Santa Anita Park in California
Santa Anita Park, owned by Magna Entertainment Corp., is located in Arcadia, California. Famed for hosting some of the best autumn/winter horse racing in the United States, Santa Anita race track has been a popular prestigious racecourse since its opening in 1934. Since then its popularity has flourished attracting many renowned race teams and celebrity spectators to its track.
A few years after its establishment, World War 2 broke out and Santa Anita was transformed into a Japanese-American internment camp. Racing at Santa Anita began again in 1945 and it soon began to prosper. Santa Anita lies nearby Los Angeles and has thus drawn a number of celebrity horse owners to its race days. Amongst these have been Bing Crosby, Errol Flynn, Louis B. Mayer (MGM) and Alex Trebek. A well-known personality who has been working as a Santa Anita track announcer since 1983 is Trevor Denman. Mr. Denman has been named one of the USA’s best announcers. Two features at Santa Anita Park are a statue of Seabiscuit and one of George Woolf. Every year a the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award is presented to a jockey who has proved he has exceptional standards of conduct.
Santa Anita Park encompasses an area of 320 acres with a 1 mile dirt track as well as a unique 7 furlong turf course. The massive art deco grandstand is able to accommodate some 26,000 racegoers, while a further 50,000 racegoers can make use of the infield area. Sixty-one barns provide enough stabling for over 2,000 race horses, with the state-of-the-art equine hospital equipped to handle any horse-related eventuality.
Santa Anita Park begins its racing calendar on 26 December, with horse races scheduled right into April. The race track also opens for the fall meeting between October and November. Live racing is held at Santa Anita race track from Wednesdays to Sundays. Santa Anita Park has extensive wagering facilities, simulcast racing and food services. A large number of graded stakes are hosted through Santa Anita’s season, amongst these are Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita Oaks, Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap, La Brea Stakes, Malibu Stakes, Santa Maria Handicap, Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Buena Vista Handicap, La Canada Stakes, Norfolk Stakes, Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes, San Antonio Handicap, Oak Tree Derby, San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap, Strub Stakes, Baldwin Stakes, Las Flores Handicap, Providencia Stakes and Senator Ken Maddy Handicap.
Santa Anita Park in Arcadia attracts eager racegoers from all over to its prestigious race events, exquisite facilities and vibrant atmosphere.
