Hillside Turf Sprints Return at Santa Anita in Autumn

Grass sprints down Santa Anita Park's hillside turf course will return during the 16-day autumn meet there that begins Oct. 1, the track announced Sept. 8. The $200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2T) will be the first stakes race for turf sprinters to begin from the hillside turf course when contested opening day. Six-and-a-half-furlong races "down the hill" have not taken place at the California oval since March 2019, when the San Simeon Stakes (G3T), one such race, was marred by the breakdown of Arms Runner. His fatality came when Santa Anita was under intense scrutiny during a winter/spring meet in which 30 horses died from racing or training. Though the hillside course may not have contributed to Arms Runner's demise, officials pulled the plug on racing down the hill while they monitored racing conditions and public perception. The track has continued to start long turf routes on the hillside course before such runners join the primary turf course. In the fall of 2019, the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) were run at five furlongs on the primary turf course. Hillside races have long been popular with fans, providing a picturesque view of horses thundering down a grassy hill with slopes and bends before crossing the main dirt track and joining the primary turf course. During the past two years, the Eddie D Stakes—named for retired Hall of Fame rider Eddie Delahoussaye—has been run at distances shorter than 6 1/2 furlongs. The fall 2019 renewal came at five furlongs, starting on the backstretch of the turf course. Then last year, the race was at 5 1/2 furlongs out of a backstretch chute that Santa Anita built to accommodate longer grass sprints. Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of racing operations for 1/ST Racing, which operates Santa Anita, said the Eddie D will be one of four turf sprint stakes run on the course this fall at Santa Anita. "Our fans, horsemen, and Eddie Delahoussaye himself have told us they'd love to see a return to racing down this European-style course which has been unique to Santa Anita for more than six decades," he said in a release. Other grass sprints down the hill include the $75,000 Unzip Me Stakes Oct. 3, and a pair of California-bred stakes, the $100,000 California Distaff Handicap Oct. 16 and the $100,000 California Flag Handicap Oct. 17. In addition, selected allowance races will be run down the hillside throughout the meet, according to Santa Anita. The track will continue using its backstretch chute and main turf course, reducing strain on the hillside course. Besides the Eddie D, three other stakes will also be a part of the opening-day card, led by the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1). That 1 1/16-mile race serves as a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) Nov. 5 at Del Mar. Also Oct. 1, more 2-year-olds race in the $200,000 Chandelier Stakes (G2), another 1 1/16-mile dirt race that also proves its winner automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Nov. 5. In addition, for juveniles that afternoon at Santa Anita is the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes over five furlongs on turf, an official Challenge race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Nov. 5. Free admission and general parking are promotions for opening day. In all, Santa Anita will present 14 stakes over its initial weekend, Oct. 1-3, topped by the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), a Challenge event for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.