Oak Tree Day At Santa Anita On Oct. 5 – Plus $30,000 Cherry Tree With $5,000 Grand Prize
Featured On The Free Oak Tree Stein Are Legendary Santa Anita Performers Ancient Title, John Henry, Best Pal, Tiznow And Zenyatta
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Santa Anita Park in conjunction with the Oak Tree Racing Association will host Oak Tree Day on Oct. 5 featuring the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes, a free Oak Tree stein commemorating “Decades of Oak Tree Champions” and a $30,000 Cherry Tree with a $5,000 grand prize.
Highlighted on the free stein are legendary Santa Anita performers Ancient Title, John Henry, Best Pal, Tiznow, and Zenyatta. All five are enshrined in the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The free stein and prize draw on the Cherry Tree are available to members of Santa Anita’s 1/ST Rewards program. If not yet a member of 1/ST Rewards, patrons will be able to sign-up the day of the event at giveaway locations or by visiting the Rewards Center at Santa Anita.
Also as part of Oak Tree Day at Santa Anita, a “Best Turned Out” award will be presented after each race with the winning groom receiving a $500 cash prize.
The Oak Tree Racing Association was founded in 1969 by California horsemen as a non-profit corporation. Every year from1969 through 2010, Oak Tree hosted a race meet in the fall at Santa Anita with all profits going towards horse racing-related causes.
Oak Tree remains active to this day in helping to fund a variety of horse, horsemen, and horseracing related causes under its mantra “horsemen helping horsemen.” Oak Tree’s current board members are veterinarian Dr. Rick Arthur, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, and owners-breeders Tom Capehart and Bo Hirsch.
The Oak Leaf Stakes presented by Oak Tree is for 2-year-old fillies at one mile and one-sixteenth and is a Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup race. The Oak Leaf was an original Oak Tree stakes race in 1969 continuing until 2011. The race was run as the Chandelier Stakes from 2012 to 2023. The Oak Leaf will be supported by two other Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races on the card, the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds on dirt and $200,000 Rodeo Drive for fillies and mares on turf.
For additional information regarding Oak Tree Day at Santa Anita, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
