Santa Anita Park
California’s Santa Anita opens annually on Dec. 26, with daily racing continuing through April 20. In addition, Santa Anita’s fall meeting takes to the track from late September to early November every year and will be home to the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Live racing is Thursday through Monday.
Santa Anita occupies approximately 320 acres. Its landmark, 1,100-foot-long Grandstand seats 26,000 guests. The giant Infield area accommodates many thousands more. Behind the scenes are 61 barns, capable of housing more than 2,000 horses and a complete equine hospital.
Santa Anita conducted its inaugural card on Christmas Day, 1934. … Affirmed commenced his 1978 Triple Crown campaign with three consecutive Santa Anita victories, including an eight-length score in the Santa Anita Derby. … in winning the 1980 Charles H. Strub Stakes, Spectacular Bid set a world record for 1 1/4 miles on the dirt of 1:57 4/5. … Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker won the Santa Anita Handicap 11 times; fellow Hall of Famer Laffit Pincay Jr. has scored five “Big ‘Cap” victories. … on March 14, 1987, Pincay won a record seven races on the Santa Anita card. … San Gabriel Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for Santa Anita’s races.
Major racing schedule
10/24/08 $500K Breeders’ Cup Dirt Marathon
10/24/08 $1M Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
10/24/08 $1M Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
10/24/08 $1M Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
10/24/08 $1M Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
10/24/08 $1M Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
10/25/08 $2M Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
10/25/08 $2M Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff
10/25/08 $2M Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
10/25/08 $2M Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
10/25/08 $2M NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile
10/25/08 $2M TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint
10/25/08 $3M John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf
10/25/08 $5M Breeders’ Cup Classic
