro | John Gosden | Stonechurch Stable | 1 1/16 M | 1:41.40 | 23,400 |
| 1982 | Via Magnum | Sandy Hawley | Richard W. Mulhall | Universal Stable | 5 F | 0:56.80 | 30,550 |
| 1981 | Helen's Beau | Bill Shoemaker | Martin Valenzuela , Jr. | Paladan Stable | 5 F | 0:58.60 | 32,150 |
| 1980 | Sharp Hoofer | Patrick Valenzuela | Gary F. Jones | Taras Stables Ltd | 5 F | 0:57.40 | 31,700 |
| 1979 | Parsec | Terry Lipham | Chay R. Knight | Les Jameson | 5 F | 0:58.00 | 25,700 |
| 1978 | Roman Oblisk | Frank Olivares | Jerry Dutton | Ricci & Rosatto | 5 F | 0:58.20 | 25,800 |
| 1977 | Bascom | Chuck Baltazar | Chay R. Knight | Les Jameson | 5 F | 0:57.40 | 16,900 |
| 1976 | Irish Optimist | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Jerry M. Fanning | Meryl Ann Tanz | 5 F | 0:56.80 | 13,450 |
| 1976 | Mr. Davey Nay | Rudy Rosales | Kenneth Bowyer | William J. Kosterman | 5 F | 0:57.80 | 13,200 |
| 1975 | Stained Glass | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Joseph Manzi | Grown-Kaufman-Criste | 5 F | 0:57.60 | 16,100 |
| 1974 | Windy Whisper | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Bennie H. Raub | Gordon M. Jarrell | 5 F | 0:57.40 | 16,985 |
| 1973 | Century's Envoy | Jerry Lambert | Lou Glauburg | M/M John J. Elmore, Sr. | 5 F | 0:57.40 | 16,550 |
| 1972 | Doc Marcus | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | A. Thomas Doyle | Mrs. Harry Curland | 5 F | 0:57.00 | 17,050 |
| 1971 | Step Ahead | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | A. Thomas Doyle | Mrs. Paul Blackman | 5 F | 0:57.60 | 16,850 |
| 1970 | Vested Power | Jerry Lambert | Walter Greenman | Verne H. Winchell | 5 F | 0:58.20 | 14,200 |
| 1969 | Sir Wiggle | Donald Pierce | Robert L. Wheeler | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 5 F | 0:57.60 | 14,200 |
| 1968 | Mr. Joe F. | Jerry Lambert | Carl A. Roles | Mrs. Joseph T. Forno | 5 F | 0:57.60 | 14,500 |
| 1967 | Don B. | Dean Hall | Larry W. Holt | Don B. Wood | 5 F | 0:58.00 | 14,650 |
| 1966 | Tumble Wind | Bill Shoemaker | Charles E. Whittingham | Rock Spring Farm Stable | 5 F | 0:57.20 | 14,100 |
| 1965 | Royal House | William Hartack | Benny Slasky | Dr. & Mrs. J. R. Smith | 5 F | 0:57.60 | 16,900 |
| 1964 | Black Pool | Jack Leonard | Jimmy Jordan | Wagner Stable | 5 F | 0:59.00 | 14,725 |
| 1964 | Fleet Son | Bill Shoemaker | Reggie Cornell | Mr. & Mrs. Dick Griegorian | 5 F | 0:58.80 | 14,425 |
| 1963 | Wee Folk | Ismael Valenzuela | Robert L. Wheeler | J. Rukin Jelks | 5 F | 0:57.40 | 10,900 |
| 1962 | Kicapu Kid | Manuel Ycaza | Hal King | Kicapu Ranch & H. King | 5 F | 0:57.40 | 11,375 |
| 1961 | Snappy King | Edward Burns | Harold C. McBride | Mr. & Mrs. L. I. Nelson | 5 F | 0:57.80 | 11,175 |
| 1960 | Wire Us | Alex Maese | Bob R. Roberts | Mr. & Mrs. E. D. Faeh | 5 F | 0:58.00 | 10,775 |
| 1959 | British Roman | Willie Harmatz | John H. Adams | Ralph Lowe | 5 F | 0:57.60 | 11,325 |
| 1958 | Finnegan | Johnny Longden | William B. Finnegan | Neil S. McCarthy | 5 1/2 F | 1:04.80 | 13,950 |
| 1957 | Fleet Nasrullah | Johnny Longden | Michael E. Millerick | Fannie Hertz | 5 1/2 F | 1:03.40 | 13,350 |
| 1956 | Lucky Mel | Johnny Longden | William Molter | George Lewis Stable | 5 F | 0:57.80 | 9,675 |
| 1955 | Ferke | Ismael Valenzuela | C. Ralph West | Bert W. Martin | 5 F | 0:58.20 | 10,125 |
| 1954 | Back Hoe | Raymond York | J. S. Jones | Mrs. Joseph C. Tomlinson | 5 F | 0:58.00 | 9,575 |
| 1953 | Heather Khal | John E. Burton | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 5 1/2 F | 1:04.60 | 7,150 |