Posted by Buddy Iahn | Aug 8, 2024
California’s richest day of racing takes place at Santa Anita Park
1/ST, the innovative brand behind North America’s most prestigious Thoroughbred horse racing, entertainment and wagering events, in partnership with The h.wood Group, announces tickets are on sale for the inaugural California Crown taking place at Santa Anita Park, on Saturday, September 28th. California’s richest day of racing to feature VIP area trackside performances by Gryffin, Lil Yachty, Shaboozey, Frank Walker, Zack Bia and more.
The California Crown marks the second race in 1/ST’s Grand 3 $25 million racing and incentive series connecting Preakness 149, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup. The California Crown race day will offer $3 million in elevated purses, including the $1 million California Crown (GI) that will replace the Awesome Again Stakes for three-year-olds & up run on one and an eighth-mile. The day will also feature the $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf (GII) along with the $750,000 California Crown Eddie D. Turf Sprint (GII), taking place on Santa Anita Park’s famed downhill turf course featuring the only right-hand turn in American racing.
1/ST joins forces with Los Angeles-based hospitality and lifestyle marketing company The h.wood Group, known globally for its portfolio of luxury venues and working as one of the most reputable event producers in the world, to return Santa Anita Park to the era of old Hollywood glamor with luxury hospitality experiences curated by Delilah, Funke by Chef Evan Funke and Wally’s.
Chrome Hearts, a Los Angeles luxury goods company renowned for its sophisticated life-inspired designs, has partnered with 1/ST as the Official Trophy Purveyor to create the California Crown championship trophy.
The h.wood Group will create VIP spaces that deliver the elegance of one of their most beloved hotspots, Delilah. The Delilah Trackside Terrace Box Seats will feature a curated menu and an all-day sponsored open bar with dedicated access to wagering and views of the finish line and first turn.
For the ultimate experience located trackside at the finish line, the Delilah VIP Dining and Bottle Service Tables will feature Delilah’s signature gourmet food and beverage offerings with direct stage views of the live performances. Tables begin at $15,000.
1/ST has tapped acclaimed Chef Evan Funke to curate two unique and connected guest spaces. Funke Premium Box Seats will offer an all-inclusive upgraded race day experience with panoramic track views and the opportunity to see Chef Funke in action in an outdoor kitchen activation. As an exclusive bonus for Funke ticket holders, the VIP Mezzanine Experience Curated by Funke is an elevated lounge and concessions area that will feature unique partner activations, Funke-inspired culinary pop-ups and complimentary select beer, wine and spirits.
Combining race-day excitement with fine wines and gourmet culinary offerings, beloved Beverly Hills establishment Wally’s introduces Wally’s Experience at The California Crown, located balcony level at Santa Anita Park. Access to the open-air dining space includes an all-day menu featuring signature Wally’s California-French-inspired dishes with complimentary select beer, wine and spirits. Known for their coveted collection of revered wines from around the world, Wally’s Experience invites participating guests to enter “The Vault” with the option to pre-order rare wines from their coveted collection to enjoy on race day. Wally’s Experience offers wagering and access to the full park grounds.
Dedicated to ticket holders of the premium hospitality areas, Delilah, Funke, Wally’s and Luxury Suites, The California Crown Premium Compound is an exclusive VIP pop-up activation where guests will be able to mingle and experience complimentary food and beverage courtesy of the event’s culinary partners. Access to The California Crown Premium Compound is included with the purchase of a premium hospitality ticket.
Individual tickets for The California Crown are available for $25 for the General Admission Park Pass with access to the trackside apron, Exacta Eats food and concessions, the paddock gardens, wagering and multiple partner activations.
Fusing fashion with race day excitement, The California Crown will introduce a Photo Finish best-dressed competition open to all guests offering $25,000 in prizes and encouraging attendees to showcase their unique race day chic style.
1/ST’s Grand 3 $25 million racing and incentive series includes a $5 million bonus, in addition to the respective purses, to the winning owner(s) of the horse who wins the 149th Preakness Stakes (GI), The California Crown (GI) and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (GI). For turf stars, 1/ST will award a $2.5 million bonus to the connections who win the Dinner Party Stakes (GIII), The California Crown John Henry Turn (GII) and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (GII). While contenders are not yet confirmed, both owner bonuses are still in play for The California Crown race day.
Earlier this year, 1/ST introduced the 1/ST Grand 3 $5 Million Pick’ Em Challenge to successfully pick the first four finishers in order, for the 149th Preakness Stakes, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational. There are currently five entries that are still in the running for the $5 million grand prize after successfully selecting the superfecta in the Preakness Stakes. The Pick’ Em Challenge re-opens for submission on September 26th in advance of The California Crown with the $100,000 consolation prize still on the line.
1/ST BET, the official betting app of The California Crown, will provide an exclusive wagering offering to all attendees. Through advanced AI technology, the 1/ST BET app is designed to make betting more accessible, easy to understand, and fun for first-time wagerers and advanced handicappers alike.
First post for The California Crown on Saturday, September 28th is 12:30 pm PST. NBC Sports will produce a two-hour telecast beginning at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT airing on CNBC and Peaco*ck.
