Established in 1935, the Santa Anita Derby with a $1 million purse for three-year-old thoroughbreds is considered the most important West Coast race leading up to the Kentucky Derby. It is run at Santa Anita Park, which traditionally opens the day after Christmas and runs through the winter and spring. Each year the track hosts what it calls "the biggest Derby party west of Kentucky" on the day of the Kentucky race.

santaanita.com