Santa Anita Park Hollywood Meet Has 27 Stakes Scheduled Through Closing Day On June 14; Biggest Derby Party West Of Kentucky Set For Saturday, May 2

SANTA ANITA PARK HOLLYWOOD MEET HAS 27 STAKES SCHEDULED THROUGH CLOSING DAY ON JUNE 14; BIGGEST DERBY PARTY WEST OF KENTUCKY SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 2

Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy will carry the hopes of California to Churchill Downs for the 152nd Kentucky Derby

ARCADIA, CA (April 17, 2026)— The racing action returns to Santa Anita Park this weekend with the start of its 30-day Hollywood Meet, which runs through Sunday, June 14. Highlighting the stand are 27 stakes races for the elite of Thoroughbred racing along with the Biggest Derby Party West of Kentucky on Saturday, May 2, when Santa Anita Derby winner So Happy carries the hopes of California to Churchill Downs for the 152nd Kentucky Derby.

The stakes action kicks off Saturday with both the GIII American Stakes for older horses at one mile on turf and John Shear Stakes for 3-year-olds sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course. First post Saturday is 1 p.m. PT for a 10-race card. On Sunday, the GIII Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles is featured on a nine-race card also starting at 1 p.m.

The Biggest Derby Party West of Kentucky on May 2 will be part of a four-day race week at Santa Anita. While not originally scheduled, Santa Anita has added a day of racing on Thursday, April 30 to serve as a makeup for weather-related cancellations that occurred during the winter-spring Classic Meet. The following day, Friday May 3, on-track fans in addition to the Santa Anita action can also watch and wager on the Kentucky Oaks program at Churchill Downs. This year the Kentucky Oaks, which will include Santa Anita Oaks winner Meaning, has a post time of 5:40 p.m. PT. With the later start to the Kentucky Oaks program, Santa Anita has also pushed back its first post to 3:15 p.m.

“Sunset in Arcadia on May 1 is 7:37 pm, so we will have plenty of daylight,” Santa Anita Park General Manager Nate Newby said. “The Kentucky Oaks is trying something different this year with the exposure for horse racing on NBC in primetime. This change provides the opportunity to coordinate our racing programs.”

Parking and admission are free at Santa Anita on Kentucky Oaks day. Santa Anita’s racing program on Kentucky Derby day is led by the Grade II Charles Whittingham Stakes presented by FanDuel. It is for older horses at 1 ¼ miles on turf.

Fans at Santa Anita on Kentucky Derby day can show their support for local hero So Happy by purchasing a So Happy T-shirt package that includes a limited edition So Happy tee, admission, parking and racing program, all for just $26.62 (fees included). There will also be a Family Fun Zone and Californian Motorcycle Show in the Infield, Derby BBQ Picnic on the track apron, and Kentucky Derby buffet in Frontrunner restaurant overlooking the track.

Tickets and more information on the Biggest Derby Party West of Kentucky can be found by visiting santaanita.com/events.

Memorial Day weekend at Santa Anita will be replete with top racing action and other entertainment. On Saturday, May 23, many of the top horses produced in California will be on display across five stakes races. Leading the stakes slate are the $125,000 Snow Chief for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf and $125,000 Melair for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on turf. They will be joined by the Thor’s Echo Stakes at six furlongs on dirt, Fran’s Valentine for fillies and mares at one mile on turf and Crystal Water for older horses at one mile on turf.

On Sunday, May 24, is the Summer Corgi Nationals. Hundreds of the beloved canines will converge on Santa Anita to compete in a series of races that will determine the fastest paws in the west.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, is one of the biggest days of the Hollywood Meet. The racing program features two Grade I’s—the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile on turf and $300,000 Gamely for fillies and mares on turf, as well as the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 ¼ miles on the main track. Fans on Memorial Day will also be able to enjoy $2 hot dogs, $2 beers and $2 sodas.

Putting a bow on the Hollywood Meet on June 14 is Santa Anita’s traditional closing day feature, the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at the extended distance of about 1 ¾ miles on turf. The unique race starts at the top of Santa Anita’s hillside turf course and continues with a full circuit around Santa Anita’s main turf course before reaching the finish line. First run in 1935, the San Juan Capistrano has long been a fan favorite at The Great Race Place.

For more information on all the happenings at the Santa Anita Hollywood Meet, visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.