The Santa Anita Racing Office has announced that the drawing for the Dec. 26 Opening Day race card, initially scheduled for today, Dec. 19, has been delayed until Sunday, Dec. 21. This decision comes in response to the incoming atmospheric river weather system expected to impact the area throughout next week, according to the Daily Racing Form.
The National Weather Service forecasts showers in Arcadia, California starting after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, continuing through Christmas Day, with no specific outlook available yet for Opening Day as of December 19.
Weather Underground predicts rain beginning Tuesday and lasting until Saturday, Dec. 27, with an estimated 6 inches of rainfall by Dec. 26 and near 20 inches expected on Friday, plus over 10 inches on Saturday.
Six stakes races are planned for Dec. 26, including three turf events: the Grade 1 American Oaks, which starts on a downhill turf course, the Grade 2 Matisse Smile, and the Grade 3 San Gabriel. The Grade 1 Malibu, La Brea, and Grade 2 Lafite Pincay S will be held on the main racetrack.
On Saturday, two turf stakes will run simultaneously—the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez and the one-mile Blue Noser Stakes—both on downhill turf courses. Sunday, Dec. 28, features the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel and Eddie Logan, both grass stakes races.
The race cards for Saturday and Sunday will be drawn on Monday, Dec. 22.
This update was first reported by the Paulick Report on December 19, 2025.
Fan Take: Weather delays like these underscore the challenges race organizers face in balancing safety and competition, especially during prime racing events. For horse racing fans, this news highlights how the sport’s adaptability can preserve exciting stakes races while ensuring optimal conditions for both horses and spectators.
