The Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meet came to a close with Antonio Fresu and Tiago Pereira leading the jockey standings with 6 wins each, while Steve Knapp topped the trainer standings with 7 wins. The weekend stakes included quarter horse races such as the First Down Dash Handicap and the Southern California Derby.
Santa Anita has lowered its claiming prices for the upcoming season to create more races for displaced Northern California thoroughbreds. The California Horse Racing Board approved the decision to cancel meets at Pleasanton due to financial issues, leading to a consolidation of racing in the south.
Total betting handle on California races was down in November and year-to-date compared to 2023. Steve Knapp earned his first training title after a successful season at Los Alamitos. Highlights included Journalism winning the Los Alamitos Futurity and Empressum winning the Champion of Champions for quarter horses. The euthanization of Uncle Mo, a successful stallion, was also announced. The meet was a success despite challenges in the racing industry.
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