Sales

CTBA's rich yearling sale tradition traces to the 1940's and the association's inception of the prestigious Del Mar yearling sale. Having stood the test of time, the Del Mar sale is responsible for producing more than 200 stakes winners, from popular Silky Sullivan and T.V. Lark to more current stars Officer, Arabian Light, Go Go and Gourmet Girl. 

The Del Mar sale's reputation continues to escalate, as has the sale's average, up 37% in 2001 with the sale's average close to $44,000. With a host of stakes-winning graduates representing the seaside vendue in winner's circles from coast to coast, the Del Mar yearling sale is certain to be a fixture on CTBA's calendar for years to come.

Also, the recent increase in the California Incentive Program to over $12 million and $16 million in purses for races restricted to California breds has ignited a market demand for Cal-breds. 

Racing

It pays to breed and race California breds!
There has never been a better time to breed and race California-breds! With restricted purses worth more than $16 million, and valuable incentive awards available for breeders, owners and stallion owners totaling an additional $14 million, it truly does pay to race Cal-breds.
Each racing association in the state is required to offer at least one Cal-bred restricted race per day and allocate at least 10 percent of their total stakes dollars to Cal-bred restricted stakes. The latter has resulted in a stakes program that has 60 races with purses totaling more than $6 million.

By law, approximately 10 percent of the total incentive program revenues are allocated to the Cal-bred race fund. This fund is used to supplement Cal-bred stakes purses, including a large portion for Cal Cup purses, Cal-bred maiden allowance purses, and promotion of Cal-breds in general. The marquee event for Cal-breds each year is the California Cup. Each fall, CTBA co-sponsors Cal Cup Day in conjunction with the Oak Tree Racing Association and is held during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita. This celebratory event, inaugurated in 1990, is the highlight of the racing season for California breeders. All races on Cal Cup day are restricted to state breds and currently offer purses of more than $1.275 million to participants. This special day provides California breeders and owners an opportunity to showcase California's finest Thoroughbreds. Cal Cup also features an infield theme party, which includes a fantastic array of food, drink and entertainment in a festive atmosphere that everyone looks forward to each year with great anticipation. 

            There also is an annual spring celebration of the Cal-bred, Gold Rush Day, held each April at Hollywood Park. Gold Rush, which began in 2000, features 10 stakes races exclusively for Cal-breds with total purses of $1.25 million.

Through the years, California-breds have distinguished themselves in some of the nation's richest races against the best competition of their respective eras. Click here for a  list of the top Cal-bred money winners of all time.