Santa Anita Park
Encyclopedia
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred
racetrack in Arcadia, California
, United States
. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains
, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race track. The beauty of Santa Anita is captured in the photographs by Karen Davis in her book: "Santa Anita Morning Rhapsody". The track is home to numerous prestigious races including both the Santa Anita Derby
and the Santa Anita Handicap
. In 2010, Santa Anita's ownership was moved to MI Developments Inc. (MID). Trevor Denman
is the track announcer.
. It was designed in the art deco
style by architect Gordon B. Kaufman. Originally part of "Rancho Santa Anita
", owned originally by former San Gabriel Mission Mayor-Domo, Claudio Lopez, named after a family member "Anita Cota". The ranch was later acquired by rancher, Hugo Reid
, a Scotsman. Later, it would be owned by Gold prospector Lucky Baldwin
. He initially founded a racetrack adjacent to the present site in what is today, Arcadia, outside of the city of Los Angeles
in the 1904 but it closed in 1909 and burned in 1912.
In 1933, California legalized parimutuel wagering and several investor groups worked to open racetracks. In the San Francisco area, a group headed by Dr. Charles H "Doc" Strub
was having trouble locating a site. In the Los Angeles area a group headed by movie producer Hal Roach
was in need of further funds. These two groups combined and the newly-formed Los Angeles Turf Club reopened the track on Christmas Day in 1934. In February 1935, the first Santa Anita Handicap
was run. The race's $100,000 purse, the largest of any race ever in the United States until that time, produced its nickname the Big 'Cap.
Under the leadership of Doc Strub, Santa Anita initiated many innovations that are standard in today's thoroughbred horse racing such as the use of starting gates and photo finishes for every race. It is interesting to note that the implementation of photo finishes at Santa Anita actually recorded an increase in dead heats. Santa Anita was so successful that in its first year under Doc Strub's leadership, it paid its investors a 100% dividend on their investment.
In 1940, Seabiscuit
won the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start. "The Story of Seabiscuit" with Shirley Temple
was filmed there . Two years later, in 1942, racing at Santa Anita was suspended due to the Second World War. From 1942 to 1944, Santa Anita was used as a Japanese American internment
center with up to 17,000 people living in horse stables, including actor George Takei
. After the track reopened in 1945, it went through the postwar years with prosperity. A downhill turf course, which added a distinctly European flair to racing at Santa Anita, was added in 1953.
A record 61,123 people showed up for the 1958 Santa Anita Derby, making the attendance that day a record crowd. They'd come to watch Silky Sullivan
come from 28 lengths off the pace and win—going away.
The 1960s brought about a major renovation of Santa Anita Park, including a much-expanded grandstand as well as major seating additions. In 1968, Del Mar Racetrack
relinquished its dates for a fall meeting. A group of horsemen including Clement Hirsch
intervened and established the not-for-profit Oak Tree Racing Association
. Oak Tree had no facilities of its own and rented Santa Anita Park for its first autumn meeting in 1969. The Oak Tree Association has since become the operator of the autumn meet at Santa Anita Park. This meet usually runs from the end of September until early November. Many key stakes races are held during the Oak Tree Meeting, including many preps to the Breeders' Cup
races. Oak Tree has been given the privilege of holding the Breeders' Cup
itself on five occasions: 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008, and 2009. The Oak Tree meet relocated to Hollywood Park for 2010 and the track has agreed to host a meet in 2011.
Prosperity continued at Santa Anita throughout the 1970s and the 1980s. In 1984, Santa Anita was the site of equestrian
events at the 1984 Olympics
. The following year, the track set an attendance record of 85,527 people on Santa Anita Handicap Day. However, recognizing the potential revenue boon to the State of California, the California Legislature expanded off track betting, bring operating betting parlors with in closer driving distance of the race-day tracks. While the Santa Anita meeting could still draw large crowds, attendance had decreased by a third. Only 56,810 people were at the park for Santa Anita Derby Day 2007 to witness a Grade I event.
The Seabiscuit statue was hand tooled by Frank Buchler, a German immigrant the owner of Washington Ornamental Iron Company Los Angeles. Washington Ornamental Iron Company built all the facilities.
In 1997, Santa Anita Park was acquired by Meditrust when it purchased the Santa Anita Companies for its unique Real Estate Investment Trust
paired share corporate structure. Following the elimination of the special tax treatment accorded Pair Share REITS, Meditrust sold the track to Magna Entertainment Corp. Magna still owns Santa Anita Park. In 2006, Gulfstream Park
and Santa Anita cohosted the Sunshine Millions
, a day of competition with $3.6 million in stakes races between horses bred in the State of Florida
and those bred in the State of California
.
In 2006, there was a proposal to close Santa Anita Park and use its location as the site of a new retail/entertainment complex. This proposal was soundly defeated when the adjacent Westfield Santa Anita Mall (built in 1974 on the site of the old barns and training track) began its expansion, and due to the continuing popularity of the racetrack. In April 2008, a plan was approved to use large parts of the existing track parking lot to construct another mall. The "Shops at Santa Anita" were planned to open in 2010, no ground has been broken for the project, but it tentively scheduled for 2012
Due to its proximity to Los Angeles, Santa Anita has traditionally been associated with the film and television industries. The racetrack sequences in the Marx Brothers
classic A Day at the Races
were filmed there, and many stars, including Bing Crosby
, Spencer Tracy
, Errol Flynn
, Alex Trebek
, and MGM mogul, Louis B. Mayer
, have owned horses that raced there.
At Santa Anita Park's European-style paddock there are statue
s of jockeys George Woolf
, Johnny Longden
, Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay, Jr.
plus a memorial bust
of announcer Joe Hernandez
and one of trainer Charlie Whittingham
with his dog, Toby. There is also a lifesize bronze of Seabiscuit
in the walking ring at Seabiscuit Court; a similar bronze of John Henry
was unveiled near the Seabiscuit statue in December 2009. Buried near the paddock is Emperor of Norfolk
, the best horse Lucky Baldwin ever owned, along with three other great Baldwin horses: Volante, Silver Cloud, and Rey El Santa Anita, all four of them winners of the prestigious American Derby
.
Since 1950, Santa Anita Park has annually presented the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
to a rider who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.
South Africa
n native Trevor Denman
has served as the track announcer at Santa Anita since 1983. Denman is noted for his calls beginning with "And awaaay they go..."
Santa Anita has a one-mile (1,609 m) natural dirt main track which rings a turf course measuring 9/10 of a mile, or 7 furlongs plus 132 feet (1,448 m). In addition, it has an unusual hillside turf course which crosses the dirt and is used mainly to run turf races at a distance of "about" 6½ furlongs (exact distance 64½ feet [19.7 m] less than same, or 1,288 m). This type of track is one of the few of its kind in America.
To comply with a State of California mandate, Santa Anita replaced its dirt racing surface with a new synthetic surface called Cushion Track, a mixture of silica sand, synthetic fibers, elastic fiber, granulated rubber and a wax coating. The new Cushion Track opened for training on Sept 4, 2007 and hosted its first live race on Sept 26, 2007. The track lost 11 racing dates in 2008 due to a drainage problem with the new material, but intensive maintenance and the addition of a liquid binder greatly improved the artificial surface. Santa Anita replaced the artificial surface with a return to an all natural dirt surface in December 2010.
Santa Anita occupies 320 acres (1.3 km²). It has a 1100 feet (335.3 m)-long grandstand, which is a historic landmark that seats 26,000 guests. The grandstand is done in an Art Deco
style and is the original facade from the 1930s. The track infield area, which resembles a park with picnic tables and large trees, can accommodate 50,000 or more guests. The Park also contains 61 barns, which house more than 2,000 horses, and an equine hospital.
in 2006, but continued to be threatened by developer's plans. A themed entertainment complex proposal was aborted, but there were new plans are in the works for the parking and support areas adjacent to the historic race track and grandstands.
The Arcadia City Council approved a plan In April 2007 to develop an 830,000 square foot commercial, retail, and office complex in the south parking area, where the barracks that housed interned Japanese Americans during WWII are located. The proposal planned to tear down the South Ticket Gate and the 1938 Saddling Barn, and to install a simulcast facility in the center of the historic grandstand. As of May 2011, plans to build another mall next to Santa Anita Park were abandoned. Protests against the project by the Westfield group, owner of a mall adjacent to the racetrack, were named as a major factor in halting the building plans. Magna International
, owner of Santa Anita Park, has declared bankruptcy.
(HRTV) is a 24-hour television based multimedia network dedicated to horseracing which features racing action from many of the sport's greatest racetracks around the world.
HRTV broadcasts live from Santa Anita Park.
Expert American
television personality commentators employed by HRTV):
Grade I stakes:
Grade II stakes:
Grade III stakes:
Ungraded stakes
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racetrack in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race track. The beauty of Santa Anita is captured in the photographs by Karen Davis in her book: "Santa Anita Morning Rhapsody". The track is home to numerous prestigious races including both the Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
and the Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
. In 2010, Santa Anita's ownership was moved to MI Developments Inc. (MID). Trevor Denman
Trevor Denman
Trevor Denman is an American sportscaster and public-address announcer specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing.Denman was born in Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa...
is the track announcer.
History
Santa Anita Park was opened on December 25, 1934 and is the oldest racetrack in Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. It was designed in the art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style by architect Gordon B. Kaufman. Originally part of "Rancho Santa Anita
Rancho Santa Anita
Rancho Santa Anita was a land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given to Perfecto Hugo Reid. The land grant was formally recognized by Governor Pio Pico in 1845. The land grant covered all or portions of the present day cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and San...
", owned originally by former San Gabriel Mission Mayor-Domo, Claudio Lopez, named after a family member "Anita Cota". The ranch was later acquired by rancher, Hugo Reid
Hugo Reid
Hugo Reid was a resident of Los Angeles, California who wrote a series of newspaper letters that described the culture, language, and modern circumstances of the local Gabrieliño Indians and criticized their treatment under the Franciscan mission system.-Life:Born in 1809 or 1810 in Cardross,...
, a Scotsman. Later, it would be owned by Gold prospector Lucky Baldwin
Lucky Baldwin
Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin was a prominent California businessman and investor of the second half of the 19th century.-Biography:...
. He initially founded a racetrack adjacent to the present site in what is today, Arcadia, outside of the city of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the 1904 but it closed in 1909 and burned in 1912.
In 1933, California legalized parimutuel wagering and several investor groups worked to open racetracks. In the San Francisco area, a group headed by Dr. Charles H "Doc" Strub
Charles H. Strub
Dr. Charles Henry Strub was an American dentist and entrepreneur who built and owned Santa Anita Park racetrack in Arcadia, California and was president and partner of the San Francisco Seals baseball club of the Pacific Coast League.Charles Strub was born in Hollister, California as the only...
was having trouble locating a site. In the Los Angeles area a group headed by movie producer Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
was in need of further funds. These two groups combined and the newly-formed Los Angeles Turf Club reopened the track on Christmas Day in 1934. In February 1935, the first Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
was run. The race's $100,000 purse, the largest of any race ever in the United States until that time, produced its nickname the Big 'Cap.
In 1940, Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
won the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start. "The Story of Seabiscuit" with Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
was filmed there . Two years later, in 1942, racing at Santa Anita was suspended due to the Second World War. From 1942 to 1944, Santa Anita was used as a Japanese American internment
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
center with up to 17,000 people living in horse stables, including actor George Takei
George Takei
George Hosato Takei Altman is an American actor, author, social activist and former civil politician. He is best known for his role in the television series Star Trek and its film spinoffs, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the...
. After the track reopened in 1945, it went through the postwar years with prosperity. A downhill turf course, which added a distinctly European flair to racing at Santa Anita, was added in 1953.
A record 61,123 people showed up for the 1958 Santa Anita Derby, making the attendance that day a record crowd. They'd come to watch Silky Sullivan
Silky Sullivan
Silky Sullivan was an American thoroughbred race horse best known for his come-from-behind racing style...
come from 28 lengths off the pace and win—going away.
The 1960s brought about a major renovation of Santa Anita Park, including a much-expanded grandstand as well as major seating additions. In 1968, Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
relinquished its dates for a fall meeting. A group of horsemen including Clement Hirsch
Clement L. Hirsch
Clement Lang Hirsch was an American businessman and a prominent Thoroughbred racehorse owner who co-founded Oak Tree Racing Association....
intervened and established the not-for-profit Oak Tree Racing Association
Oak Tree Racing Association
The Oak Tree Racing Association is an American not-for-profit corporation that exists to conduct live thoroughbred horse racing in Southern California.-History:...
. Oak Tree had no facilities of its own and rented Santa Anita Park for its first autumn meeting in 1969. The Oak Tree Association has since become the operator of the autumn meet at Santa Anita Park. This meet usually runs from the end of September until early November. Many key stakes races are held during the Oak Tree Meeting, including many preps to the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
races. Oak Tree has been given the privilege of holding the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
itself on five occasions: 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008, and 2009. The Oak Tree meet relocated to Hollywood Park for 2010 and the track has agreed to host a meet in 2011.
Prosperity continued at Santa Anita throughout the 1970s and the 1980s. In 1984, Santa Anita was the site of equestrian
Equestrian at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The Equestrian Events at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics included Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. All three disciplines had both individual and team competitions.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:*...
events at the 1984 Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
. The following year, the track set an attendance record of 85,527 people on Santa Anita Handicap Day. However, recognizing the potential revenue boon to the State of California, the California Legislature expanded off track betting, bring operating betting parlors with in closer driving distance of the race-day tracks. While the Santa Anita meeting could still draw large crowds, attendance had decreased by a third. Only 56,810 people were at the park for Santa Anita Derby Day 2007 to witness a Grade I event.
In 1997, Santa Anita Park was acquired by Meditrust when it purchased the Santa Anita Companies for its unique Real Estate Investment Trust
Real estate investment trust
A real estate investment trust or REIT is a tax designation for a corporate entity investing in real estate. The purpose of this designation is to reduce or eliminate corporate tax. In return, REITs are required to distribute 90% of their taxable income into the hands of investors...
paired share corporate structure. Following the elimination of the special tax treatment accorded Pair Share REITS, Meditrust sold the track to Magna Entertainment Corp. Magna still owns Santa Anita Park. In 2006, Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
and Santa Anita cohosted the Sunshine Millions
Sunshine Millions
The Sunshine Millions is a series of American races for thoroughbred horses held in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California or at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida...
, a day of competition with $3.6 million in stakes races between horses bred in the State of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and those bred in the State of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
In 2006, there was a proposal to close Santa Anita Park and use its location as the site of a new retail/entertainment complex. This proposal was soundly defeated when the adjacent Westfield Santa Anita Mall (built in 1974 on the site of the old barns and training track) began its expansion, and due to the continuing popularity of the racetrack. In April 2008, a plan was approved to use large parts of the existing track parking lot to construct another mall. The "Shops at Santa Anita" were planned to open in 2010, no ground has been broken for the project, but it tentively scheduled for 2012
Due to its proximity to Los Angeles, Santa Anita has traditionally been associated with the film and television industries. The racetrack sequences in the Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
classic A Day at the Races
A Day at the Races (film)
Further reading* Elisabeth Buxbaum: Veronika, der Lenz ist da. Walter Jurmann – Ein Musiker zwischen den Welten und Zeiten. Mit einem Werkverzeichnis von Alexander Sieghardt. Edition Steinbauer, Wien 2006, ISBN 3-902494-18-2-External links:*...
were filmed there, and many stars, including Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
, Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...
, Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek
George Alexander "Alex" Trebek is a Canadian American game show host who has been the host of the game show Jeopardy! since 1984, and prior to that, he hosted game shows such as Pitfall and High Rollers. He has appeared in numerous television series, usually as himself...
, and MGM mogul, Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
, have owned horses that raced there.
At Santa Anita Park's European-style paddock there are statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
s of jockeys George Woolf
George Woolf
George Monroe Woolf , nicknamed "The Ice Man", was a Canadian-born thoroughbred race horse jockey and the namesake of the annual jockey's award given by the United States Jockeys' Guild....
, Johnny Longden
Johnny Longden
John Eric Longden was an American Hall of Fame jockey. He was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England but his father wanted to build a better life for his family so in 1909 emigrated to Canada, settling in Taber, Alberta. By 1912 Longden Sr. had saved enough money to send for his wife and young son...
, Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Laffit Alejandro Pincay, Jr. is a flat racing's all-time winningest jockey. He competed primarily in the United States.-Career:...
plus a memorial bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of announcer Joe Hernandez
Joe Hernandez (race caller)
Joe Hernandez was the voice of Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, from the time the track opened on Christmas Day 1934 until he fainted at the microphone on January 27, 1972. During that time he called an incredible 15,587 races in a row...
and one of trainer Charlie Whittingham
Charlie Whittingham
Charles Edward Whittingham was an American thoroughbred race horse trainer who is one of the most acclaimed trainers in U.S. racing history....
with his dog, Toby. There is also a lifesize bronze of Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
in the walking ring at Seabiscuit Court; a similar bronze of John Henry
John Henry (horse)
John Henry was an American Thoroughbred race horse who had 39 wins, with $6,591,860 in earnings. He was twice voted the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year in 1981 and 1984, with his 1981 selection is the only one whereby the victor received all votes cast for that award. John Henry was also...
was unveiled near the Seabiscuit statue in December 2009. Buried near the paddock is Emperor of Norfolk
Emperor of Norfolk
Emperor of Norfolk was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. Because he was big with huge hindquarters and because of his stellar racing record, he was called the "California Wonder."-Going to California:...
, the best horse Lucky Baldwin ever owned, along with three other great Baldwin horses: Volante, Silver Cloud, and Rey El Santa Anita, all four of them winners of the prestigious American Derby
American Derby
The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at the city's old Washington Park race track and raced there until 1905 when the facility was closed and the track demolished....
.
Since 1950, Santa Anita Park has annually presented the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
The George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award has been presented by Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, annually since 1950 to the thoroughbred horse racing jockey in North America who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.The award was created...
to a rider who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.
South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n native Trevor Denman
Trevor Denman
Trevor Denman is an American sportscaster and public-address announcer specializing in Thoroughbred horse racing.Denman was born in Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa...
has served as the track announcer at Santa Anita since 1983. Denman is noted for his calls beginning with "And awaaay they go..."
Physical attributes
To comply with a State of California mandate, Santa Anita replaced its dirt racing surface with a new synthetic surface called Cushion Track, a mixture of silica sand, synthetic fibers, elastic fiber, granulated rubber and a wax coating. The new Cushion Track opened for training on Sept 4, 2007 and hosted its first live race on Sept 26, 2007. The track lost 11 racing dates in 2008 due to a drainage problem with the new material, but intensive maintenance and the addition of a liquid binder greatly improved the artificial surface. Santa Anita replaced the artificial surface with a return to an all natural dirt surface in December 2010.
Santa Anita occupies 320 acres (1.3 km²). It has a 1100 feet (335.3 m)-long grandstand, which is a historic landmark that seats 26,000 guests. The grandstand is done in an Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style and is the original facade from the 1930s. The track infield area, which resembles a park with picnic tables and large trees, can accommodate 50,000 or more guests. The Park also contains 61 barns, which house more than 2,000 horses, and an equine hospital.
Endangerment and reprieve
In 2000, the racetrack was named to America's "Most Endangered Historic Places" list. The Santa Anita Racetrack was listed in the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2006, but continued to be threatened by developer's plans. A themed entertainment complex proposal was aborted, but there were new plans are in the works for the parking and support areas adjacent to the historic race track and grandstands.
The Arcadia City Council approved a plan In April 2007 to develop an 830,000 square foot commercial, retail, and office complex in the south parking area, where the barracks that housed interned Japanese Americans during WWII are located. The proposal planned to tear down the South Ticket Gate and the 1938 Saddling Barn, and to install a simulcast facility in the center of the historic grandstand. As of May 2011, plans to build another mall next to Santa Anita Park were abandoned. Protests against the project by the Westfield group, owner of a mall adjacent to the racetrack, were named as a major factor in halting the building plans. Magna International
Magna International
Magna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
, owner of Santa Anita Park, has declared bankruptcy.
HRTV personalities
Horse Racing TVHorse Racing TV
HRTV is a 24-hour television based multimedia network dedicated to horseracing which features racing action from many of the sport's greatest racetracks around the world. HRTV also features other forms of equestrian competition, as well as original programming and award-winning documentaries...
(HRTV) is a 24-hour television based multimedia network dedicated to horseracing which features racing action from many of the sport's greatest racetracks around the world.
HRTV broadcasts live from Santa Anita Park.
Expert American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television personality commentators employed by HRTV):
- Kurt Hoover (1988–present)
- Jon White (1993–present) White writes a weekly column that is accessible at xpressbet.com and hrtv.com as well as an oddsmaker for Santa Anita Park.
- Becky Witzman (2004–2006)
- Carolyn Conley (1996–2002)
- John DeSantis (1996–2002)
- Jay Privman (1996–2002)
- Bill SewardBill SewardBill Seward is an award-winning member of the staff at KNBC-TV, as a sports anchor for the Channel 4 News, with additional appearances on MSNBC, CNBC and “Early Today” on NBC...
(1988–2002) Seward was voted "Top Sports Update Anchor" by the Los Angeles Daily News and can be seen on the TVG network, hosting thoroughbred horse racing coverage.
Racing
Major races hosted by Santa Anita Park are (listed by grade, then year inaugurated):Grade I stakes:
- Frank E. Kilroe Mile HandicapFrank E. Kilroe Mile HandicapThe Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to horses four years of age and older, it is raced over a distance of one mile . The Grade I race currently offers a purse of $300,000.Inaugurated in 1960 as...
(1960) - La Brea StakesLa Brea StakesThe La Brea Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1974 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies, it was raced over a distance of seven furlongs on dirt until the track's new synthetic Cushion Track surface was installed in time for the...
(1974) - Las Virgenes StakesLas Virgenes StakesThe Las Virgenes Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade I event run at a distance of one mile on dirt, it is open to three-year-old fillies and currently offers a purse of $250,000.-Records:Speed record:*...
(1981) - Malibu StakesMalibu StakesThe Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
(1952) - Santa Anita DerbySanta Anita DerbyThe Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
(1935) - Santa Anita HandicapSanta Anita HandicapThe Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
(1935) - Santa Anita OaksSanta Anita OaksSanta Anita Oaks is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to three-year-old fillies willing to race 8.5 furlongs on the dirt, it currently offers a purse of $300,000.Inaugurated in 1935 as a race for two-year-olds,...
(1935) - Santa Margarita Invitational HandicapSanta Margarita Invitational HandicapThe Santa Margarita Invitational Handicapis an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- Santa Monica HandicapSanta Monica HandicapThe Santa Monica Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
Grade II stakes:
- Arcadia HandicapArcadia HandicapThe Arcadia Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to horses four years of age and older, it is raced on turf over a distance of one mile...
- Buena Vista HandicapBuena Vista HandicapThe Buena Vista Handicap is an annual race for Thoroughbred horses held early in the year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race one mile on the turf, it is a Grade II event....
- El Encino StakesEl Encino StakesThe El Encino Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to four-year-old fillies, it is raced over a distance of 1/16 miles on the synthetic Cushion Track surface...
- La Canada StakesLa Canada StakesThe La Cañada Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- Palos Verdes HandicapPalos Verdes HandicapThe Palos Verdes Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event, it is open to horses age four and up, willing to race six furlongs on dirt. It carries a purse of $150,000.In 1971, the Palos Verdes...
- Potrero Grande Handicap
- Providencia StakesProvidencia StakesThe Providencia Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run annually during the first week of April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- Robert J. Frankel Memorial Handicap (formerly San Gorgonio Handicap)
- San Antonio HandicapSan Antonio HandicapThe San Antonio Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- San Carlos HandicapSan Carlos HandicapThe San Carlos Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at during the third week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- San Felipe StakesSan Felipe StakesThe San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The San Felipe is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in mid-March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on dirt and currently...
- San Fernando Stakes
- San Gabriel HandicapSan Gabriel HandicapThe San Gabriel Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California at the close of each year. The Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf and offers a purse of $150,000.First run in 1935, it...
- San Juan Capistrano Handicap
- San Luis Obispo HandicapSan Luis Obispo HandicapThe San Luis Obispo Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on the turf...
- San Luis Rey HandicapSan Luis Rey HandicapThe San Luis Rey Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Held during the third week of March, the Grade II event is open to horses of either gender, age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on the turf.Prior to 1955,...
- San Marcos Stakes
- San Pasqual HandicapSan Pasqual HandicapThe San Pasqual Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the first part of January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- San Rafael StakesSan Rafael StakesThe San Rafael Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park, located in Arcadia, California. The race is a Grade III event with a purse of $150,000 and is open to three-year-olds willing to race one mile on the facility's Cushion Track synthetic dirt race track.Prior to...
- San Vicente StakesSan Vicente StakesThe San Vicente Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park. A Grade III event, the race is open to three-year-old horses willing to race seven furlongs on the dirt and carries a purse of $150,000....
- Santa Ana HandicapSanta Ana HandicapThe Santa Ana Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race run at annually Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California during the third week of March. The race is open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf....
- Santa Barbara HandicapSanta Barbara HandicapThe Santa Barbara Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event open to fillies and mares, age four and older, it is contested of turf over a distance of one and a quarter miles.Inaugurated in 1935, through...
- Santa Catalina Stakes
- Santa Maria HandicapSanta Maria HandicapThe Santa Maria Handicap is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- Santa Ynez StakesSanta Ynez StakesThe Santa Ynez Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II event, the race is open to fillies, age three, willing to race seven furlongs on the Pro-Ride synthetic dirt....
- Strub StakesStrub StakesThe Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year.Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $300,000, it is open to horses, age four, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic surface of Santa Anita and offers...
Grade III stakes:
- Baldwin StakesBaldwin StakesThe Baldwin Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III event for three-year-old horses, it is contested on turf at a distance of about six and one-half furlongs....
- Carleton F. Burke HandicapCarleton F. Burke HandicapThe Carleton F. Burke Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Raced in late October as part of the Oak Tree Racing Association series, it is open to horses age three and older and is contested on turf at a distance of one-and-one-half...
- Daytona HandicapDaytona HandicapThe Daytona Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Listed race, it was upgraded to a Grade III event for 2009....
- El Conejo HandicapEl Conejo HandicapThe El Conejo Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually on January 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III sprint race open to horses age four and older, it is contested on Pro-Ride synthetic dirt over a distance of five and a half furlongs.In 2000, the El...
- La Habra StakesLa Habra StakesThe La Habra Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California early in the year...
- Las Cienegas HandicapLas Cienegas HandicapThe Las Cienegas Handicap is a race for Thoroughbred horses run each year at Santa Anita Park. It is open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race six and a half furlongs down the downhill turf....
- Las Flores HandicapLas Flores HandicapThe Las Flores Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- Monrovia HandicapMonrovia HandicapThe Monrovia Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to fillies and mares, four -year-olds and up, the six and one half furlong Grade III turf event is run on the downhill turf course. As a sprinter's race, it shares in importance with...
- San Simeon HandicapSan Simeon HandicapThe San Simeon Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Grade III event is open to four year olds and up willing to race six and a half furlongs on the downhill turf course....
- Santa Ysabel StakesSanta Ysabel StakesThe Santa Ysabel Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III event, the race is open to fillies, age three, willing to race one and one-sixteenths miles on the Pro-Ride synthetic...
- Sham StakesSham StakesThe Sham Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Sham Stakes is open to three-year-olds and is held at one and one-eighth miles on the dirt...
- Sir Beaufort StakesSir Beaufort StakesThe Sir Beaufort Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II stakes race for three-year-old horses, it was first run ijn 2000...
- Tokyo City CupTokyo City CupThe Tokyo City Cup Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III event raced on Pro-Ride synthetic dirt at a distance of 1½ miles , it is open to horses aged four and older.Run as the San Bernardino Handicap...
- Thunder Road HandicapThunder Road HandicapThe Thunder Road Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is open to horses age four and older and is contested on turf at a distance of one mile . A Listed race, it was upgraded to a Grade III event for 2009...
- Tuzla HandicapTuzla HandicapThe Tuzla Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race for older fillies and mares run at the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California at the beginning of the year...
Ungraded stakes
- Blue Norther StakesBlue Norther StakesThe Blue Norther Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
- Eddie Logan StakesEddie Logan StakesThe Eddie Logan Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds run at the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California late in the year...
- La Puente Stakes
- Irish O'Brien Stakes
- Santa Paula StakesSanta Paula StakesThe Santa Paula Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. An event open to three-year-old fillies, it is contested over a distance of six and one half furlongs...
- Santana Mile Stakes