POPULAR CAL CUP RETURNS TO OAK TREE OCT. 3, FREE T-SHIRT AVAILABLE TO ALL FANS

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2009)—One of the most popular events on the Southern California racing calendar, the California Cup, a series of 10 races for California-bred horses with purses totaling $1 million, will be staged for the 20th time Saturday, Oct. 3, at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting.

All fans attending will receive a beautiful Cal Cup t-shirt with their paid admission and Oak Tree will guarantee $500,000 in the late Pick-4.

The afternoon’s racing figures to be highlighted by the $200,000 Cal Cup Classic, presented by City National Bank. The Classic is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

The Classic has been won in past years by such stalwarts as Charmonnier (1991), Best Pal (’93), Budroyale (’98), Sky Jack (2000), McCann’s Mojave (’05) and Bold Chieftain (’07). Last year’s Classic was taken by Great Friends Stable’s Mr. Chairman.

Post positions for Cal Cup XX will be drawn Wednesday morning at Santa Anita, and the post draw will be shown live on HRTV at approximately 10:30 a.m. Bennie “Chip” Woolley, trainer of the recently-arrived Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, will be on hand to assist with the Classic draw.

In addition to a full complement of Cal Cup horsemen, HRTV’s Jon White, who also doubles as Santa Anita’s odds-maker, will be available to assign a morning line to each Cal Cup Classic entrant.

Oak Tree’s 41st annual meeting will get underway at Santa Anita Wednesday, with first post time set for 1 p.m. All paid attendees will receive a collectors’ item Oak Tree stein, commemorating last year’s Breeders’ Cup Champions at Oak Tree.

There will be a special early first post time on Saturday of 12 noon. For more information on the California Cup, fans are encouraged to go to www.ctba.com., or to visit www.oaktreeracing.com.

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