Santa Anita Breeders' Cup

Santa Anita has held the Breeders’ Cup a record 10 times. It first happened in 1986, and most recently in 2019. One of the most famous Breeders’ Cup wins in history was when the undefeated mare Zenyatta beat a field of international colts in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic. She had previously won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic on the same track.

Other top Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup winners include Arrogate in the 2016 Classic, Beholder by a nose over Songbird in the 2016 Distaff, Wise Dan going back to back with wins in the 2012 and 2013 Mile, and trainer Richard Mandella winning four Breeders’ Cup races on one day in 2003. The biggest Breeders’ Cup upset of all time was in 1993 when Arcangues won the Classic at 133-1.

In 2008, Santa Anita ran the Breeders’ Cup on a synthetic surface, and European invaders won five of the races including when Raven’s Pass won the Breeders’ Cup Classic over Curlin.

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Santa Anita History

Santa Anita opened on Christmas Day in 1934. One year later, the first Santa Anita Handicap – better known as the Big Cap or at the time, the Hundred Grander – was run for the first time. It has been run continually since 1935 save for when Santa Anita closed in 1942 due to the Second World War. It was reopened in 1945.

The downhill turf course was added to Santa Anita in 1953. In the 1960s, the track added a fall meet which would eventually become a premier meet with numerous Breeders’ Cup prep races starting in the 1980s. After the closure of Hollywood Park in 2014, Santa Anita picked up those dates, extending their meet from early April until late June.

Betting at Santa Anita is a favorite past-time for many locals, and checking the Santa Anita live odds is easier with an online betting account to play Santa Anita racecards.


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