Santa Anita Meets to Offer $11.75 Million in Stakes Purses

[Wandering Eyes]

Live racing returns to Santa Anita with the traditional Dec. 26 opening card of the 48-day Classic meet featuring the GI Malibu Stakes, and continues through the close of the 30-day Hollywood meet June 14. The two meets will feature 81 stakes worth $11.75 million, including the newly named GII D. Wayne Lukas Stakes Feb. 7, the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 7, and the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 4.

Overnight race purses are slated to increase from the start of last year.

“The overall 5% purse increase for Santa Anita Park's Classic Meet continues the positive trend from last season,” said Santa Anita General Manager Nate Newby. “The increases are highlighted by the rise in maiden special weight races to $70,000. Building on the strength of the 2025 Southern California racing program, we've been able to add back two stakes races that were not offered last season. These are positive steps for the state as California remains the only major racing jurisdiction where purses are not subsidized by other forms of gaming.”

In addition to the GI Malibu Stakes, the Dec. 26 opening day card will also include the GI La Brea Stakes, GI American Oaks, GII Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes, GII Mathis Mile, and GIII San Gabriel Stakes.

The Mar. 7 Santa Anita Handicap program also includes the GII San Felipe Stakes, the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile, and the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile.

The San Felipe is part of Santa Anita's series of Triple Crown prep races. The series begins Jan. 10 with the GII San Vicente Stakes and continues with the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 7,  and the San Felipe, and concludes with the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 4.

“The Santa Anita 3-year-old series has been a proving ground for the Triple Crown races since Hill Gail won our Derby in 1952,” said Jason Egan, Santa Anita Park's Director of Racing.  “Earlier this year, Journalism became the 19th Santa Anita Derby winner to go on to win a Triple Crown race. Both he and [Santa Anita Derby runner-up] Baeza performed impressively throughout the series.”

A total of 14 stakes exclusively for state-breds are also on Santa Anita's schedule, led by the Jan. 17 California Cup Day and the May 23 California Gold Rush Day.

The Classic Meet ends Apr. 5. Following a one-week break, Santa Anita will resume live racing with the start of the 30-day Hollywood Meet Apr. 17. Highlighting the Hollywood Meet is a Memorial Day program May 25 that includes the GI Shoemaker Mile, GI Gamely Stakes and GII Hollywood Gold Cup.

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