Live daytime racing comes back to Los Alamitos Race Course on September 5 through September 21 with an 11-day Fall meeting that will be highlighted by the Los Alamitos Mile on Saturday, September 6 and a pair of premier juvenile races to be held on September 13-14. The Los Alamitos Mile for 3-year-olds and upward on the dirt, could be used as a steppingstone for the Breeders’ Cup Classic to be held November 1.
One of the highlights during the opening weekend of the meet will be a public viewing of a workout by the highly popular Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome at Los Alamitos. Racing fans will be invited to view California Chrome’s workout in between races on Saturday, September 6, as he continues preparations towards a return to racing in September. California Chrome is schedule to be on the track between the third and fourth race on the Saturday card.
The three-week meeting will feature world class Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing with a 2 p.m. first post time each racing day. The action will typically consist of eight to nine Thoroughbred races to be followed by four to five Quarter Horse races, plus top class Arabian action. The meet’s opening weekend on September 5 through 7 will consist of racing on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The other two weeks of the meet will feature racing on a Thursday through Sunday basis. There will be no live racing Wednesday, Sept. 10 and Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The eight-race stakes schedule will feature the 25th running of the $100,000 Barretts Debutante for 2-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs on Saturday, September 13, and the $100,000 Barretts Juvenile for 2-year-old colts and geldings at 6 ½ furlongs on Sunday, September 14.
Other stakes events will include the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for 3-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs on opening day, September 5; the $75,000 Beverly Lewis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs on Saturday, September 6; and the $75,000 Orange County Stakes for 3 and up fillies and mares at 6 furlongs on Sunday, September 7. The entire stakes schedule is now available here.
The E.B. Johnston is named in honor of the late outstanding owner and breeder who operated Old English Rancho, one of California’s Leading Thoroughbred Farms now under the watchful eye of his son, Bud Johnston. Beverly Lewis and her late husband, Bob Lewis, campaigned Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners Silver Charm and Charismatic, as well as Eclipse Award winners Folklore, Orientate, Serena’s Song, and Timber Country, (owned in partnership with Gainesway and Overbrook Farm).
Closing weekend will feature a pair of stakes races – the $75,000 Katella Stakes at 6 furlongs for 3-year-olds and upwards on Saturday, September 20, and the $75,000 Las Madrinas Stakes for 3 and up fillies and mares at 1 1/8th of mile on Sunday, September 21.
“We’re very excited for the opportunity,’’ said Brad McKinzie, general manager of the Los Alamitos Thoroughbred Racing Association. “Our goal is to offer quality racing featuring the top horsemen in California, and our exciting stakes schedule promises to showcase many of the outstanding racehorses stabled in Southern California.’’
The Fall meeting is the second of three Thoroughbred meets that Los Alamitos will play host to in 2014. Los Alamitos hosted the Summer Festival from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 13 while the Winter session will be held Thursday, Dec. 4 and conclude on Sunday, Dec. 21. The Summer meet featured the victorious 2014 stakes debut of Eclipse Award winner Shared Belief in the Los Alamitos Derby.
Los Alamitos offers free general parking every day, daily $2 grandstand admission for seniors, and $3 grandstand admission. Every patron with a paid admission will also receive a complimentary voucher good for free admission at the Los Angeles County Fair while supplies last. For season seating, Vessels Club reservations, group events and general information, please call 714-820-2800 or visit losalamitos.com.
