Santa Anita’s opening day, featuring six graded stakes including the Malibu Stakes and the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes with Breeders’ Cup winner Nysos, signals a pivotal moment for California horse racing amid concerns about the sport’s future. While the quality of races and purses has declined compared to previous years—with notable cuts in stakes purses and race gradings—industry insiders remain cautiously optimistic. The consolidation of California racing at a few tracks following northern closures, along with increased purses for lower-level races, reflects efforts to sustain the sport despite economic challenges, including competition from states with casino revenue supplements.
The core issue facing California racing is financial viability, as smaller purses risk driving away top horses, trainers, and jockeys, potentially leading to less competitive fields and diminished betting interest, creating a downward spiral. Trainers like Bob Baffert and Mark Glatt lament the purse reductions and stakes downgrades, which they say hurt the quality of racing and wagering appeal. Yet, Santa Anita’s management and some trainers emphasize the still-solid horse population and the track’s historic prestige, suggesting that the coming months will reveal whether California racing can maintain its stature or continue to decline.
