Major stakes on tap during Santa Anita autumn meet

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Santa Anita Park will be offering live horse racing this autumn and the meeting will be highlighted by a half-dozen Breeders' Cup preview races. The 75-year-old track will conduct a fall meeting over a six-week period that concludes Sunday, November 6.

"This fall we will offer a comprehensive stakes schedule that will give our horsemen the opportunity to prepare for the Breeders' Cup, which we are pleased and honored to host in 2012," said Santa Anita Director of Racing, Mike Harlow. "Our horsemen are excited to be at Santa Anita this fall and we look forward to welcoming them."

The fall meeting replaces the traditional Oak Tree racing meet that had been held at Santa Anita Park beginning in 1969. Last year's Oak Tree meet was conducted at Hollywood Park while Santa Anita changed its main racing surface from synthetic to dirt.

The six Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" stakes are the $250,000 Norfolk Stakes for two-year-olds at 1 1/16-miles, the $250,000 Goodwood Stakes for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8-miles, the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/4-miles on turf, the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, the $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at 1 1/16-miles for two-year-old fillies and the $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes for three-year-olds and up at six-furlongs.

The winner of each Challenge race automatically qualifies for a corresponding Breeders' Cup race. This year's Breeders' Cup will held at Churchill Downs.