CYPRESS, CA—DECEMBER 4, 2016—The most anticipated Thoroughbred race in the 65-year history of Los Alamitos Race Course is set for Saturday, December 17th.

The world’s richest Thoroughbred—2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome—is scheduled to make his first start at the Orange County racetrack in the $100,000-guaranteed Winter Challenge December 17.

Trained by Art Sherman for Taylor Made Farm and co-breeder Perry Martin, California Chrome, who has has made Los Alamitos Race Course his home base for nearly three years, has won 15 of 25 and earned $14,452,650.

“It’s been a tremendous honor to have a worldwide star like California Chrome make Los Alamitos Race Course his home base,” said Brad McKinzie, vice president and general manager of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “For us to have the opportunity to see our hometown hero, California Chrome, race at Los Alamitos, it’s like an early Christmas present.”

The Winter Challenge, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles, will be the 5-year-old Lucky Pulpit horse’s final race in California and will serve as a prep for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park. The World Cup is scheduled to be California Chrome’s last start before he begins his stud career in Kentucky.

The Winter Challenge began to take form about a month ago when California Chrome’s trainer, Art Sherman, mentioned to Los Alamitos Race Course owner Dr. Ed Allred, that he wanted to get a race into Chrome before the 5-year-old horse’s career finale — the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.

Sherman told Allred he was looking for something a little more than a month out from the Pegasus. It just so happens that’s when Los Alamitos will run its third winter meet, beginning Dec. 8 and continuing through Dec. 18.

“Well, we’ll see if we can write a race for you,” Allred told Sherman.

McKinzie told the Los Angles Times the date for the race was an easy decision.

The track’s opening Saturday card for the Winter Thoroughbred meet already includes a pair of $300,000 Grade I races — the CashCall Futurity and the Starlet. That left only one other Saturday card for an eight-day meet.

“The two things that have helped us most of all was having California Chrome train here before the Kentucky Derby and then right off the bat we had Bob Baffert bring a large string of horses here,” McKinzie said. “Those two things gave us some instant credibility.”

The track, longtime known as the top Quarter Horse racetrack in the country, will gain even more credibility Dec. 17 when all eyes in theThoroughbred industry will be focused squarely on Los Alamitos and California Chrome.

"The more I thought about it, the more I thought we really owed it to (Allred), assistant trainer Alan Sherman told the Bloodhorse Daily. "If it wasn't for him (expanding the racetrack and stabling area to accommodate Thoroughbreds after the closure of Hollywood Park), we'd all be at San Luis Rey (Training Center) or Galway Downs—or out of business."