Every year horse racing fans have one final Christmas gift to unwrap when California racing celebrates opening day at Santa Anita Park.

The post-holiday kickoff marks the start of the winter-spring Classic meet at one of the country’s premier venues. 

The traditional opening day for the Santa Anita winter and spring racing is December 26th- Boxing Day, but this year the track delayed its launch until Sunday, December 28th, due to a forecast of heavy rain in the region during Christmas week.

The Classic Meet at The Great Race Place will continue on a mostly three-day-a-week basis — Fridays through Sundays plus holidays — until April 5th.

Racing at Santa Anita will then take a short break and continue with its spring Hollywood racing season from April 17th until June 14th.

Santa Anita plans to host 78 race dates, including the April to June part of the schedule.

Some of the highlights of the meets will be the running of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7th and the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4th.

In all, the track will host a total of 81 Stakes races worth $11.75 million dollars in purse money.

Sunday’s (opening day) first race Post Time is 11:00 Eastern Time and the card will feature six Graded Stakes races.

Best of luck to all that play, Santa Anita on opening day.