Press Releases

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 22, 2009)—The Oak Tree Racing Association will kick off its 41st racing season on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and the highlight of the meeting will no doubt be the 26th running of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be hosted by Oak Tree for an unprecedented second consecutive year on Nov. 6 and 7.

Oak Tree’s popular collector’s item commemorative stein will once again be offered free of charge to all paid attendees on opening day, Sept. 30, and this year’s issue will feature the likenesses of 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion Raven’s Pass and Ladies’ Classic Champion Zenyatta, as well as the racing colors of all 14 World Championship winners from last year. Additionally, the late founder of the Breeders’ Cup, John Gaines, will be honored as the colors of his Gainesway Farm will also be represented.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2009)—The Oak Tree Racing Association and Breeders’ Cup Limited have announced free Gold Line shuttle bus service will once again be available to fans during this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 6 and 7. The shuttle buses will provide service to Santa Anita Park from the Metro Gold Line at Sierra Madre Villa Station in East Pasadena.

All MTA riders will receive free Oak Tree visors when they show their Metro Rail ticket or Metro Monthly Pass upon arriving at Santa Anita.

On Friday, Nov.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 10, 2009)—Santa Anita President Ron Charles announced today that HRTV anchor/analyst Jon White has been named as Santa Anita’s new morning line maker, replacing the recently retired Jeff Tufts, who served in that position from 1974 through this past April. White’s appointment is effective with Oak Tree’s opening on Sept. 30.

“Jeff Tufts was without question one of the great line-makers in the history of this sport,” said Charles.

ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug 2, 2009)—The California Lottery, Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and the Oak Tree Racing Association have announced plans for a Breeders’ Cup Classic Lottery Sweepstakes offering prizes totaling $230,000, this fall at Oak Tree’s Santa Anita race meeting.

Fans 18-years of age and older can begin participating in this one-of-a-kind promotion on Oct. 16, and may purchase $5 of Hot Spot tickets up until the day of the prestigious $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Oak Tree on Nov.

NEW YORK (July 14, 2009) - The Breeders’ Cup and the Oak Tree Racing Association announced today the creation of the first-ever Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, a two-day handicapping tournament that will take place during the 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7. The winner of this year’s event can take home more than $100,000.

Series To Include 62 Races In Seven Countries

NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 22, 2009)-- The Breeders' Cup Challenge, a series of automatic qualifying races for the $25.5 million 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships, will increase in number this year with a record 62 races taking place in seven countries at the world’s greatest racing venues, it was announced today. Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park will host eight races during the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Season beginning on September 30 with the Morvich Handicap. Click here for complete 2009 schedule:

The expanded Challenge series, with its “Win and You’re In” provision, will include 12 overseas races from premier racetracks in England, Ireland, France, Australia and Hong Kong. The 2009 Breeders' Cup Challenge races will begin in the U.S. on July 4 with qualifying events from Monmouth Park: the United Nations (gr. I) on turf, and the Salvator Mile (gr. III). This year’s Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held November 6-7, at the Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be televised live on ABC and ESPN.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge series will again include domestic racetracks Belmont Park in New York, Del Mar near San Diego, Calder Race Course in Miami, Arlington Park in Chicago, Emerald Downs in Seattle, Delaware Park, Monmouth Park and Philadelphia Park in the Middle Atlantic; Turfway Park and Keeneland in Kentucky; Santa Anita Park and Woodbine in Toronto.

The 2009 Challenge races will be televised on ESPN, TVG and HRTV, TSN in Canada and in more than 120 countries. Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park will host the following Breeders’ Cup Challenge races:

DATE RACE BC QUALIFYING RACE Sept. 30, 2009 Morvich Handicap (gr. III) Turf Sprint
Oct. 4, 2009 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) Juvenile
Oct. 4, 2009 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) Juvenile Fillies
Oct. 10, 2009 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (gr. I) Filly & Mare Turf
Oct. 10, 2009 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) Classic
Oct. 10, 2009 Lady’s Secret Stakes (gr. I) Ladies’ Classic
Oct. 10, 2009 Oak Tree Mile Stakes (gr. I) Mile
Oct. 11, 2009 Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) Sprint