The 2012 and 2013 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be hosted at Santa Anita Park in California, set against the picturesque San Gabriel Mountains. (Photo courtesy of the Breeders' Cup)

By Beth Whisman

All sports teams lucky enough to have a historic venue believe their team's home is the best.

For horse racing fans, you must attend the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The twin spires are iconic, and as a Kentucky native, I admit to bragging about the Derby every year to anyone who will listen. But there is another track that many fans and most owners, trainers and jockeys would say trumps the Louisville landmark. 

They call it "The Great Race Place," and Santa Anita Park is next on my bucket list of places to visit. 

While chatting with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith last fall during the 2011 Breeders' Cup in Kentucky, he urged our team to visit the Art Deco beauty in Southern California. I figured the recommendation doesn't get any better than that ... so we saved our pennies and here we go!

I'll have to see if the sun shines as brightly there as it does on "My Old Kentucky Home." 

Follow us this week here on WJBC.com and @DerbyShow on Twitter to share in the experience!

We'll have photos, videos, interviews from the famous Clocker's Corner and of course our free handicapping picks. If we hit a big Pick 6, we'll take a few of you back to Santa Anita for next year's Breeders' Cup!

--Beth

P.S. Did I mention Tony Bennett will be here to perform? "The Best is Yet to Come" is this year's theme for the BC World Championships (see video).  Let's hope they're right about that!