Santa Anita Park is one of most beautiful racing venues in the U.S., located in Arcadia, California with the San Gabriel Mountains serving as a backdrop.

The racetrack opened in 1934, a year after California legalized pari-mutuel wagering in the state. Among the early stockholders in the track were Hal Roach, Bing Crosby, Joe E. Brown and Al Jolson.

The racetrack is best known for creating the “Hundred Grander,” the first race with a  $100,000 purse in the U.S. which was known as the Santa Anta Handicap, which is still run today.

Seabiscuit won the race in 1940, and other greats that won the race include Spectacular Bid, John Henry, Round Table, and Ack Ack.

Game On Dude won the 2013 running of the Big ‘Cap, adding to his victory in the race in 2011. The only other horses to win the race more than once are Lava Man (2006, 2007), Milwaukee Brew (2002, 2003), and John Henry (1981, 1982).

The Santa Anita Derby is run each spring as a final prep for the Kentucky Derby. I’ll Have Another won the 2012 Santa Anita Derby and the Doug O’Neill trainee went on to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before his Triple Crown bid was derailed on the Friday before the Belmont Stakes with a tendon injury.

The all-time leader in wins at Santa Anita Park by a jockey is hall of fame rider Laffit Pincay with 2,860 wins. Bill Shoemaker leads all jockeys in stakes wins with 260.

The late Bobby Frankel leads all trainers with 917 wins. The leading active trainer is Ron McAnally with 697 victories. The late Charlie Whittingham tops the trainers list in stakes wins with 204.

The track runs each year from December to April.

Graded Stakes run at Santa Anita Park:

Grade 1 stakes:
Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap
La Brea Stakes
Las Virgenes Stakes
Malibu Stakes
Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Oaks
Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap

Grade 2 stakes:
Arcadia Handicap
Buena Vista Handicap
El Encino Stakes
Goldikova Stakes
La Canada Stakes
Palos Verdes Handicap
Potrero Grande Handicap
Providencia Stakes
Robert J. Frankel Memorial Handicap
San Antonio Handicap
San Carlos Handicap
San Felipe Stakes
San Fernando Stakes
San Gabriel Handicap
San Juan Capistrano Handicap
San Luis Obispo Handicap
San Luis Rey Handicap
San Marcos Stakes
San Pasqual Handicap
San Rafael Stakes
San Vicente Stakes
Santa Ana Handicap
Santa Barbara Handicap
Santa Catalina Stakes
Santa Maria Handicap
Santa Monica Handicap
Santa Ynez Stakes
Strub Stakes
Twilight Derby

Grade 3 stakes:
Autumn Miss Stakes
Baldwin Stakes
Carleton F. Burke Handicap
Daytona Handicap
Eddie D Stakes
El Conejo Handicap
La Habra Stakes
Las Cienegas Handicap
Las Flores Handicap
 Monrovia Handicap
San Simeon Handicap
Santa Ysabel Stakes
Sham Stakes
Sir Beaufort Stakes
Tokyo City Cup
Thunder Road Handicap
Tuzla Handicap