ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2024) — Nominations close on Thursday, Jan. 4, for the five stakes races of California Cup, the 34th annual winter showcase for many of the top Cal-bred and Cal-sired horses in training, to be held at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Jan. 13.
The 34th edition of Cal Cup will feature $900,000 in stakes purses, with no reduction in those purses from last year. Also on the card will be additional races for various levels of state-breds that will boost total purses for the day to more than $1 million, exclusively for Cal-breds.
New this year is a fitting renaming of the California Cup Derby to the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby, honoring the all-time leading Cal-bred money-earner whose victory in the 2014 edition was the springboard to a Horse of the Year campaign that included wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and, ultimately, a Hall of Fame selection.
To nominate, contact the Santa Anita Racing Office at 626-574-6352.
Conditions for the Cal Cup stakes:
Purse Stakes Conditions Distance
$200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, presented by City National Bank 4-yr. & up 1 1/8 m. (T)
$200,000 California Chrome California Cup Derby 3-yrs. 1 1/16 m.
$200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks 3-yrs. F 1 m. (T)
$150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint 4-yr. & up 6 F
$150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint, presented by John Deere 4-yr. & up F&M abt. 6 ½ F (T)