From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2023) — A crown jewel of American sports, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. kicks off its 89th anniversary year of operation Tuesday with a traditional day-after-Christmas opening-day program that gets underway early with first post time at 11 a.m. PT.
The Santa Anita’s Classic Meet includes 49 days of live Thoroughbred racing ending on April 8. Following a 12-day break, Santa Anita will reopen for its 29-day Hollywood Meet on April 19. The Hollywood Meet concludes June 16.
Santa Anita is set to hit the ground running on Tuesday. Among the opening-day attractions are six graded stakes. This includes six Grade I races: the $300,000 Malibu for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs on the main track; $300,0000 La Brea for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on the main track; and $300,000 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies going 1 ¼ miles on turf.
The remaining opening-day stakes are all Grade II’s worth $200,0000 in prize money. They are the Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf, the San Antonio going 1 1/16 miles on dirt and San Gabriel at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Both the San Antonio and San Gabriel are for 3-year-olds and up.
“I think we’re all excited to get running again,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. “Opening day is always a special day for Santa Anita.”
Egan added this year’s racing program will be similar to those found in recent years.
“There aren’t any big deviations, but we are trying a few modifications to some (race) conditions that hopefully fit our program better,” he noted. “Nothing significant, just a few tweaks to hopefully make things flow a little better.”
As far as the current horse population, Egan said it was “on par” with recent years. With that said, there will be a handful of new trainers with a full-time presence at Santa Anita this season.
Eastern-based trainers Richard Dutrow and Jonathan Thomas will each have strings here this winter. Dutrow has been allocated 10 stalls. His Santa Anita operation includes White Abarrio, who won the rich Breeders’ Cup Classic here on Nov. 4.
Thomas has already sent six horses to Santa Anita with up to six more likely to arrive in coming weeks
At least two trainers from Northern California will also have strings at Santa Anita this winter. Both Ed Moger Jr. and Brendan Galvin will have up to 25 horses stabled here by mid-January, according to Egan. Fellow Northern California trainer Jack Steiner is also slated to send a string to Santa Anita later this winter.
“It can always be better, but I’m not concerned with where we are at,” Egan said of the horse population.
As for horseplayers, there will be no shortage of betting options at the Classic Meet. In addition to the traditional wagering fare, Santa Anita will also offer an all-turf Pick 3 each day and a Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 every Saturday and Sunday beginning Jan. 6.
The all-turf Pick 3 is a $3 minimum wager offered on the final three turf races of the day. The Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 is a $1 minimum wager with a player-friendly 15 percent takeout. The sequence will include races from both Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park.
Additionally, Santa Anita will offer a traditional $1 Pick 6 every race day.
“We’re going to try and put our best product forward,” Egan said. “Hopefully the fans and horseplayers will enjoy it and can make some money.”