Shaboozey, Lil Yachty & More Set to Perform at Inaugural California Crown Horse Race

Elite horse racing is coming to California — and the reigning champ of the Billboard Hot 100 will be there too.

Thoroughbred horse racing and entertainment company 1/ST announced Thursday (Aug. 8) that it’s partnering with The h.wood Group for the inaugural California Crown horse race next month. The event, which will take over Santa Anita Park on Saturday, Sept. 28, will feature performances by Shaboozey, Lil Yachty, Gryffin, Frank Walker, Zack Bia and more, Billboard can exclusively announce.

Shaboozey is riding high with his breakout hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which is in its fourth nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the Hot 100. Yachty’s most recent album, Let’s Start Here, debuted in the top 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200 last year and atop the Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums charts. A trio of DJs are on deck for the race as well, with Gryffin, Walker and Bia all lined up for sets on site, with more performers set to be announced.

The California Crown will be inspired by old Hollywood glamour and include experiences curated by Delilah, Funke by Chef Evan Funke and Wally’s. Additionally, Chrome Hearts has partnered with 1/ST as the Official Trophy Purveyor to create the California Crown championship trophy.

The California Crown marks the second race in 1/ST’s Grand 3 $25 million racing and incentive series, connecting Preakness 149, The California Crown and the 2025 Pegasus World Cup.

“The California Crown is the premier event Santa Anita Park has been waiting for!” Belinda Stronach, chairman and CEO of 1/ST, said in a press statement. “Working with partners like The h.Wood Group and Chrome Hearts, 1/ST has set the stage for a new California tradition for entertainment, lifestyle and hospitality to complement the best-in-class Thoroughbred racing and wagering synonymous with 1/ST and this iconic venue.”

John Terzian and Brian Toll, co-founders of The h.wood Group, added: “We are thrilled to partner with 1/ST for The California Crown, signaling a new era of premier race-day experiences through our luxury hospitality lens. We’ve wanted to bring something like this to the market for a long time now, and it’s an honor to infuse our signature approach to service into this moment alongside Belinda Stronach and the team at 1/ST – as well as a prestigious array of heritage Los Angeles brands much like us. We are excited to deliver a reimagined trackside experience at the intersection of sports, entertainment and the arts to the West Coast market.”

Tickets for the California Crown can be purchased here.