Merry Christmas 2024: Racing celebrates a happy holiday

White Christmas may be limited to the far northern reaches of Horse Racing Nation, but there have been plenty of social-media messages of celebration for the winter holiday from throughout the sport.

The nine races on Christmas Eve at Tampa Bay Downs were the last ones to be run in America until Thursday. That is unless the seven races starting Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. EST at Camarero in Puerto Rico are counted.

That does not mean there was no other Thoroughbred activity set for Christmas day and the first night of Hanukkah. Horses who tend not to be wired into the nuances of the human calendar got their usual TLC. Stable teams had a minimal presence Wednesday morning while many workers enjoyed a day off with their families.

International cards notwithstanding, U.S. racing resumes Thursday, most notably with opening day at Santa Anita featuring the return of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and the last three Grade 1 races of 2024. The National Weather Service forecast a partly sunny day with a 67-degree high in Arcadia, Calif.

Six other tracks host races Thursday. Afternoon cards are set for Gulfstream Park, where there is a 20% chance of showers with a high of 79 degrees; Mahoning Valley, partly sunny, 42; Fair Grounds, 20% chance of showers, 70; and Turf Paradise, sunny, 65. Night races are set for Turfway Park, cloudy, 42; and Penn National, clear, 23.