In terms of pure speed, there was no better race in 2024 than the Jaipur Strakes.

The largest opening-day crowd in eight years ushered in Santa Anita Park’s 90th year Dec. 26, joining horseplayers around the world in betting on the races with a total all-sources mutuel handle of more than $21.4 million.  

Merriebelle Stable and Resolute Racing’s grade/group 1-winning turf mare Didia, who was being pointed to a title defense in the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) next month, will not make that event.

Five years after Spendthrift Farm’s Omaha Beach landed grade 1 glory in the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, the sire’s daughter Kopion brought home the holiday cheer with a commanding victory Dec. 26 in the La Brea Stakes (G1).

After winning the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) in October, Lael Stables’ She Feels Pretty notched a follow-up top-level stakes victory in the Dec. 26 American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

Flavien Prat broke Jerry Bailey’s 19-year-old record for graded stakes wins in a season, scoring his 56th aboard King of Gosford in the Mathis Mile Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park. Also Thursday, Johannes took the San Gabriel Stakes (G2T).

Trainer Doug O’Neill won the newly renamed Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes (G2) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park—just not with the horse the public expected. Former claimer J B Strikes Back scored an upset at 16-1 odds.

Merriebelle Stable and Resolute Racing’s grade/group 1-winning turf mare Didia, who was being pointed to a title defense in the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) next month, has been retired.

Raging Torrent knocked down the first grade 1 win of his career in taking a fourth straight race at the seven-furlong distance when he won the Malibu Stakes (G1) Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority proposed changing how it assesses to costs to the racing states to a per-starts only method, instead of a combination of starts and purses. The new per-start method goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026.