WINNER OF SANTA ANITA’S GII CHARLES WHITTINGHAM PRESENTED BY FANDUEL TV STAKES MAY 4 WILL RECEIVE AUTOMATIC ENTRY, TRAVEL INCENTIVE FOR ENGLAND’S HISTORIC GI CORAL-ECLIPSE STAKES AT SANDOWN PARK JULY 6

Agreement is part of a wider initiative designed to increase international participation between 1/ST Racing and the British Jockey Club

ARCADIA, CA (April 24, 2024)—Through a new partnership between 1/ST Racing and the British Jockey Club, the winner of Santa Anita’s GII, $200,000 Charles Whittingham Stakes presented by FanDuel TV on May 4 will receive an automatic entry into England’s GI Coral-Eclipse Stakes July 6 at Sandown Park. Nominations for the GII Charles Whittingham presented by FanDuel TV stakes close tomorrow, April 25.

The aim of the ground-breaking initiative, which also provides travel incentives, is to increase international participation in high-profile turf races at 1/ST-operated tracks in the U.S. and historic fixtures in the United Kingdom.

The winner of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, which was first run in 1886, will receive an automatic entry in Santa Anita’s GII, $750,000 California Crown John Henry Turf Championship Sept. 28. Previous winners of the 1 ¼-mile Coral-Eclipse include such luminaries as Enable, Golden Horn, Sea the Stars and Giant’s Causeway.

The partnership also links a pair of turf sprints from Santa Anita and the UK. The winner of England’s GI July Cup going six furlongs at Newmarket July 13 will receive an automatic berth in the GII, $750,000 California Crown Eddie D Turf Sprint Sept. 28 at Santa Anita.

“A special thank you to our friends at The Jockey Club on launching this innovative partnership. We look forward to welcoming in competitors to the inaugural California Crown at Santa Anita Park this autumn,” said 1/ST President Aidan Butler. “This partnership with The Jockey Club is part of our wider global strategy for improving international interest and top-class participation in the world’s biggest races - as evidenced by a similar alliance we have with Royal Ascot, via our Royal Palm juvenile series at Gulfstream Park, which delivered Crimson Advocate, the winner of the prestigious Queen Mary Stakes, in its inaugural year."

Matt Woolston, international director for the British Jockey Club, said, “We feel we have highlighted a race schedule that incentivizes runners to travel across the Atlantic.

“By pairing two of the UK’s most famous and prestigious Group One contests in the summer with a quartet of valuable North American turf contests in the spring and autumn, we feel we have the perfect race schedule for transatlantic runners. In addition, British and other European trainers now have the chance of an incentivised trip to North America in the autumn for races at Santa Anita Park’s exciting new California Crown meeting.”

Nominations for the Whittingham presented by FanDuel TV will be released Friday. Entries for the 1 ¼-mile turf test will be taken next Wednesday, May 1.