Santa Anita 2023 Winter Meet Schedule at OTB

The Santa Anita Park Winter Meet will run from December 26 to April 9

Santa Anita Park's Classic Race Meeting, which opens on Monday, December 26, will offer horsemen the largest purse structure in Santa Anita's storied 88-year history with significant increases in both allowance and stakes race monies.

Additionally, Santa Anita will again offer fans and horsemen the best winter turf racing in America, as its downhill Camino Real, turf chute and turf oval will provide a wide variety of options for horses sprinting and going a route of ground.

"Our turf is in tremendous condition," said Chris Merz, Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. "With our downhill and turf chute components, we are pleased to offer the betting public and fans alike a cornucopia of turf racing options. With so much emphasis now on recruiting turf prospects from all over the world, turf racing is more popular than ever before.

"As the meet progresses, we are also going to initiate a $25,000 starter series in March for boys and girls on turf, both long and short. We are of course dependent upon good weather, but we're confident we're going to be able to provide the best turf racing in the country and we're excited to open on Dec. 26."

Merz also said that significant purse increases will be offered in allowance and stakes races and that for the first time ever, all Santa Anita stakes, on turf or dirt, will carry a minimum purse of $100,000.

"There's no denying that expenses are up, across the board, in all facets of our economy," said Merz. "Along with the TOC, without whose assistance these changes wouldn't be possible, we're hopeful these purse increases will assist owners and trainers who are paying the bills on the athletes that put on the show. Additionally, we want horsemen to know that all allowance races will now include a "state-bred" provision which means any horse that has won a state-bred race anywhere in the country, is still eligible for a $72,000 first condition allowance here at Santa AnitAnswer - "

With first post time on opening day, Dec. 26, at 11 Answer - m., Santa Anita will present a total of six graded stakes. Three of them are Grade I's with a purse of $300,000, the Runhappy Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs, the La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs and the American Oaks, which will be run at a mile and one quarter on turf.

The remaining three stakes are Grade II's with a purse of $200,000. The Mathis Mile (turf), the San Gabriel, at a mile and one eighth on turf and the San Antonio, at a mile and one sixteenth.

OffTrackBetting.com - US Legal Santa Anita OTB is a great way to bet Santa Anita Park horse racing online. Available to customers across the United States, OTB features Standardbred racing from major racing venues in the US as well as top international racing from Europe, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong.

Santa Anita Will Again Offer A Wide Array Of Turf Racing This Winter

With an ever-increasing demand for more turf racing nationwide, Santa Anita Park is now positioned to offer fans and horsemen three distinct turf options at sprint and route distances-from its one-of-a-kind Camino Real Hillside Turf, 6 ½ furlong (flat) turf chute and main turf oval, all of which promise to afford fans and horsemen an unmatched set of racing and gambling opportunities this winter beginning on Santa Anita's Classic Meet opening day, Monday, Dec. 26.

Although weather is always a concern in carding races on turf, Santa Anita could now card perhaps more than half of its races on grass this winter.

"Having 10 different options over three courses gives us great flexibility in writing turf races here at Santa Anita," said Chris Merz, Santa Anita's Director of Racing and Racing Secretary. "Over the past several years, the demand for turf racing has grown substantially. Whereas it comprised about 30 percent of our racing product 10 years ago, turf racing now accounts for more than half the races we offer. This is in large part a testament to the great work our Track Supervisor Jesse Martinez and his crew have done to maintain our turf and keep it in great shape.

"With the Camino Real Hillside Course coming back online for the Autumn 2021 Meet and the installation of our new turf chute in late 2020, we now have the ability to do something we had never before been able to do at Santa Anita, and that is, run turf races back-to-back on any given race day. Weather permitting, we intend to use all three facets of our turf presentation, the downhill, turf chute and turf oval, as much as possible throughout the Classic Meet."

Santa Anita's turf chute, which was installed under the direction of Track Surfaces Consultant Dennis Moore beginning in the summer of 2020, came online Dec. 26 of that year and has now proven to be an invaluable complement to the track's European-style Camino Real Turf Course, which was unveiled on Dec. 26, 1953.

The Camino Real Course features a downhill component with the only right-hand turn in American Racing as horses sprint about 6 ½ furlongs downhill. The course is also comprised of a seven furlong oval, enabling routes with a downhill start at 1 ¼ miles, 1 ½ half miles and at 1 ¾ miles. Horses routing at one mile and at 1 1/8 miles, each begin with a "flat" start.

"Our Camino Real Turf Course is truly one-of-a-kind," said Merz. "It's as important to Santa Anita's identity as anything you can think of. Wherever you go, if racing people know you're associated with Santa Anita, they invariably talk about the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop and our downhill Camino Real Turf Course, there simply isn't anything like all of this in American racing."

With an ever-increasing number of foreign-born or raced turf horses being imported from around the world, and an increasing number of races carded on turf, Santa Anita is also well-positioned operationally, to make adjustments during the course of each race day.

"Our ability to move the inner rail has proven to be a huge factor in keeping the course in good condition," said Merz. "The key is to be able to run as much as we can on the turf while keeping it as fresh as possible. Jesse Martinez takes regular readings from the rail out at various points on the course and the data he provides lets us know when it's time to move the inner rail and how far.

"Additionally, we now have the ability to adjust the rails on the fly, during racing, as Jesse's crew can get the entire oval done in under an hour. We typically aim to use the zero and 10 foot settings on weekends and the 20 and 30 foot settings during weekday racing. Again, weather is a big factor here, but the key to all of this is the communication Jesse and his team provide us with.

"Collectively, we all take great pride in helping to provide our fans and horsemen with what is in my opinion, the best winter turf racing in AmericAnswer - "

Originally introduced in the summer of 2016, Santa Anita's turf course is comprised of Bandera Bermuda hybrid turf which is overseeded with winter rye on a seasonal basis.

With entries for opening day set to be taken on Dec. 21, Santa Anita will offer a total of six graded stakes, three of them on grass, headed by the Grade I, $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and one quarter.

Additionally, a pair of Grade II, $200,000 stakes, the Santa Anita Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds and the San Gabriel, for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and one eighth, will also be run on turf.

International Superstar Jockey Frankie Dettori To Ride At Santa Anita Winter Meet

Long considered the greatest European-based jockey since Lester Piggot, Italian-born Lanfranco (Frankie) Dettori is returning to Santa Anita to ride full-time for the first time in more than 30 years on the track's Classic Meet opening day, Monday, Dec. 26.

Recently paired with top agent Ron Anderson, Dettori, who lives near Newmarket, England, first announced his plans to ride at Santa Anita a month ago and in an expansive interview via telephone, detailed his intentions and career goals as he approaches his 52nd birthday on Dec. 15.

Married with five grown children, Dettori, a native of Milan, Italy and the son of retired Italian Champion Jockey Gianfranco Dettori, recalls the relationships he forged as a teenager with American racing icons such as Bill Shoemaker, Charlie Whittingham, Neil Drysdale and others.

Along with 500 Group Stakes wins, Dettori, who is a member of the prestigious British Champions Series Hall of Fame, is also a winner of 14 Breeders' Cup races in North America, including the 2008 Classic at Santa Anita with the John Gosden-trained Raven's Pass.

Dettori, whose dynamic personality and signature flying dismounts have enabled his European celebrity to transcend the bounds of racing, has ridden in more than 18 countries and has endorsed products such as "Jockey" yogurt in Europe and has had prominent television roles in shows such as British-based "Celebrity Big Brother" and the BBC's quiz show "A Question of Sport."

At home in Stetchworth, England, Dettori agreed to a question and answer session.

Question - Frankie, first of all, sincere thanks for making the decision to ride full-time at Santa Anita this winter. This is truly great news and your presence alone will generate significant additional interest in our Classic Meet here at The Great Race Place. What factors led to your decision to begin riding here on Dec. 26?

Answer - I was actually thinking of coming over in the middle of January because I had some commitments in South America and I was thinking of going on a bit of a tour there. But, Ron approached me. He's a good friend of mine. He's probably one of the best agents in the world, I've known him since I was a kid. He said `Listen, if you'll come along for (opening day) at Santa Anita and start when everybody else starts, there's a better chance that we can get the ball rolling and have a good winter.' And so I changed my plans and I spoke to my children. They're grown up now. I said `I'm not going to be here for Christmas.' They're adults now, they're attending university and so on and they don't believe in Santa Claus anymore, all they do is (jokingly) want money...So it was a mutual decision, so that's why I'm coming over and I'm going to start on Boxing Day (traditional British holiday the day after Christmas). It's very important to start on opening day with everyone else and have an equal chance to do well.

Question - You've ridden all over the world and have had a superstar career in every respect. Although it's been a long time, this will not be your first time riding here in Southern CaliforniAnswer - You were here in 1987 at age 17 and you were around people like Bill Shoemaker. You actually lived here in Sierra Madre one winter. What are your recollections of that time so long ago when your career was just beginning to take flight?

Answer - I remember riding at Santa Anita on Shoe's last day as a jockey (Feb. 3, 1990). I didn't ride in any races with him, but I rode that same day that he retired. I saw all the celebration and just being in the Jockeys' Room when he was there is something I'll never forget. Back at that time, I got to meet so many people. I got to meet Charlie Whittingham and I galloped some horses for him.

It was an amazing time to be there. I saw great horses, champions...Ferdinand, Alysheba and then soon after, Sunday Silence. I saw some amazing horses and some amazing jockeys as well. So basically, my career has come full circle. Thirty five years later, I'm going to be back to where I started.

Question - In addition to your incredible international resume, you've won a total of 14 Breeders' Cup races here in North America, including the 2008 Classic here at Santa Anita with John Gosden's Raven's Pass. That said, with Ron Anderson now managing your business, is the 2023 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on your radar?

Answer - To be honest, the Breeders' Cup is a million miles away. The only important thing for me at this time, is coming to California, to start doing well, ride some winners and fingers, crossed, I might stumble into a very good 3-year-old that would take me to Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May. I'm shooting at the stars at the moment, but you never know...I'm not speculating about anything, but I'm going to give it my all and I'm going to enjoy it. To me, I'm going to be around some people I've known most of my life, guys like Mike Smith, Johnny Velazquez, Neil Drysdale and other people in CaliforniAnswer - As far as my business now goes, obviously winning the Dubai World Cup this year (with Country Grammer) for Bob Baffert helps a bit.

Question - I get the impression that winning the Kentucky Derby is very much on Frankie Dettori's Bucket List?

Answer - Oh, of course, and not just me, every jockey...But unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby falls on the same day as our 2000 Guineas (Group I, for 3-year-olds going one mile at Newmarket) which is the first leg in our Triple Crown. As a Walmac (Farm) guy, I've actually got a very live mount in it, but we'll see what the spring will bring...I'm not going to speculate, but everything at the moment is open and I'll just see what happens.

Question - Back to your agent, Ron Anderson. He's come here in recent years with Johnny Velazquez and Joel Rosario. They've done very well over the winter and then they've shifted their tack to Kentucky and New York following the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Is this a path you're likely to follow?

Answer - To be honest, I haven't figured out anything yet. My first focus is opening day at Santa AnitAnswer - My second focus is to get a live mount for the Pegasus World Cup (Invitational, Grade I at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28). My third focus is to hopefully try to get back on Country Grammer for the Saudi Cup (Group I in February). And in between, we spend the time at Santa Anita and hopefully find a nice 3-year-old. And then we go into March and the better races are starting for those horses and there's the Dubai World Cup, the Santa Anita Handicap...I just want to take one step at a time. Yes, I'm going to be on airplanes. I love it! __

Question - Looking at where you're at, in addition to having tremendous God-given ability, your enthusiasm and out-going personality have also been huge factors in your long-term success. You'll be 52 on Dec. 15. Are those internal fires to succeed still burning as hot as ever and if so, beyond money-won, what motivates you to continue?

Answer - That's one of the reasons I'm coming to CaliforniAnswer - I need a new challenge, a new target. I'll definitely ride next year, after that, I don't know. So I'm taking one year at a time. I like to travel. I like to challenge myself in different places and that's what keeps me going. It'll be good to get back to memory lane in Southern CaliforniAnswer - That's where I started...So I'm going to try to enjoy my time there as much as I can.

Question - Frankie, you've got a great life, a great family with your wife Catherine and five kids. As you mentioned, your kids are grown, but how does everyone feel about you coming to Santa Anita this winter?

Answer - To be honest, they're kind of used to it. The last few years, I've been in Dubai by myself. They're pleased for me because they see that I'm very excited about it. I've got their support, which is very important. It's easier now for me to spend time away because they've got university, they've got things to do and they understand. It's much harder when you have young kids. It doesn't make my job any easier, but I have their full support.

Question - Speaking of family, your father, Gianfranco, was a 13-time Champion rider in Italy. Is he still involved in racing?

Answer - My dad is 81 and he's fully retired. He spends all his life watching me ride on TV. You know, he and my mom actually came with me one winter when I rode at Santa Anita and stayed with me for three months in Sierra Madre. He understands what I'm doing and he's actually more excited than me that I'm coming over this winter. It'll give him something to watch in the evening.

Question - Lastly, everybody knows that good horses help to make good jockeys and good trainers. Aside from getting the right horses in the right races, in your opinion, what separates great jockeys from average or good jockeys?

Answer - Well, I think first of all, you've got to use your natural instincts. Obviously in my case, I've got a lot of experience. But then, you've got to have the love of the horse. I love the horse. The horse has a sixth sense. He's feels like you feel. We use horses for disabled people, blind people, deaf people...The horse knows, they're intuitive. I think a good jockey transmits good vibes to the horse to give him his best chance to succeed.