2003 Cal-bred News

Sunshine Millions Set for Jan. 24

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2003) -- The second annual $3.6 million Sunshine Millions, the richest day of thoroughbred racing in state-bred history, will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Once again, it will showcase horses from two of the country's best Thoroughbred breeding states, California and Florida, in a head-to-head competition.

Sunshine Millions will be televised live nationally on NBC Sports from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (ET).

Last year's Sunshine Millions proved to be a success for both states in terms of attendance and handle at the two host tracks. Total handle from all sources at Gulfstream and Santa Anita exceeded $35 million and approximately 36,000 fans witnessed the races live at the two tracks.

Both tracks recorded sizeable on-track attendance and total handle increases from the comparable Saturday in 2002. Santa Anita’s Sunshine Millions Day attendance represented a 36 percent increase and total handle jumped 29 percent. At Gulfstream Park, total handle increased by 32 percent and on-track attendance was up 14 percent.

In addition to full and competitive fields in the eight races, both tracks presented a wide assortment of entertainment activities ranging from skydivers and live concerts to themed beach parties and cheerleaders.

Eighty-nine Thoroughbreds from California and Florida contested the eight races at the MEC sister tracks 2,700 miles apart.

David Flores was the only jockey to win two Sunshine Millions races. Flores rode California-bred Adminniestrator to victory in the $500,000 Barretts/CTBA Turf, the first Sunshine Millions race at Santa Anita, and Atlantic Ocian in the $250,000 John Deere Oaks.

Best of the Rest, an 8-year-old Florida-bred, ran off with the day’s biggest prize, the $1 million Ocala Breeders Sales Classic at Gulfstream Park.

Jerry Bailey traveled from his Florida base to California to ride Smok'n Frolic, the winner of the $750,000 Vessels Stallion Farm Distaff. Smok’n Frolic, a Florida-bred and 9-5 favorite, overtook front-running Cal-bred Cee’s Elegance in the stretch and went on to win the 1 1/16-mile race by 2 ½ lengths.

For more information on Sunshine Millions, visit http://www.sunshinemillions.com.