A Christmas Tradition: Gin Fizzes, Turkey Dinner And Daily Racing Forms For Santa Anita’s Opening Day

I married into a horse racing family. No, Carol's parents weren't major owners or breeders (they did dabble with a few claiming horses), but you would be hard-pressed to find two people who were more dedicated to the sport and enthusiastic about the challenge of picking and betting on winners than Bill and Helen Watts.

They seldom missed a day at Santa Anita – weekdays or weekends. Bill was employed as a trader at Merrill Lynch in downtown Los Angeles and was free to head to the track in Arcadia when the markets closed at 1:00 p.m. Pacific. Helen's job, it seems, was going to the races. She drove 15 miles from their home in Covina to Santa  Anita and was always there well in advance of the daily double. She'd give Bill a report on the first couple races when he arrived from work (though, in those days, you could keep up with the results on KNX News Radio, which played the stretch calls and gave the payouts of every race).

They were delighted to learn their daughter was dating someone she met at the Los Angeles office of Daily Racing Form, where Carol and I both worked in the 1980s. It may have had something to do with the fact we could grab a couple of extra copies of the Form when it was hot off the presses and not yet in distribution, saving them each $1.50.

A couple years later, when we decided to marry, Carol and I were told in no uncertain terms that the wedding would not take place during the Santa Anita winter-spring meet, the Del Mar summer meet, or the Santa Anita fall meeting then run by the Oak Tree Racing Association. That left late April-June and November-December during Hollywood Park, or September during the Los Angeles County Fair race meeting at Pomona. We set Sept. 25, 1983, for our wedding date.

Bill and Helen's lives were organized around the sport. Vacations – sometimes group tours to visit racetracks, breeding farms and training centers overseas – had to fit into those same time slots as our wedding. Social events with friends or business associates on race days were highly discouraged and avoided as much as possible.

One of their favorite days of the year was Christmas, not so much because of the religious aspects or good cheer of the holiday. It was due to the anticipation and excitement of what came next: opening day at Santa Anita. (One of their other favorite days each year was the mid-July opening day at Del Mar, which they also never missed.)

I have to laugh when I hear someone complain about awkward Christmas dinner conversations with in-laws. Questions like, “When are you going to have kids?” or, “Have you thought about a career change?” never came up in our dinner table discussions.

It was more like, “Who do you like in the double?” “Do you want to put in a Pick 6 ticket with us?” or, “How big do you think the opening day crowd is going to be tomorrow?” (Note: this was back when opening day attendance of 50,000-60,000 was common and leaving the track could be a traffic nightmare.)

The Watts family Christmas Day tradition began with gin fizzes and the opening of a few presents, and then on to a feast of turkey with all the trimmings. Once the dinner  table was cleared, the Daily Racing Forms came out and the serious business began. We'd go through every race, each of us giving our picks, and why.

There may have been a better time for Southern California horse racing than the early to mid-1980s, but I never experienced anything more exciting. The jockey colony – Hall of Famers Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr., Chris McCarron, Eddie Delahoussaye, Sandy Hawley, Darrel McHargue and a newcomer named Gary Stevens – was the best I will ever see. Hall of Fame trainers like Charlie Whittingham, Laz Barrera, Gary Jones, Richard Mandella, Robert Frankel and an upstart from the Quarter Horse world named D. Wayne Lukas seemed to dominate the big races. It was the Golden Era for me.

Bill and Helen have both passed in recent years, but I know if there's a heaven above with a newsstand selling the Daily Racing Form, they'll start handicapping the daily double as soon as Christmas dinner is over. And some how, some way, they'll find a place to make a wager. They never met a race they didn't like, especially on opening day at Santa Anita.

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Weekend Lineup: Santa Anita’s Opening Is The Day After Christmas Present For Racing Fans

The only graded stakes in North America this weekend fall on Santa Anita's traditional day after Christmas opening day, when the Arcadia, Calif., track unwraps six graded stakes on an 11-race card that gets under way at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern.

Three of the six stakes are G1: the Runhappy Malibu for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs on dirt, the La Brea for 3-year-old fillies going the same distance, and the American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles on turf in a race scheduled to begin on the reopened Santa Anita downhill turf course.

New to the expansive Santa Anita betting menu is a special opening day mid-pick 4 wager offered on races five through eight and featuring a 50-cent minimum. The bet will be offered on days when 11 races are carded.

Following Sunday's opening-day program, Santa Anita will offer a special nine-race Monday card that kicks off with a 12 noon PT first post.

While Santa Anita's day after Christmas opening is the gift many horseplayers and fans have been waiting for, there is non-graded stakes action on Sunday at Laurel Park in Maryland, Florida's Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

Here's a brief preview of Santa Anita's opening day graded stakes:

Sunday

4:08 p.m. ET – G2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita

The fifth race on the card, the San Gabriel will see Dan Blacker-trained Hit the Road, a More Than Ready colt who earlier this year won the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes at Santa Anita going one mile, stretch out to nine furlongs for the first time. Umberto Rispoli, a perfect three-for-three aboard Hit the Road, will be back aboard the 4-year-old colt after Florent Geroux handled him in his last four starts. Look for Michael McCarthy-trained Friar's Road to be flying late under Jose Ortiz, who traveled west to ride several horses for McCarthy on the opening day card. The Quality Road colt has yet to win a stakes but was third, beaten a head, in the G2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes two starts back at Santa Anita.

San Gabriel entries

4:40 p.m. – San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita

G1 Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie was not disgraced when fourth behind likely Horse of the Year Knicks Go in his first try against older horses in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6. He's the heavy morning line favorite in the San Antonio under regular rider Flavien Prat, and trainer Doug O'Neill is removing blinkers from the Oxbow colt's equipment after they were added for the Breeders' Cup. Kiss Today Goodbye defends his San Antonio title for trainer Eric Kruljac and Bob Baffert has two runners – Eight Rings  and Azul Coast – in the field of seven.

San Antonio entries

5:12 p.m. – Santa Anita Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes

With Hit the Road opting to stretch out in the San Gabriel, the Mathis Brothers Mile came up a very competitive race, with Del Mar's G1 Hollywood Derby upset winner Beyond Brilliant the 5-2 morning line favorite for trainer John Shirreffs and jockey Kent Desormeaux. Du Jour is the second choice at 3-1 on the morning line for trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Flavien Prat. The Temple City colt is two-for-two over the Santa Anita turf, breaking his maiden and adding an allowance win there earlier this year. He also won the G2 American Turf Stakes on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.

Santa Anita Mathis Brothers Mile entries

5:44 p.m. – La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita

Private Mission threw down ridiculously fast fractions before hitting the wall on the stretch turn and finishing last in the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff going 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar. The Into Mischief filly trained by Bob Baffert showed the ability to win against good company going two turns  in the G2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita in October, but she might find the elongated seven-furlong sprint distance even more to her liking here. The 8-5 morning line favorite will be ridden by Flavien Prat. None of the other six fillies have faced as tough a competition as Private Mission has, though the other Baffert filly in the line-up, Kalypso, did win the G2 Santa Ynez over the same distance at Santa Anita last January.

La Brea entries

6:49 p.m. – Runhappy Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita

How good is Flightline? The Tapit colt earned respective Beyer Speed Figures of 105 and 114 while winning his first two starts by a combined 18 lengths – a maiden race at Santa Anita in April and a Sept. 5 allowance race at Del Mar – but this will be the first stakes test for the John Sadler runner. The $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase hasn't missed a beat in his training and gets leading West Coast rider Flavien Prat, also the regular rider of Dr. Schivel, the second choice in the morning line for the Malibu. Dr. Schivel, who lost the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint by a nose to Aloha West, always brings his “A” game, and the Mark Glatt-trained colt by Violence figures to be right in the thick of things. Rising Southern California star Juan Hernandez, who rode Dr. Schivel to a maiden victory in 2020, will be aboard. An interesting wild card is Baby Yoda, a Bill Mott-trained invader from the East who received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for an allowance race win at Saratoga on Sept. 4 the day before Flightline won at Del Mar. He's had two disappointing runs since then but gets Jose Ortiz back aboard.

Runhappy Malibu entries

7:20 p.m. – American Oaks at Santa Anita

It's impossible to overlook Going Global's perfect four-for-four record over the Santa Anita turf course or her overall mark of seven wins in 11 starts. The five-time graded stakes winner is one of two Phil D'Amato runners in the line-up for the American Oaks, which begins midway down the hillside turf course and takes one lap around the infield oval. Michael McCarthy has four entered in the 11-horse Oaks field, none of them stakes winners but all capable of improvement. The best of his quartet might be Nicest, an Irish-bred daughter of American Pharoah who was good third in the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and third in the G1 Irish Oaks a month later. She will have John Velazquez aboard for her third U.S. stakes try. Two other shippers, Chad Brown-trained Fluffy Socks, a two-time graded stakes winner, and Victoria Oliver-trained Core Values, make the American Oaks a challenging race to handicap.

American Oaks entries

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$23 Million In Opening Day Wagers Sets New Record For Santa Anita

With an 11-race card that included six stakes, all run in idyllic weather conditions, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., set an all-time opening day record pari-mutuel handle of $23,003,159 on Saturday, eclipsing the previous opening day benchmark of $20,491,016, which was established over 11 races run on Dec. 26, 2018.

Aside from essential licensed personnel, which includes owners, Santa Anita remains closed to the public and thus almost all of its total handle on Saturday was wagered via ADW platforms and a smattering of brick and mortar satellite locations that have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Santa Anita, which opened on Dec. 25, 1934, and was closed for three years during World War II, staged its 84th opener on Saturday, with first post time at 11 a.m.

“We want to thank our fans, owners, trainers, jockeys and other stakeholders for supporting our racing program and contributing to a strong opening day,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita Senior vice president and general manager.  “This has been a difficult year for a lot of people and we are happy to be able to provide world-class racing for those watching and playing the races from home.

“We can't wait to welcome our fans and our employees back to The Great Race Place when protocols allow everyone to enjoy our tremendous sport in person.  In the meantime, we are thankful  to be able to operate as we are currently.”

With five graded stakes, three of them of the Grade 1 variety, the highlight of the opening day program came in the Grade 1, $300,000 Runhappy Malibu, as Bob Baffert-trained Charlatan powered to a tremendous 4 ½ length win under Mike Smith and thus thrust himself into a potential role of Horse of the Year candidate in the approaching new year.

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Santa Anita Winter-Spring Meet To Feature 95 Stakes, Including 60 Graded, 10 Grade 1

With three prestigious Grade 1 stakes on opening day, Saturday, Dec. 26, Santa Anita's 2020-21 Winter/Spring stakes schedule will offer fans and horsemen a total of 95 stakes through closing day, June 20.  This will include 10 Grade 1 events and 60 graded stakes, available to horses on both dirt and turf at the Arcadia, Calif., track.

Santa Anita's traditional Winter/Spring opener will be highlighted by three Grade 1, $300,000 stakes, the seven-furlong Runhappy Malibu, for 3-year-olds, the seven-furlong La Brea, for 3-year-old fillies, and the American Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and one quarter on turf.

These Grade 1 races will be complemented by three other stakes on opening day, the Grade 2, $200,000 Mathis Brothers Mile, the Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio and the $75,000 Lady of Shamrock.

The Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap and the Grade 1, $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile will be run on March 6 and be complemented by one of American's most important Derby preps, the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes, the Grade 2, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes and the $75,000 China Doll Stakes.

The following Saturday, March 13, the Grade 1, $300,000 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares will highlight a program that will also include the Grade 3, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes, which will be run out of Santa Anita's all-new turf chute at six furlongs.

The Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, which has produced 18 Kentucky Derby winners, will be run on April 3, as will the Grade 2, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, as well as two Cal-bred stakes, the $200,000 Echo Eddie and the $200,000 Evening Jewel.

The iconic Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup will be run on May 31, as will two other Grade 1 stakes, both to be run on turf, the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile and the $300,000 Gamely.

The Winter/Spring Meeting will finish strong with the iconic Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, to be run at a mile and three quarters down the track's Camino Real Turf Course on June 19 and the Grade 3, $100,000 American Stakes, at one mile on turf June 20.

In addition to the American on closing day, a pair of new stakes for 2-year-olds, the $75,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity and the $75,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante, will both be contested at five furlongs on the main track.

For the full stakes schedule on the Santa Anita website, click here.

2020 – 2021  Winter Spring Stakes Schedule
Run Date Race Age Distance 2020-21 Purse
Sat. Dec 26 RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes  (Gr I) 3YO 7 F $300,000
Sat. Dec 26 La Brea Stakes  (Gr I) F,3YO 7 F $300,000
Sat. Dec 26 San Antonio Stakes  (Gr II) 3 &up 1 1/16 M $200,000
Sat. Dec 26 Mathis Brothers Mile  (Gr II) 3YO 1 M(T) $200,000
Sat. Dec 26 Lady of Shamrock Stakes F,3YO 1 M(T) $75,000
Sat. Dec 26 American Oaks  (Gr I) F,3YO 1 1/4 M (T) $300,000
Sun. Dec 27 Eddie Logan Stakes 2YO 1 M(T) $75,000
Sun. Dec 27 Robert J.  Frankel Stakes  (Gr III) F/M, 3&up 1 1/8 M (T) $100,000
Thurs. Dec 31 Blue Norther Stakes F,2YO 1 M(T) $75,000
Fri. Jan 1 Joe Hernandez Stakes (II) 4&up 6 1/2 F (T) $200,000
Sat. Jan 2 San Gabriel Stakes (Gr II) 4&up 1 1/8 M (T) $200,000
Sat. Jan 2 Sham Stakes  (Gr III) 3YO 1 M $100,000
Sun. Jan 3 Santa Ynez Stakes  (Gr II) F,3YO 7 F $200,000
Sat. Jan 9 La Canada Stakes  (Gr II) F/M,4&up 1 1/16 M $200,000
Sat. Jan 9 Las Cienegas Stakes  (Gr III) F/M,4&up 6 F (T) $100,000
Sun. Jan 10 Kalookan Queen Stakes F/M, 4&up 6 1/2 F $75,000
Sat. Jan 16 Unusual Heat Turf Classic 4&up (CA) 1 1/8 M (T) $200,000
Sat. Jan 16 Sunshine Millions F/M Turf Sprint F/M, 4 & up  (CA) 6 F (T) $150,000
Sat. Jan 16 California Cup Sprint 4&up (CA) 6 F $150,000
Sat. Jan 16 California Cup Derby 3 YO (CA) 1 1/16 M $200,000
Sat. Jan 16 California Cup Oaks F, 3YO  (CA) 1 M(T) $200,000
Sun. Jan 17 Astra Stakes (Gr III) F/M,4&up 1 1/2 M (T) $100,000
Mon. Jan 18 Megahertz Stakes  (Gr III) F/M,4&up 1 M(T) $100,000
Sat. Jan 23 Palos Verdes Stakes  (Gr II) 4&up 6 F $200,000
Sun. Jan 24 Clockers' Corner Stakes 4&up 6 F (T) $70,000
Sat. Jan 30 San Pasqual Stakes  (Gr II) 4&up 1 1/8 M $200,000
Sat. Jan 30 San Marcos Stakes  (Gr II) 4&up 1 1/4 (T) $200,000
Sat. Jan 30 Robert B. Lewis Stakes  (Gr III) 3YO 1 1/16 M $100,000
Sun. Jan 31 Baffle Stakes 3YO 6 1/2 F (T) $75,000
Sat. Feb 6 Las Virgenes Stakes  (Gr II) F,3YO 1 M $200,000
Sat. Feb 6 Thunder Road Stakes  (Gr III) 4&up 1 M(T) $100,000
Sat. Feb 6 San Vicente Stakes  (Gr II) 3YO 7 F $200,000
Sat. Feb 13 Santa Monica Stakes  (Gr II) F/M, 4 & up 7 F $200,000
Sun. Feb 14 Sweet Life Stakes (GIII) F,3YO 6 F (T) $100,000
Mon. Feb 15 Wishing Well F/M,4&up 6 1/2 F (T) $75,000
Sat. Feb 20 Buena Vista Stakes  (Gr II) F/M,4&up 1 M(T) $200,000
Sun. Feb 21 Spring Fever Stakes F/M, 4 & up (CA) 6 F $100,000
Sat. Feb 27 Pasadena Stakes (Listed) 3YO 1 M(T) $100,000
Sun. Feb 28 Tiznow Stakes 4&up (CA) 1 M $100,000
Sat. Mar 6 Santa Anita Handicap  (Gr I) 4&up 1 1/4 M $400,000
Sat. Mar 6 San Carlos  (Gr II) 4&up 7F $200,000
Sat. Mar 6 San Felipe Stakes  (Gr II) 3YO 1 1/16 M $300,000
Sat. Mar 6 Frank E. Kilroe Mile  (Gr I) 4&up 1 M(T) $400,000
Sat. Mar 6 China Doll Stakes F,3YO 1 M(T) $75,000
Sun. Mar 7 Santa Ysabel Stakes  (G III) F,3YO 1 1/16 M $100,000
Sat. Mar 13 Beholder Mile  (Gr I) F/M,4&up 1 M $300,000
Sat. Mar 13 San Simeon Stakes  (Gr III) 4&up 6 F (T) $100,000
Sun. Mar 14 Irish O'Brien Stakes F/M, 4&up 6 F (T) $100,000
Sat. Mar 20 San Luis Rey Stakes  (Gr III) 4&up 1 1/2 M (T) $100,000
Sun. Mar 21 Sensational Star Stakes 4&up (CA) 6 1/2  F (T) $100,000
Sat. Mar 27 Santa Ana Stakes  (Gr III) F/M4&up 1 1/4 M (T) $100,000
Sun. Mar 28 Santana Mile 4&up 1 M $75,000
 
Sat. Apr 3 Santa Anita Derby  (Gr I) 3YO 1 1/8 M $750,000
Sat. Apr 3 Santa Anita Oaks  (Gr II) F,  3YO 1 1/16 M $400,000
Sat. Apr 3 Echo Eddie Stakes 3 YO (CA) 6 1/2 F $150,000
Sat. Apr 3 Evening Jewel F, 3 YO (CA) 6 1/2 F $150,000
Sat. Apr 3 Royal Heroine Stakes (Gr II) F/M4&up 1 M(T) $200,000
Sat. Apr 3 Providencia Stakes (Gr III) F,3YO 1 1/8 M (T) $100,000
Sun. Apr 4 Las Flores Stakes  (Gr III) F/M,4&up 6 F $100,000
Sat. Apr 10 Mizdirection Stakes Listed) F/M 4&up 6 F (T) $75,000
Sat. Apr 17 Californian Stakes  (Gr II) 4&up 1 1/8 M $200,000
Sun. Apr 18 Tokyo City Cup  (Gr III) 4&up 11/2 M $100,000
Sun. Apr 18 Kona Gold Stakes  (Gr III) 4&up 6 1/2 F $100,000
Sat. Apr 24 Santa Margarita Stakes  (Gr II) F/M, 4&up 1 1/8 M $200,000
Sat. Apr 24 Crystal Water Stakes 3 &up  (CA) 1 M(T) $100,000
Sun. Apr 25 Singletary Stakes 3YO 1 M(T) $100,000
Sat. May 1 Senorita Stakes  (Gr III) F,3YO 1 M(T) $100,000
Sat. May 1 Angel's Flight Stakes F,3YO 7 F $75,000
Sat. May 8 Santa Barbara Stakes  (Gr III) F/M, 3 &up 1 1/2 M (T) $100,000
Sun. May 9 Fran's Valentine Stakes F/M, 3 & up (CA) 1 M(T) $100,000
Sat. May 15 Lazaro Barrera Stakes  (Gr III) 3YO 7 F $100,000
Sun. May 16 Desert Stormer Stakes  (Gr III) F/M, 3 &up 6 F $100,000
Sat. May 22 Santa Maria Stakes  (Gr II) F/M,3&up 1 1/16 M $200,000
Sat. May 22 Honeymoon Stakes  (Gr III) F3YO 1 1/8 M (T) $100,000
Sun. May 23 Cinema Stakes 3YO 1 1/8 M (T) $100,000
Sat. May 29 Triple Bend Stakes  (Gr II) 4&up 7 F $200,000
Sat. May 29 Charles Whittingham Stakes  (Gr II) 3&up 1 1/4 M (T) $200,000
Sat. May 29 Daytona Stakes  (Gr III) 4&up 6 1/2 F (T) $100,000
Sun. May 30 Summertime Oaks  (Gr II) F,3YO 1 1/16 M $200,000
Mon. May 31 The Hollywood Gold Cup at  Santa Anita  (Gr I) 3&up 1 1/4 M $300,000
Mon. May 31 Shoemaker Mile  (Gr I) 3&up 1 M(T) $300,000
Mon. May 31 Gamely Stakes  (Gr I) F/M, 3 &up 1 1/8 M (T) $300,000
Sat June 5 Monrovia Stakes  (Gr II) F/M, 3 &up 6 1/2 F (T) $200,000
SUN. Jun 6 Desert Code Stakes 3YO 6 F (T) $75,000
Sat. Jun 12 Thor's Echo Stakes 3 &up  (CA) 6 F $100,000
Sun. Jun 13 Affirmed Stakes  (Gr III) 3YO 1 1/16 M $100,000
Sun. Jun 13 Possibly Perfect Stakes (Listed) F/M, 3 &up 1 1/4 M(T) $75,000
Sat. Jun 19 Snow Chief Stakes 3 YO (CA) 1 1/8 M (T) $150,000
Sat. Jun 19 Melair Stakes F, 3 YO (CA) 1 1/16 M $150,000
Sat. Jun 19 San Juan Capistrano Stakes  (Gr III) 3&up abt 1 3/4 M(T) $100,000
Sat. Jun 19 Siren Lure Stakes 3&up 6 1/2 F (T) $75,000
Sun. Jun 20 Wilshire Stakes  (Gr. III) F/M, 3 &up 1 M(T) $100,000
Sun. Jun 20 American (Gr III) 3&up 1 M(T) $100,000
Sun Jun 20 Fasig-Tipton Futurity 2YO 5  F $75,000
Sun Jun 20 Fasig-Tipton Debutante F 2YO 5 F $75,000

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