Breeders' Cup Begins At Santa Anita Park

ARCADIA (CBSLA.com) — The Breeders' Cup World Championships will begin Friday at Santa Anita Park.

This is the third straight year the race will be held at the San Gabriel Valley venue.

"It's unprecedented. No track has held this race more than twice in a row," spokesman Brian Robin said. "It's really a feather in our cap."

The two-day racing event will start with four races, including Goldencents' attempt to defend his title in the $1 million Dirt Mile.

There will be nine races Saturday, concluding with the $5 million 1.25-mile  Breeders' Cup Classic, with a field including Southern California-based Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome and the undefeated Shared Belief.

"You're going to expect probably one of the greatest horse racing fields you're ever going to see," Robin added.

The races are estimated to bring approximately $65 million to the local economy, according to the LA Tourism & Convention Board.

Along with some of the biggest stars in horse racing, the event will include some Hollywood star power from singers Macy Gray, Joan Osborne, Toni Braxton and Kristin Chenoweth, who are part of the line-up for Saturday's Infield Music Fest, and musician Richie Sambora, who is set Saturday to sing the national anthem.

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