Rain-delayed Santa Anita opens 2025 season with 11 races, but lack of top horses and financial struggles threaten the sport’s future.

Rain-delayed opening day at Santa Anita features an 11-race card with six graded stakes, marking a pivotal start to California’s 2025 horse racing season. Despite notable races like the Malibu Stakes and Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes, the field lacks top-tier stars, with only two horses having Grade I wins. Declining purses and downgraded stakes reflect ongoing financial strain, as California tracks—now down to three—face challenges without casino revenue supplements. Efforts to boost lower-level races have had limited impact, and the sport’s future depends on attracting elite talent amid economic and political hurdles.