AGUA CALIENTE RACECOURSE
Records show that racing has taken place in Mexico since the Mexican Jockey Club was established in 1881. The Agua Caliente racecourse was situated in Tijuana. It began racing in December 1929 on a course designed by Wayne McAllister. The Agua Caliente Handicap, run over 10 furlongs, was the richest handicap in North America when it was inaugurated in 1917 at Tijuana Racetrack. Between 1917 and 1929 it was known as the Coffroth Handicap in honour of James Wood Coffroth, President of the Lower California Jockey Club. In 1930 the race was transferred to the newly built Agua Caliente racetrack in Tijuana; a list of winners is shown below.

1917 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Sasin, owned by Clarence Buxton, trained by Clarence Buxton and ridden by Willie Kelsay
1918-1920 The Coffroth Handicap was not held due to the First World War
1921 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Be Frank, owned by the Bronx Stable of George P Fuller, trained by Harry M Unna and ridden by W McIntyre
1922 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Mulciber, owned by Gribley R Allen, trained by Gribley R Allen and ridden by Jack Huntamer
1923 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Rebuke, owned by Mr J K L Ross, trained by Henry McDaniel and ridden by William Pool
1924 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Runstar, owned by Mr Adolph B Spreckels, trained by Charles W Carroll and ridden by Edgar Barnes
1925 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Atherstone, owned by Mrs Victor Vivaudou, trained by David McDaniel and ridden by Harry Wakoff
1926 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Carlaris, owned by the Chula Vista Stable, trained by Fred Kraft and ridden by Willie Munden
1927 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Sir Harry, owned by the Seagram Stables, trained by William H Bringloe and ridden by Ovila Bourassa
1928 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Crystal Pennant, owned by the R C Stable run by Walter H Hoffman, trained by Earl Linnell and ridden by Tommy Luther
1929 The Coffroth Handicap was won by Golden Prince, owned by Harry M Unna, trained by Harry M Unna and ridden by Jack Parmalee
1930 The Agua Caliente Handicap was won by Victorian, owned by the Warm Stables run by Mr W A Hanger and Mrs Suzanne Mason, trained by J Thomas Taylor and ridden by George Ellis
1931 The Agua Caliente Handicap was won by Mike Hall, owned by Mr Robert M Eastman, trained by Walter W Taylor and ridden by Steve O’Donnell
1932 The Agua Caliente Handicap was won by Phar Lap, owned by Mr David Davis and Mr Harry R Telford, trained by Harry R Telford and ridden by Billy Elliott
1933 The Agua Caliente Handicap was won by Gallant Sir, owned by the Northway Stables run by Norman W Church, trained by Elwood L Fitzgerald and ridden by George Woolf
1934 The Agua Caliente Handicap was won by Gallant Sir, owned by the Northway Stables run by Norman W Church, trained by Elwood L Fitzgerald and ridden by George Woolf
1935-1937 The Agua Caliente Handicap was not held
1938 The Agua Caliente Handicap was won by Seabiscuit, owned by Mr Charles S Howard, trained by Tom Smith and ridden by Noel Richardson
1939-1957 The Agua Caliente Handicap was not held
1958 The Agua Caliente Handicap was won by Round Table, owned by the Kerr Stables, trained by William Molter and ridden by Bill Shoemaker
In March 1938 the great Seabiscuit won the handicap watched by an enormous crowd, because at its height the racecourse could seat a crowd in excess of 11000. In 1971 tragedy struck the course when the grandstand was gutted by fire, but it was rapidly rebuilt. The track continued for a further 21 years before finally closing its gates in 1992.
If you have badges, racecards, pictures of the racecourse or further details about the course, including your memories, then email johnwslusar@gmail.com