the first race was held in 1935, just months after the track opened in late 1934, and the event was open to three-year-olds and up until 1969. the santa anita handicap instantly became one of the nation's top races because it offered a minimum purse of $100,000, then a staggering amount for a horse race. in its early years, the race was most commonly referred to among horsemen and racing media as the "hundred-grander." another nickname for the race dating back to that time, "the big 'cap," is still in regular use.