Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Santa Anita Park Schedule For 2008-09 Horse Racing Season
Posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008
Santa Anita Park‘s 72nd Winter/Spring Meeting will get underway on December 26. A total of 75 stakes will be offered beginning with Santa Anita‘s traditional opening day feature, the $250,000 Malibu Stakes (G1).
The $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 7, and the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4 figure to once again serve as highlights in the upcoming season.
Initiated in 2003, the highly successful Sunshine Millions will once again be hosted by Santa Anita on January 24. Run at Gulfstream Park in Florida and at Santa Anita, the Sunshine Millions is comprised of 8 horse races worth $3.6 million, making it the richest day of state-bred racing in Thoroughbred horse racing history. It was designed to match the best California-bred horses against the best horses bred in Florida.
The $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic will be run at Gulfstream Park in 2009.
“We feel this is the most comprehensive stakes schedule in the country,” said Santa Anita Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle. “We made some adjustments with some of our 3-year-old races last year and they were very well received. This year, we will once again be offering 10 Grade I stakes, which should provide some great racing for everyone.”
Included among Santa Anita’s roster of Grade I events are the La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on December 27, the Santa Monica Handicap for older fillies and mares on January 31, the Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on February 7, the Santa Maria Handicap for older fillies and mares on February 14, the Frank E. Kilroe Mile on March 7, the Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on March 7, and the Santa Margarita Handicap for older fillies and mares on March 14.
Santa Anita Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle also noted that 2 stakes, the Daytona Handicap and the Thunder Road Handicap, will be run for the first time as graded stakes.
The Daytona Handicap on February 15, and The Thunder Road Handicap on February 7 will both be run for the first time as Grade III events. “The Thunder Road is for 4-year-olds and up at one mile on the grass and this is a good steppingstone to the Kilroe Mile,” said Hammerle.
“The Daytona Handicap is also for older horses and it’s run at 6 1/2 furlongs down our hillside turf course. Although it’s early in the year, it will provide horsemen with an opportunity to earn points for the newly-created Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, which was well received here in October. The Turf Sprint will once again be a part of the Breeders’ Cup program next fall at Oak Tree,” Hammerle added.
Chronologically, Santa Anita’s stakes schedule is virtually the same as last year’s. “As far as the timing and sequence of our races, we didn’t make any changes,” said Hammerle. “With the Malibu on opening day, and given the fact our Pro-Ride synthetic main track performed so well at Oak Tree, we’re confident we’re going to get off to a good start.”
First post time at Santa Anita for opening day, December 26, is 12 noon.
Horse racing news edited from www.santaanita.com.
"Santa Anita Park Schedule For 2008-09 Horse Racing Season" was posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at 10:13 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Race Tracks News, Santa Anita Track, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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