Huge Day Of Racing And Entertainment Set For Santa Anita Handicap Day Presented By Yaamava’ Resort & Casino On Saturday, March 1 At Santa Anita
Festivities include a vintage cap giveaway, Family Fun Zone, Mardi Gras and Chandelier Room parties, vintage motorcycle show, handicapping tournament and more
Santa Anita Release
ARCADIA, Calif. — As Santa Anita Park continues to celebrate its 90th anniversary season, the famed racetrack will be the place to be on Saturday, March 1 when it hosts Santa Anita Handicap Day presented by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino featuring world-class Thoroughbred racing and an array of other entertainment.
In addition to the historic Big ‘Cap, which was first run during Santa Anita’s inaugural season in 1934, the day’s festivities will include a Santa Anita vintage cap giveaway, Fiesta de Santa Anita & Family Fun Zone in the Infield, vintage motorcycle show, Mardi Gras Trackside party, handicapping tournament and a Big ‘Cap Party in the plush Chandelier Room.
The 1 ¼-mile Big ‘Cap for older horses will be one of four stakes on the card. Supporting the Grade I Big ‘Cap are the DK Horse San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds, which is a steppingstone to the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 1; Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile on turf and Grade II Buena Vista Stakes, which is for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.
The Santa Anita vintage cap giveaway is exclusively for members of Santa Anita’s 1/ST Rewards program, which is free to join. If not yet a member, attendees can sign-up on track on Big ‘Cap Day at the hat giveaway locations.
The Fiesta de Santa Anita in the Infield is an annual event that celebrates the rich heritage of Santa Anita’s local community with music, food and entertainment. It will include top pop-up vendors from across Los Angeles, Lucha Libre wrestling, folklorico dancers and mariachi, Michelada vendors and a Family Fun Zone that includes pony rides, jumpers, arts and crafts, and carnival games.
Admission to Fiesta de Santa Anita is just $5 and includes a free race program. Tickets can be purchased online or the day of the event at Santa Anita’s North Gate. Free parking is available at Gate 6 off Colorado Place.
Walk-up admission to the Family Fun Zone is $17 for adults with children under 17 free with a paid adult. You can also save online by purchasing a Family Fun 4-Pack at santaanita.com. The family pack includes four hot dogs, four chips, four sodas or waters, two unlimited jumper wristbands, two pony rides, two face paintings and two race programs.
The east end of the Infield will be the site of the popular Californian Vintage Motorcycle Show, which is free with paid admission.
As Big ‘Cap Day coincides with Mardi Gras, fans can also celebrate with a Mardi Gras Trackside party. Festivities will include a live blues band, Louisiana-style fare and more. Fans can save by purchasing Mardi Gras Trackside Starter Packages online at Santa Anita. You will receive admission, one Cajun entrée, one cocktail or soda, a $5 betting voucher and tip sheet, plus open grandstand seating.
Santa Anita’s elegant Chandelier Room will be the site of a Big ‘Cap Party with live music and more. Tickets are $35 and include access to Santa Anita’s famed Chandelier Room, one espresso martini crafted with Ketel One and access to fresh rolled cigars. You must be over 21 to attend the Chandelier Room’s Big ‘Cap Party.
For horseplayers, Big ‘Cap Day includes a handicapping tournament in the Player’s Room. The $6,000 Ultimate Betting Challenge is a live money tournament with $5,000 going to your bankroll and $1,000 going towards the prize pool. The tournament will feature races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park as part of the 1/ST Racing Tour. Four seats to next year’s National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas will also be up for grabs. Online registration for the Ultimate Betting Challenge will open 96 hours before the contest. Entries will beaccepted until 1:30 p.m. PT on Big ‘Cap Day.
In addition to the above activities, dining packages and reserved seats are also now available for Big ‘Cap Day. Optionsinclude a Big ‘Cap Buffet in the Frontrunner Restaurant overlooking the track, premium box seats, loge box seats and dining in Santa Anita’s Silks room.
Big ‘Cap Day is part of the 1/ST Racing Tour with the Coolmore Fountain of Youth program at Gulfstream Park. National coverage of the 1/ST Racing Tour will be shown on CNBC and Peacock from 1 to 4 p.m. PT. Full coverage of the day’s races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park will also be available on FanDuel TV.
The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 with races from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park will also be offered on Big ‘Cap Day. The popular bet features a player-friendly 15 percent takeout and is available to retail players only.
For more information on Big ‘Cap Day at Santa Anita and to purchase tickets, please visit Santaanita.com.
