Santa Anita Park
Set against the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, Santa Anita Park is the flagship racetrack of Southern California and a regular host of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The track operates a winter meet from December through June and a brief fall meet in September and October.
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EST. 1934
About Santa Anita Park
Set against the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, Santa Anita Park is the flagship racetrack of Southern California and a regular host of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The track operates a winter meet from December through June and a brief fall meet in September and October. Santa Anita Park is located at 285 W Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007.
Santa Anita Derby, early April
The most important Kentucky Derby prep race on the West Coast, worth $750,000 with 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner. The 1 1/8-mile dirt Grade 1 has produced numerous Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown contenders, including American Pharoah, Justify and Authentic.
Meets & featured races
Santa Anita operates two main meets each year: the Winter/Spring Meet from late December through late June, and a short Fall Meet in late September and October. The track has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships 10 times — more than any other facility — most recently in 2023.
Santa Anita Derby (early April)
The Santa Anita Derby is one of the four major Kentucky Derby prep races, alongside the Florida Derby (Gulfstream), Wood Memorial (Aqueduct) and Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn). The 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 carries 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the winner and routinely produces the West Coast favorite for the first Saturday in May.
Santa Anita Handicap (March)
The Big ‘Cap is one of the oldest and most prestigious handicaps in American racing, first run in 1935 with Seabiscuit among its most famous winners. The 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 is the marquee winter race for older horses on the West Coast.
Breeders’ Cup World Championships
Santa Anita has hosted the Breeders’ Cup more than any other track, with the two-day November festival featuring 14 Grade 1 races and $31 million in total purses. The track’s combination of climate, two distinct surfaces (dirt and turf) and excellent infrastructure make it the Breeders’ Cup’s most frequent home.
Santa Anita Derby Key Trends
The race favors quality over quantity — recent winners include Mage (2023 Kentucky Derby winner), Justify (2018 Triple Crown winner) and American Pharoah (2015 Triple Crown winner). Speed figures from Southern California winter racing typically pace the field, and horses with a previous stakes win at the track hold a clear edge.
Live races at Santa Anita Park
Upcoming races at this track
Live racecards pulled from our North American racing data feed, refreshed throughout the day.
No scheduled meets at this track in the next 14 days.
Check the Racing Predictor for today's races at other US tracks, or visit Racing Data for past results and statistics.
Santa Anita Derby — key trends
Bet on Santa Anita Park with AmWager
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Track statistics & betting angles
1-mile dirt oval with a 6 1/2-furlong turf course inside, plus a downhill turf chute for sprints. The Santa Anita downhill turf course is unique in North American racing.
The San Gabriel Mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the racing. The track operates a true winter circuit with mild Southern California weather across the December-June meet.
Fast dirt is the norm; soft turf is rare. The downhill turf course plays as a sharp, speed-favoring surface that produces consistent front-running winners.
Bob Baffert is the dominant force at Santa Anita Park — he has trained the Santa Anita Derby winner numerous times. John Sadler, Richard Mandella and Phil D’Amato also have strong records.
How to watch Santa Anita Park racing
TVG and FanDuel TV provide year-round live coverage of every Santa Anita race. NBC Sports broadcasts the Santa Anita Derby and Big ‘Cap. For race-by-race picks and probability ratings, the horse.bet Racing Predictor publishes daily Santa Anita Park analysis the morning of racing.
Visiting Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park sits in Arcadia, California, about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The track is accessible from I-210 (Baldwin Avenue exit) or via the LA Metro Gold Line (Arcadia station, then a short walk). Free parking is widely available except on Breeders’ Cup weekends. No formal dress code for general admission.
Official Santa Anita Park website →
Frequently asked questions
When is the Santa Anita Derby?
The Santa Anita Derby is run on the first Saturday in April each year. It is the most important West Coast Kentucky Derby prep race.
What are the dates of Santa Anita’s meets?
The Winter/Spring Meet runs from late December through late June. The Fall Meet runs in late September and October.
How can I bet on Santa Anita?
AmWager offers wagering on every Santa Anita race with a new customer bonus and access to all major US tracks from a single account.
Has Santa Anita hosted the Breeders’ Cup?
Yes — Santa Anita has hosted the Breeders’ Cup 10 times, more than any other track. The most recent hosting was in 2023.
Where can I find Santa Anita picks?
The horse.bet Racing Predictor publishes daily Santa Anita picks with full-field probability ratings and value plays.
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