Santa Anita Park will kick off its 90th year of world-class Thoroughbred racing Dec. 26 with an opening day stakes program featuring a stakes race honoring Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. among six graded stakes, including a trio of grade 1 events.
The blockbuster start to Santa Anita’s Classic Meet on the day after Christmas is the first of 78 days of live racing at The Great Race Place. The Classic Meet, which consists of 49 days, runs through April 6, 2025, and will be followed by the 29-day Hollywood Meet, which opens April 18 and ends June 15. As part of a comprehensive stakes schedule worth more than $12 million, Santa Anita will host a combined 79 added-money events between the Classic and Hollywood Meets. They include 47 graded stakes, nine of them grade 1, with 21 of those to be offered on Santa Anita’s highly regarded Camino Real Turf Course.
Highlighting the Classic Meet are the 88th runnings of both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 5 and Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 1.
While the purses for both of the track’s signature races were reduced—the Santa Anita Derby dropping from $750,000 to $500,000 while the Santa Anita Handicap dropped from $400,000 to $300,000—the purses for overnight races are greater than what was offered last spring and autumn, with four allowance and maiden races increasing by more than 10%.
“It’s prudent and responsible to adjust the number of stakes races to fit the new landscape of foal crop and horse population with a still impressive 79 stakes over 78 race days,” said Bill Nader, president and CEO of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “The overnight purses have been increased over the spring and fall levels which is a step in the right direction. Despite challenging times, Southern California remains a big part of American racing and the racing here at Santa Anita over the next several months will help reinforce that message.”
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The supporting stakes on the Santa Anita Derby undercard are the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), Monrovia Stakes (G3T) and both the Echo Eddie and Evening Jewel Stakes for 3-year-old California-breds going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt.
In addition to the historic Big ‘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 won five times in three decades, will be renamed for the legendary Panamanian rider who ranks as one of the world’s best to ever sit in the saddle. Pincay won the San Antonio in 1968 on Rising Market, in his first full season at Santa Anita, and his last one in 1989 aboard Super Diamond. He retired in 2003 with a then-record 9,530 wins, five Eclipse Awards as outstanding jockey, and a Special Eclipse Award for his achievements.
“Laffit Pincay Jr. is one of the greatest ambassadors this sport has ever had, and it is past time for him to be honored,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s senior vice president and general manager. “Laffit will turn 78 two days after Opening Day, and we are delighted to give him an early birthday present.”
The Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes joins an opening 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. Also 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 vital component to the Southern California racing program, Santa Anita will offer a total of 14 stakes restricted to those horses, with five of them to be run both on California Cup Day Jan. 11 and again on California Gold Rush Day May 24.
The highlight of the Hollywood Meet comes on Memorial Day, May 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 dirt.
Putting a bow on the Hollywood Meet June 15 will be Santa Anita’s longstanding closing day feature, the San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T). This will be the 86th running of the about 1 3/4-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up.
Santa Anita’s complete 2024-25 Classic Meet and Hollywood Meet stakes schedule is available at https://www.santaanita.com/racing-information/stakes/2024-12-26/. In addition to the track’s website, fans can get additional information by calling (626) 574-RACE.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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