One of the most popular horse racing tracks in the US is Santa Anita Park. Located in Southern California, Santa Anita Park has live horse racing three times a year. The Winter/Spring meet begins late December and runs all the way to mid-June. The Santa Anita Park’s fall schedule is a 19-day meet that runs in late September until the beginning of November.
Santa Anita Park has 10 Grade 1 stakes races in the winter and spring timeframe with three races on Opening Day in late December. The fall meet highlights the Breeders’ Cup World Championships (live or simulated) on the first Friday and Saturday in November. The live version of the Breeders’ Cup stakes races are scheduled for Santa Anita Park on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 in 2023.
Along with competitive horse racing at Santa Anita Park race track, there are dining packages in the restaurant and drink specials in the bar, giveaways for the fans and featured events as part of the winter, spring and fall meets. Grade 1 stakes races at Santa Anita Park are featured throughout the planned race schedule on the card.
Grade 1 Horse Racing at Santa Anita Park
Winter/Spring
La Brea Stakes
Malibu Stakes
American Oaks
Santa Anita Handicap
Frank E. Kilroe Mile
Beholder Mile
Santa Anita Derby
Shoemaker Mile
Hollywood Gold Cup
Gamely Stakes
Fall
Awesome Again Stakes
American Pharoah Stakes
Breeders Cup World Championships
Juvenile Turf Sprint
Juvenile Fillies
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Juvenile Turf
Juvenile
Dirt Mile
Filly & Mare Turf
Filly & Mare Sprint
Mile
Distaff
Turf
Turf Sprint
Sprint
Classic
The winter at Santa Anita Park kicks off with the La Brea Stakes, Malibu Stakes and American Oak in late December. These Grade 1 stakes all have prize purses of $300,000. The La Brea Stakes is open to three-year-old fillies and the sprint race covers seven furlongs on dirt. The Malibu Stakes is open to three-year-old colts (and fillies) and the seven-furlongs sprint is also run on dirt. The American Oaks is run 1¼ miles on turf and the race is open to three-year-old fillies.
The next Grade 1 stakes race is held in March and it is called the Santa Anita Handicap. The prize purse is $500,000 and the race is open to horses four and older. The Santa Anita Handicap covers 1¼ miles on dirt. This race was one of the most important North American stakes events in the winter racing season.
As a major prep race in the Kentucky Derby Trail, the Santa Anita Derby is one of the last spring stakes races for three-year-old thoroughbred horses. Held in early April, the prize purse has climbed to $750,000 and the quality points are some of the highest for the Kentucky Derby. The stakes race is run 1 1/8 miles on dirt.
The Hollywood Gold Cup is held at Santa Anita Park in the end of May. The Grade 1 stakes race is open to thoroughbred horses three and older. The Hollywood Gold Cup covers 1¼ miles on dirt and the prize purse is $400,000.
The fall meet at Santa Anita Park has the Awesome Again Stakes in late September and the American Pharoah Stakes in early October. These Grade 1 stakes races are automatic qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in early November.
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