Santa Anita Park will kick off its ninetieth 12 months of world-class Thoroughbred racing Dec. 26 with a gap day stakes program that includes a stakes race honoring Corridor of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. amongst six graded stakes, together with a trio of grade 1 occasions.
The blockbuster begin to Santa Anita’s Basic Meet on the day after Christmas is the primary of 78 days of reside racing at The Nice Race Place. The Basic Meet, which consists of 49 days, runs by April 6, 2025, and can be adopted by the 29-day Hollywood Meet, which opens April 18 and ends June 15. As a part of a complete stakes schedule price greater than $12 million, Santa Anita will host a mixed 79 added-money occasions between the Basic and Hollywood Meets. They embrace 47 graded stakes, 9 of them grade 1, with 21 of these to be supplied on Santa Anita’s extremely regarded Camino Actual Turf Course.
Highlighting the Basic Meet are the 88th runnings of each the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 5 and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 1.
Whereas the purses for each of the monitor’s signature races had been lowered—the Santa Anita Derby dropping from $750,000 to $500,000 whereas the Santa Anita Handicap dropped from $400,000 to $300,000—the purses for in a single day races are higher than what was supplied final spring and autumn, with 4 allowance and maiden races growing by greater than 10%.
“It is prudent and accountable to regulate the variety of stakes races to suit the brand new panorama of foal crop and horse inhabitants with a nonetheless spectacular 79 stakes over 78 race days,” stated Invoice Nader, president and CEO of the Thoroughbred Homeowners of California. “The in a single day purses have been elevated over the spring and fall ranges which is a step in the best path. Regardless of difficult occasions, Southern California stays a giant a part of American racing and the racing right here at Santa Anita over the subsequent a number of months will assist reinforce that message.”
The supporting stakes on the Santa Anita Derby undercard are the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), Monrovia Stakes (G3T) and each the Echo Eddie and Night Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds going 6 1/2 furlongs on filth.
Along with the historic Large ‘Cap, set to be run March 1, are the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T), San Felipe Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.
The Dec. 26 San Antonio Stakes (G2), which Pincay received 5 occasions in three a long time, can be renamed for the legendary Panamanian rider who ranks as one of many world’s greatest to ever sit within the saddle. Pincay received the San Antonio in 1968 on Rising Market, in his first full season at Santa Anita, and his final one in 1989 aboard Tremendous Diamond. He retired in 2003 with a then-record 9,530 wins, 5 Eclipse Awards as excellent jockey, and a Particular Eclipse Award for his achievements.
“Laffit Pincay Jr. is likely one of the best ambassadors this sport has ever had, and it’s previous time for him to be honored,” stated Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s senior vice chairman and common supervisor. “Laffit will flip 78 two days after Opening Day, and we’re delighted to provide him an early birthday current.”
The Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes joins a gap day card highlighted by three grade 1s: the Malibu Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs, the La Brea Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs, and the American Oaks (G1T) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles on turf. Additionally being run are the San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/8 miles and the Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T).
As California-bred and -sired runners are a significant element to the Southern California racing program, Santa Anita will provide a complete of 14 stakes restricted to these horses, with 5 of them to be run each on California Cup Day Jan. 11 and once more on California Gold Rush Day Might 24.
The spotlight of the Hollywood Meet comes on Memorial Day, Might 26. That day Santa Anita will host the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T), Gamely Stakes (G1T) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G2) at 1 1/4 miles on filth.
Placing a bow on the Hollywood Meet June 15 can be Santa Anita’s longstanding closing day function, the San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T). This would be the 86th operating of the about 1 3/4-mile turf take a look at for 3-year-olds and up.
Santa Anita’s full 2024-25 Basic Meet and Hollywood Meet stakes schedule is offered at https://www.santaanita.com/racing-information/stakes/2024-12-26/. Along with the monitor’s web site, followers can get extra data by calling (626) 574-RACE.
This press launch has been edited for content material and elegance by BloodHorse Workers.
