Santa Anita Derby (G1)
🐎 Santa Anita Derby (G1)
The Santa Anita Derby is one of the key prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and the premier West Coast stepping-stone toward Churchill Downs each spring. Held at historic Santa Anita Park, this Grade 1 race has long been a launching point for future champions.
2026 Race Details
Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026 — traditionally one of the final major prep races before the Kentucky Derby.
Location: Santa Anita Park – Arcadia, California
Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt, left-handed.
Age Qualification: Three-year-olds only.
Purse: $500,000 (Grade I).
Kentucky Derby Points: 100–50–25–15–10 to the top five finishers, making it a championship race with maximum points.
Because of its high point value, a win in the Santa Anita Derby almost always secures a place in the Kentucky Derby field and often reshapes the early Derby odds.
History & Prestige
First run in 1935, the Santa Anita Derby has been one of the most important preps for the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century and is widely regarded as the West Coast’s premier Derby prep race.
Over the decades, the race has produced multiple Kentucky Derby winners and major contenders. Historically, the winners include champions who went on to make deep Triple Crown runs.
Though the purse has varied over time, the Santa Anita Derby’s 1 1/8-mile distance and Grade I status have made it a consistent proving ground for elite three-year-olds.
Why It Matters
On the official Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Santa Anita Derby serves as one of the final major tests before Churchill Downs. Its April date positions it as an ideal last chance for contenders to earn big points and build momentum toward the Kentucky Derby.
The race also has a deep tradition of showcasing top Cal-bred and national competitors, and its results are often used by handicappers and fans to gauge which horses are ready for the classic distance of the Kentucky Derby.
Santa Anita Derby in the 2026 Prep Landscape
The Santa Anita Derby fits into the broader prep schedule as one of the final major points races before the Kentucky Derby, following earlier preps such as the San Felipe Stakes and Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. Many horses use Santa Anita’s prep series to develop form and earn qualifying points before challenging on the national stage.
Race Summary
Event: 2026 Santa Anita Derby (Grade I)
Date: April 4, 2026
Location: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA
Distance: 1 1/8 miles (dirt)
Eligibility: Three-year-olds
Purse: $500,000
Kentucky Derby Points: 100–50–25–15–10
