California Racing Faces Existential Threat as Bob Hope Stakes Fades Away
The cancellation of the Bob Hope Stakes, a Grade 3 race for 2-year-olds, has sent a chilling signal through the Southern California racing community, exposing deep-seated vulnerabilities in the state’s thoroughbred program. While the loss of a single race might seem insignificant on a national scale – with 192 Grade 3 races awarded in 2025 by the American Graded Stakes Committee – industry insiders warn the move represents a symptom of a much larger crisis.
California racing, increasingly isolated from the influence of the eastern establishment, is struggling to maintain prestige and attract investment. Losing any graded stakes race, even one named after a beloved comedian who lived to be 100, is a blow to the sport’s standing in the state. As one observer noted, the situation is “no joke.”
The Bob Hope, a 7-furlong event, was initially scheduled for November 16th but was ultimately canceled after failing to attract sufficient interest beyond the powerful stable of Bob Baffert. The decision was so definitive that the race was even removed from the official Del Mar stakes schedule – a move described by some as particularly disheartening.
The race’s history stretches back to its days as the Prevue Stakes at Hollywood Park, where it served as a launching pad for future stars like King Glorious, Olympio, and Eclipse Award champions Declan’s Moon and Shared Belief. Baffert himself dominated the Prevue, winning it six times, and continued his success at Del Mar, securing seven of the 11 Bob Hope Stakes run at the seaside track.
However, recent years have seen the Bob Hope’s field sizes dwindle, with numbers ranging from four to six horses in recent runnings. A concerning trend emerged: of the 18 horses that participated in the last four Bob Hope Stakes, a full 10 were trained by Baffert. Despite this, the race’s Grade 3 status had appeared secure, bolstered by the success of past competitors. The 2023 winners, Nysos and Stronghold, went on to claim victories in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the Santa Anita Derby (G1) respectively, while other graduates achieved success in major stakes races.
The cancellation, however, underscores a deeper issue: a lack of competitive balance within California’s 2-year-old division. According to a racing secretary, “We’re dealing with a very limited pool of 2-year-old winners.” This sentiment was echoed by trainer Peter Miller, who stated, “The racetracks out here have a problem, and they know it. One trainer dominating 2-year-old dirt racing with owners spending millions upon millions of dollars is not a healthy situation.”
Miller, along with other trainers, pointed to the dominance of Baffert and his well-funded patrons as a key factor. He clarified, “I don’t blame Bob at all. I would do the same thing he’s doing if I could. I blame the people allowing it to continue to happen.”
To combat this imbalance, some horsemen are exploring alternative strategies. Miller, for example, sent horses to Churchill Downs to compete in auction races – events restricted to horses sold for a specific price point – offering opportunities for smaller owners and trainers. His filly, Mo’ Em Down, found success in Kentucky, winning a maiden special weight with a $92,000 purse. This contrasted sharply with the situation at Santa Anita Park, where Baffert secured victory in a maiden race with the $900,000 filly Himika.
Miller advocates for a more widespread adoption of auction races within the California racing program, suggesting that half of all 2-year-old races should be structured in this manner. He believes this would create a more level playing field and encourage broader participation. A chart illustrating the prize money distribution between Baffert-trained horses and other trainers in California 2-year-old races would highlight the disparity.
Despite the challenges, California remains capable of producing world-class 2-year-olds. Super Runner, despite losing a maiden race to a Baffert filly, went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), while Mr. AP finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) after finishing behind Dirty Rich in a $150,000 maiden claimer.
However, the lack of depth in the division and the limited opportunities for new investors remain significant concerns. As Bob Hope himself once quipped, “When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things, not the great occasions, that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
Whether the Bob Hope Stakes will return remains uncertain. But it is clear that California racing must refocus on the fundamentals – like successfully running a 7-furlong stakes race for 2-year-olds in November – if it hopes to secure a sustainable future.
