Horse racing column: Santa Anita opener marks the start of a pivotal year

ARCADIA — Opening day at Santa Anita shapes up as a fitting start to a season that could reveal the future of California horse racing.

The 11-race card Sunday – delayed two days by the rain – is packed with six graded stakes, including a competitive edition of the Malibu Stakes and the appearance of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos in the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes.

That means fans will get an early start on answering the question that looms over 2026, namely just how strong the...