View source for Santa Anita Park

{{Short description|Horse racing track in Arcadia, California, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox racecourse
|name         = Santa Anita Park
|image        = Going to the Whip (3432322625).jpg
|caption      = 
|location     = 285 W. Huntington, [[Arcadia, California]], U.S.
|coordinates  = {{coord|34.140635|-118.044354|region:US_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|owner        = [[Stronach Group]]
|opened       = December 25, 1934
|coursetype   = [[Thoroughbred]] [[flat racing]]
|website      = http://www.santaanita.com
|notableraces = [[Santa Anita Handicap]] (G1)<br>[[Santa Anita Derby]] (G1)<br>[[Sunshine Millions|Sunshine Millions Day]]
|logo=Santa Anita Park logo.svg|logo_caption=Santa Anita Park logo}}

'''Santa Anita Park''' is a [[Thoroughbred]] [[racetrack]] in [[Arcadia, California]], United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious races, including both the [[Santa Anita Derby]] and the [[Santa Anita Handicap]]. It has also hosted the year-end [[Breeders' Cup]] races eleven times, more than any other racetrack. In 1984, Santa Anita was the site of [[Equestrian at the 1984 Summer Olympics|equestrian]] events at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics]] and will host once again in [[2028 Summer Olympics|2028]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100506011421/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1984/1984v1pt1.pdf 1984 Summer Olympics official report.] Volume 1. Part 1. pp. 117–20.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://dressage-news.com/2025/04/11/los-angeles-olympic-equestrian-competitions-switched-to-santa-anita-park-site-of-1984-summer-games/ | title=Los Angeles Olympic Equestrian Competitions Switched to Santa Anita Park, Site of 1984 Summer Games | date=April 12, 2025 }}</ref> Since 2011, the [[Stronach Group]] are the current owners.

==History==
[[File:California - Angle Island through Arrowhead Lake - NARA - 23934069 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Santa Anita Race Track in 1937]]
"[[Rancho Santa Anita]]" was owned originally by former San Gabriel Mission Mayor-Domo, Claudio Lopez, and named after a family member, "Anita Cota". The ranch was later acquired by rancher [[Hugo Reid]], a [[Scottish people|Scotsman]]. The property's most widely known owner would be multimillionaire [[Lucky Baldwin]], a successful businessman in San Francisco who greatly enhanced his wealth through an investment in the famous [[Comstock Lode]]. Baldwin became a successful breeder and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses and in 1904 built a racetrack adjacent to the present site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11630077/lucky-baldwins-santa-anita-land/ |title=Last of 'Lucky' Baldwin's Great Barony Subdivided |publisher=Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives |date=1942-06-27 |accessdate=2020-07-01}}</ref> On February 4, 1909 the [[California State Legislature]] passed an anti-racetrack gambling bill known as the [[Walker–Otis Law]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/02/05/archives/california-racing-gets-fatal-blow-walkerotis-antirace-track.html |title=California Racing Gets Fatal Blow |work=[[The New York Times]]|page=8 |date=1909-02-05 |accessdate=2021-03-21}}</ref> Similar in its goal to [[New York (state)|New York State's]] 1908 [[Hart–Agnew Law]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1908011801/drf1908011801_1_7 |title=Penalties in the New York Bills |work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives |date=1908-01-18|accessdate=2018-10-26}}</ref> the California law resulted in the permanent closing of the Baldwin racetrack. In 1912 the racing facility burned to the ground.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arcadiahistoricalsociety.org/historical-markers-guide/arcadia-historical-marker-6/ |title=Santa Anita Park |publisher=Arcadia Historical Society |date=2021-03-21 |accessdate=2021-03-21}}</ref>

In 1933, California legalized [[parimutuel]] wagering and several investor groups worked to open racetracks. In the [[San Francisco]] area, a group headed by [[Charles H. Strub|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 opened the present day track on Christmas Day in 1934, making it the first formally-established racetrack in California.<ref>{{cite web|title=Santa Anita Park Thoroughbred Race Track|url=http://www.santaanitaparkracing.com/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202182635/http://www.santaanitaparkracing.com/|archive-date=February 2, 2011|work=santaanitaparkracing.com}}</ref> Architect [[Gordon Kaufmann]] designed its various buildings in a combination of [[Colonial Revival architecture|Colonial Revival]] and a type of [[Art Deco]] known as [[Streamline Moderne]], painted primarily in Santa Anita's signature colors of [[Shades of green|Persian Green]] and [[Lemon chiffon|Chiffon Yellow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/santa-anita-park|title=Santa Anita Park|work=laconservancy.org|access-date=May 5, 2014|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183407/https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/santa-anita-park|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In February 1935, the first [[Santa Anita Handicap]] was run. The race's $100,000 purse, largest of any race ever in the United States until that time, produced its nickname the Big 'Cap. 
[[Image:SantaAnitaEntrance wb.jpg|thumb|left|Art deco entrance to Santa Anita's grandstands.]]

In its heyday, the track's races attracted such stars as [[Betty Grable]], [[Lana Turner]], [[Edgar Bergen]], [[Jane Russell]], [[Cary Grant]], [[Clark Gable]], and [[Esther Williams]], among others. [[Bing Crosby]], [[Joe E. Brown]], [[Al Jolson]], and [[Harry Warner]] were all stockholders.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dyer|first=Braven|title=The Story of Santa Anita|url=http://www.sportthemagazine.com/1947/01/the-story-of-santa-anita/|work=SPORT Magazine|access-date=10 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311064339/http://www.sportthemagazine.com/1947/01/the-story-of-santa-anita/|archive-date=11 March 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Santa Anita Track (3446121612).jpg|thumb|The unique downhill turf course includes a section where horses have to momentarily cross the dirt track]]
In 1940, [[Seabiscuit]] won the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start.

In 1942, racing at Santa Anita was suspended due to the Second World War. Santa Anita was used as an [[#Santa Anita Assembly Center|assembly center]] for [[Internment of Japanese Americans|Japanese Americans excluded]] from the West Coast.<ref name=hmdb>{{cite web|title=Santa Anita During World War II|url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=68088|website=Historical Marker Database|access-date=27 September 2015}}</ref> For several months in 1942, over 18,000 people lived in horse stables and military-style barracks constructed on the site, including actor [[George Takei]], then a young boy. After the track reopened in 1945,<ref name=hmdb /> 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.

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]] 1937 classic ''[[A Day at the Races (film)|A Day at the Races]]'' were filmed there, and ''[[The Story of Seabiscuit]]'' with [[Shirley Temple]] was filmed on location in 1949.<ref name="Seabiscuit">{{cite web|url=http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/western-region/santa-anita-racetrack.html|title=Plan your next trip with the National Trust - National Trust for Historic Preservation|website=Preservationnation.org|access-date=3 December 2017}}</ref> It was also featured in ''[[A Star Is Born (1937 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' (1937).<ref>Alleman, Richard (2013). ''Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie L.A.'' Crown/Archetype. Page 471. {{ISBN|9780804137775}}.</ref> Several stars, including [[Bing Crosby]], [[Spencer Tracy]], [[Errol Flynn]], [[Alex Trebek]], and [[MGM]] mogul, [[Louis B. Mayer]], have owned horses that raced at the park.

The 1958 Santa Anita Derby was attended by 61,123 people, making the attendance that day a record crowd.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} They had 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<!-- this said 19689 so not sure whether '68 or '69; i guessed. -elf -->, [[Del Mar Racetrack]] relinquished its dates for a fall meeting. A group of horsemen including [[Clement L. Hirsch|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 became the operator of the autumn meet at Santa Anita Park. This meet usually ran from the end of September until early November. Many key stakes races were held during the Oak Tree Meeting, including many preps to the [[Breeders' Cup]] races. The Oak Tree meet relocated to [[Hollywood Park Racetrack|Hollywood Park]] for 2010<ref>[http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/58471/oak-tree-headed-for-hollywood-after-all "Oak Tree Headed for Hollywood After All"], ''The Blood-Horse'', August 19, 2010.</ref> but the California Horse Racing Board awarded the fall dates to Santa Anita in its own right in 2011. This prompted a renaming of many stakes races held at the fall meeting that were formerly associated with Oak Tree. For example, the Norfolk, Goodwood, Yellow Ribbon, Lady's Secret, and Oak Leaf, were renamed at the FrontRunner, Awesome Again, Rodeo Drive, Zenyatta and Chandelier respectively.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stewart|first1=Larry|title=Santa Anita's horse racing Fall Meet is not Oak Tree anymore|url=http://www.dailybreeze.com/article/ZZ/20120928/NEWS/120927766|website=Dailybreeze.com|date=7 May 2013|access-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref>

Prosperity continued at Santa Anita throughout the 1970s and the 1980s. In 1984, Santa Anita hosted the [[Equestrian at the 1984 Summer Olympics|equestrian]] events at the [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984 Olympics]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100506011421/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1984/1984v1pt1.pdf 1984 Summer Olympics official report.] Volume 1. Part 1. pp. 117-20.</ref> and in 1985, the track set an attendance record of 85,527 people on Santa Anita Handicap Day. Recognizing the potential revenue boon to the State of California, the California Legislature expanded off track betting, bring operating betting parlors within 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.

[[Image:Seabiscuit statue.png|right|thumb|The Seabiscuit statue, created by American sculptor Jame Hughlette ("Tex") Wheeler<ref>Dickinson, J. W. (2006). Remembering Orlando: Tales from Elvis to Disney. Charleston, South Carolina: The History Press.</ref> was hand tooled by Frank Buchler, a German immigrant the owner of Washington Ornamental Iron Company Los Angeles. Washington Ornamental Iron Company built all of Santa Anita's facilities. Lily Okuru, a [[Japanese American]] woman who lived on the site during its time as a [[Japanese American internment|War Relocation Camp]], poses with Seabiscuit statue, 1942.]]

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 [[Real estate investment trust|REIT]]s, Meditrust sold the track to [[Magna Entertainment Corp.]] In 2006, [[Gulfstream Park]] and Santa Anita cohosted the [[Sunshine Millions]],<ref>{{cite web|title=News & Barn Notes|url=http://www.sunshinemillions.com/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207235526/http://www.sunshinemillions.com/|archive-date=February 7, 2003|access-date=3 December 2017|website=Sunshinemillions.com}}</ref> a day of competition with $3.6 million in stakes races between horses bred in the [[Florida|State of Florida]] and those bred in the [[California|State of California]].

At Santa Anita, [[harness racing]] was also conducted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tessa2.lapl.org/digital/collection/photos/id/131121|title=Harness racing at Santa Anita racetrack|last=Dean|first=Gordon|publication-date=March 14, 1964|website=[[Los Angeles Public Library]]|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>

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 (sculpture)|bust]] of announcer [[Joe Hernandez (race caller)|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 (horse)|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 (horse)|Silver Cloud]], and Rey El Santa Anita, all four of them winners of the prestigious [[American Derby]]. In 2012, a lifesize bronze of [[Zenyatta]] was unveiled prior to the running of the race renamed in her honor.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andersen|first1=Steve|title=Santa Anita: Zenyatta statue unveiled prior to running of stakes in her honor|url=http://www.drf.com/news/santa-anita-zenyatta-statue-unveiled-prior-running-stakes-her-honor|website=Daily Racing Form|access-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref>

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 African native [[Trevor Denman]] served as Santa Anita's full-time announcer from the 1983 Oak Tree meet until his retirement from the position in 2015.<ref name=SA120415>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Trevor Denman, The Voice of Santa Anita Since 1983, Announces Retirement from 'The Great Race Place'|url=http://www.santaanita.com/press-releases/trevor-denman-the-voice-of-santa-anita-since-1983-announces-retirement-from-the-great-race-place/|location=Arcadia, Calif.|publisher=Santa Anita Park|date=December 4, 2015|access-date=December 4, 2015}}</ref> Denman is noted for his calls beginning with "And awaaay they go..." and his distinctive gravelly voice. Queensland, Australia native [[Michael Wrona]] was chosen to succeed Denman in March 2016.<ref name=SA240316>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Michael Wrona Named Santa Anita Track Announcer|url=http://www.santaanita.com/press-releases/michael-wrona-named-santa-anita-track-announcer/|location=Arcadia, CA|publisher=Santa Anita Park|date=2016-03-24|access-date=2016-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214000528/http://www.santaanita.com/press-releases/michael-wrona-named-santa-anita-track-announcer/|archive-date=14 February 2017}}</ref> At the end of 2018, The [[Stronach Group]] named [[Frank Mirahmadi]] as Santa Anita's announcer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Edelson|first=Stephen|title=Monmouth Park: Announcer Frank Mirahmadi to call Santa Anita in 2019|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/horses/2018/11/26/monmouth-park-track-announcer-mirahmadi-bolting-santa-anita/2116800002/|publisher=Asbury Park Press|date=26 November 2018|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref>

Starting in 2014, Santa Anita began adding more racing cards due to the closure of [[Hollywood Park Racetrack]], hosting Hollywood Park's old spring dates from late April until June.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/78167/hollywood-park-to-close-in-december|title=Hollywood Park to Close in December|last1=LaMarra|first1=Tom|date=May 9, 2013|website=Bloodhorse.com|publisher=The BloodHorse|access-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref>

In mid-March 2020, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 outbreak]], racing resumed without fans; two weeks later, racing was suspended until May 15, 2020.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

During the [[January 2025 Southern California wildfires]] Santa Anita's parking lots were used to distribute relief supplies to affected residents, as well as for emergency staging for agencies including [[Southern California Edison]].<ref name=ap110125>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/43371966/santa-anita-postpones-racing-stage-track-fire-relief|title=Santa Anita postpones racing to stage track for fire relief|date=11 January 2025|website=espn.com|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/282076/thousands-pour-into-santa-anita-donation-site|title=Thousands Pour Into Santa Anita Donation Site|last=Gantz|first=Tracy|date=11 January 2025|publisher=The Blood-Horse|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref> Three days of live racing were cancelled due to fire and air quality concerns, as the track lay near to the [[Eaton Fire]].<ref name=ap110125/>

In April 2025 the [[International Federation for Equestrian Sports]] (FEI) announced that Santa Anita Park had been selected to host the equestrian events for the [[2028 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/us/from-the-breeders-cup-to-the-olympics-santa-anita-to-host-equestrian-events-for-the-2028-los-angeles-games-ajcFm9X8uaOD/|title=From the Breeders' Cup to the Olympics: Santa Anita to host equestrian events for the 2028 Los Angeles Games|last=Rennie|first=Matt|date=16 April 2025|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>

===Horse fatalities of 2019===
In early March 2019, all races were cancelled following the 21st fatality of the winter season; racing resumed late in the month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/santa-anita-cancels-horse-racing-indefinitely-21st-fatality/story?id=61493717|title=Santa Anita cancels horse racing indefinitely after 21st fatality in the less than 3 months|work=ABC News|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> Races were postponed so that the dirt surface could be studied. Seven of the 21 deaths occurred during races on the dirt oval with nine happening during training on dirt and the others occurring on the turf track.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/santa-anita-suspends-racing-indefinitely-after-21st-horse-dies|title=Santa Anita Park suspends racing indefinitely after 21st horse dies|date=6 March 2019|publisher=Fox News|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref>

Thirty-seven horses died at the facility in 2019, causing the above noted suspension of races, and resulting in the California Racing Commission considering rule changes.<ref>Ben Bergman, "Racing Continues at Santa Anita Park Amid Mounting Pressure to Suspend Competition After Spate of Horse Deaths", KQED, 5 April 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2019/03/04/20th-horse-died-at-santa-anita-racetrack-over-the-weekend-what-now/ |title=20th horse died at Santa Anita racetrack over the weekend. What now? |publisher=pasadenastarnews.com |first=Jason |last=Henry |date=March 4, 2019 |access-date=March 28, 2019}}</ref><ref name="iheart_horse">{{cite web |url=https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2019-02-27-santa-anita-facing-rash-of-racehorse-deaths/ |title= Santa Anita Facing Rash of Racehorse Deaths |publisher=iheart.com |date=February 27, 2019 |access-date=March 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Rob|date=2019|title=Princess LLili B Becomes 22nd Horse to Die at Santa Anita Racetrack Since December. 26|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2825696-princess-lili-b-becomes-22nd-horse-to-die-at-santa-anita-racetrack-since-dec-26|access-date=March 28, 2019|publisher=bleacherreport.com}}</ref><ref>"Santa Anita racetrack won't close after 2 more horses die, 29 overall since December," [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/santa-anita-park-horse-deaths-29-overall-arcadia-california-animal-rights-activists-protest/ CBS News], 10 June 2019.</ref><ref>"33rd horse dies at Santa Anita Park since December," [https://abc7.com/sports/33rd-horse-dies-at-santa-anita-park-since-december/5597343/ KABC-TV], 6 October 2019.</ref><ref>Libby Cathey, "Another racehorse dies at Santa Anita Park, raising death toll to 35 since December," [https://abcnews.go.com/US/racehorse-dies-santa-anita-park-raising-death-toll/story?id=66547049 ABCNews], 26 October 2019.</ref><ref>"[https://sports.nbcsports.com/2019/11/03/mongolian-groom-fatally-injured-in-breeders-cup-classic/ 15-1 longshot Mongolian Groom fatally injured in Breeders’ Cup Classic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182732/https://sports.nbcsports.com/2019/11/03/mongolian-groom-fatally-injured-in-breeders-cup-classic/ |date=July 9, 2021 }}," Associated Press, 3 November 2019.</ref> Following the death of the 30th horse in late June, trainer [[Jerry Hollendorfer]], who had trained four of the horses that died, was banned forever by the Stronach Group from all of its facilities.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/27032501/30th-horse-dies-santa-anita-trainer-banned |title=30th horse dies at Santa Anita; trainer banned |agency=[[Associated Press|AP]] |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=June 22, 2019 |access-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref><ref>"[https://abc7.com/pets-animals/santa-anita-park-begins-winter-spring-season-amid-protest/5795867/ Santa Anita Park begins winter-spring season amid protest]," ABC 7 29 December 2019.</ref>

===Santa Anita Assembly Center===

{{Main|Santa Anita Assembly Center}}
[[File:Santa Anita Assembly Center, Arcadia, California. A panoramic view of the Santa Anita assembly cent . . . - NARA - 536812.jpg|thumb|A panoramic view of the Santa Anita Assembly Center]]

In February 1942, after President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] issued [[Executive Order 9066]], which authorized military commanders to exclude "any or all persons" from certain areas in the name of national defense, the [[Western Defense Command]] began ordering Japanese Americans living on the West Coast to present themselves for "evacuation" from the newly created military zones. Seventeen temporary "assembly centers" were designated to house the evicted population until construction on the more permanent and isolated internment camps was finished. Most, like the [[Santa Anita Assembly Center]], were converted from former uses like racing tracks or fairgrounds.<ref name=Linke>Linke, Konrad. [http://encyclopedia.densho.org/Santa%20Anita%20%28detention%20facility%29/ "Santa Anita (detention facility)"] ''Densho Encyclopedia''. Retrieved 2014-07-25.</ref>

Santa Anita was turned over to the Wartime Civilian Control Administration, the government body responsible for oversight of the temporary detention facilities, in March 1942, and army engineers soon after built 500 barracks on the parking lot and converted the horse stables and the area underneath the grandstand into residential "apartments". Japanese-Americans began arriving in April, most coming from the surrounding Los Angeles County, and the center's population soon topped 18,000, peaking at 18,719 by August of that year. Six mess halls, each seating approximately 850 at a time, fed some 3,000 people daily at a cost of 33 cents per person. The sanitary facilities faced similar overcrowding, with a ratio of 30 people to each shower ''after'' the number of showers was increased from 150 to 225 in early July. Consequently, those in the center spent a significant portion of their time in Santa Anita waiting in line for meals or to use the sanitary facilities.<ref name=Linke/>

The Assembly Center remained open for seven months, and in the meantime, Japanese-Americans took up jobs in camp at the camouflage net factory, the hospital or various administrative departments, and set up schools to ensure their children's education would not be interrupted. Transfer to [[War Relocation Authority]] camps began on August 26, 1942, when 901 Japanese-Americans left for [[Poston War Relocation Center|Poston]], Arizona, and over the next month the remaining Japanese-Americans were sent to Poston and several other camps. The Santa Anita Assembly Center closed on October 27, 1942.<ref name=Linke/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-08-me-then8-story.html|title=Santa Anita racetrack played a role in WWII internment|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 8, 2009|first=Alison|last=Bell}}</ref>

==Course attributes==
[[Image:SantaAnitaTrackMtns wb.jpg|thumb|right|The Santa Anita track is set against the backdrop of the [[San Gabriel Mountains]].]]Santa Anita has a one-mile (1,609 m) natural dirt main track which rings a turf course measuring 0.9 mile, or {{convert|1,584|yd|m}}. In addition, it has an unusual hillside turf course which crosses the dirt and had been used mainly to run turf races at a distance of "about" 6½ furlongs (exact distance is {{convert|1,408.5|yd|m}}), as well as longer races at 1.25 miles, 1.5 miles and 1 mile 1,232 yards. This type of track is one of the few of its kind in America.

In August 2020, Santa Anita [[Groundbreaking|broke ground]] on a new backstretch turf chute. The new turf chute is expected to be finished in time for the 2020/2021 winter meet, and will be used primarily for turf sprints at distances up to 6½ furlongs. Santa Anita effectively ended downhill turf sprints following an incident in the 2019 [[San Simeon Stakes]]; under their plans, the hillside turf course will continue to be used for distance races.<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Santa Anita Adding New Turf Course Chute Which Will Enable Track To Offer Varied Distances In Addition To Iconic Hillside Offerings|url=https://www.santaanita.com/press-releases/santa-anita-adding-new-turf-course-chute-which-will-enable-track-to-offer-varied-distances-in-addition-to-iconic-hillside-offerings/#.X0ees8hKhPY |location=Arcadia, CA|publisher=Santa Anita Park|date=26 August 2020|access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2020/08/24/santa-anita-expands-turf-track-as-it-prepares-for-new-season/|title=Santa Anita expands turf track as it prepares for new season|last=Henry|first=Jason|date=26 August 2020|website=pasadenastarnews.com|publisher=[[Pasadena Star-News]]|access-date=27 August 2020}}</ref>

To comply with a State of California mandate, Santa Anita replaced its dirt racing surface with a [[Synthetic racetrack surfaces for horse racing|new synthetic surface]], a mixture of silica sand, synthetic fibers, elastic fiber, granulated rubber and a wax coating. The new 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 restored the all natural dirt surface in December 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=SANTA ANITA MAIN TRACK REOPENS FOR TRAINING, NATURAL DIRT SURFACE WITHSTANDS 13 ½ INCHES OF RAIN|url=http://www.santaanita.com/press/pressrelease/2010/12/santa-anita-main-track-reopens-training-natural-dirt-surface-withstands|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926234615/http://www.santaanita.com/press/pressrelease/2010/12/santa-anita-main-track-reopens-training-natural-dirt-surface-withstands|archive-date=2011-09-26|access-date=2011-07-23}}</ref>

Santa Anita occupies {{convert|320|acre|km2}}. It has a {{convert|1100|ft|m|adj=on}}-long grandstand, which is a historic landmark that seats 26,000 guests. The grandstand facade is rendered in an [[Art Deco]] style and is largely the original from the 1930s.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090619083047/http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/sites/western-region/santa-anita-racetrack.html National Trust for Historic Preservation], Santa Anita racetrack, 2000.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://santaanita.com|title=Live Horse Racing – Bet on Horse Racing at Santa Anita Park|website=Santa Anita Park|access-date=3 December 2017}}</ref>

==Proposed redevelopment==
In 2000, the racetrack was named to America's "Most Endangered Historic Places" list.<ref>{{cite web|date=August 18, 2006|title=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/07/06 through 8/11/06|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2006-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906114743/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20060818.HTM|archive-date=September 6, 2007|access-date=May 6, 2013|publisher=[[National Park Service]]}}</ref><ref name="Seabiscuit"/>

In 2006, there was a proposal to close Santa Anita Park and use its location as the site of a new retail/entertainment complex. 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 World War II 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.<ref name="Seabiscuit"/> In April 2008, a plan was approved to use large parts of the existing track parking lot to construct a mall, the "Shops at Santa Anita".<ref>[http://www.carusoaffiliated.com/newsroom/latimes_4-18-2007.shtml "Acadia OKs Caruso Mall Near Racetrack"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109073648/http://www.carusoaffiliated.com/newsroom/latimes_4-18-2007.shtml |date=2008-11-09 }}, ''Los Angeles Times'', April 18, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Caruso Pushes to Build the Shops at Santa Anita|url=http://arcadia.patch.com/articles/caruso-pushes-to-build-the-shops-at-santa-anita|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722015422/http://arcadia.patch.com/articles/caruso-pushes-to-build-the-shops-at-santa-anita|archive-date=2011-07-22|access-date=2011-05-14}}</ref>

{{as of|May 2011}}, the plans to build another mall next to Santa Anita Park were abandoned. Protests against the project by the [[Westfield Group]], owner of the adjacent [[Westfield Santa Anita]] mall (built in 1974 on the site of the old barns and training track), and the bankruptcy of [[Magna International]], owner of Santa Anita Park, were a factor in the decision.<ref name="reprieve">{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2011/05/23/santa-anita-mall-plans-scrapped.html | title=Efforts to build mall near Santa Anita officially over|website=Bizjournals.com | date=May 23, 2011}}</ref>

==TV personalities==
[[TVG Network|TVG]], acquired [[Horse Racing TV]] (HRTV) in 2015, broadcasting from Santa Anita Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drf.com/news/tvg-acquires-lone-television-competitor-hrtv|title=TVG acquires lone television competitor HRTV - Daily Racing Form|website=Drf.com|access-date=3 December 2017}}</ref>

Talents from HRTV are now employed by TVG Network or XBTV (Xpressbet TV). Santa Anita talent now host the simulcast feed.

Expert American [[television personality]] commentators employed by HRTV:
* Kurt Hoover (1988–2012)
* Jon White (1993–2015) 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)
* Laffit Pincay III (2002–2015)
* [[Bill Seward]] (1988–2002)
* Michelle Yu (2012–2016)

Santa Anita Simulcast Hosts 
* Megan Devine (2016–2018)<ref>{{cite web|date=28 November 2018|title=Racing! Michael Wrona fired at Santa Anita|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-horse-racing-newsletter-20181124-htmlstory.html|access-date=6 March 2018|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
Megan has appeared as an on-air analyst at TVG, Turfway Park, Ellis Park, Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) and was fired from Santa Anita Park in November 2018.

==Racing==

===Graded events===
 
The following Graded events were held at Santa Anita Park in 2025 with inaugural runnings in parentheses.

'''Grade I'''

{{Div col|colwidth=28em|content=
* [[American Oaks]]  (2002)
* [[American Pharoah Stakes]] (1970)
* [[Awesome Again Stakes]] (1982)
* [[Beholder Mile Stakes]] (1940)
* [[Frank E. Kilroe Mile]] (1960)
* [[Gamely Stakes]] (1939)
* [[Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes]] (1938)
* [[La Brea Stakes]] (1974)
* [[Malibu Stakes]] (1952)
* [[Rodeo Drive Stakes]] (1977)
* [[Santa Anita Derby]] (1935)
* [[Santa Anita Handicap]] (1935)
* [[Shoemaker Mile Stakes]] (1938)
}}

'''Grade II'''

{{Div col|colwidth=28em|content=
* [[Arcadia Stakes]] (1988)
* [[Buena Vista Stakes]]
* [[Californian Stakes]]
* [[Chandelier Stakes]] (1969)
* [[Charles Whittingham Stakes]]
* [[City of Hope Mile Stakes]]
* [[Eddie D Stakes|Eddie Delahoussaye Stakes]]
* [[Goldikova Stakes]]
* [[Joe Hernandez Stakes]] (2008)
* [[John Henry Turf Championship Stakes]]
* [[Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes]]
* [[Las Cienegas Stakes]]
* [[Marathon Stakes]]
* [[Mathis Brothers Mile]]
* [[Palos Verdes Stakes]] (1936)
* [[Royal Heroine Stakes]]
* [[San Carlos Stakes]]
* [[San Felipe Stakes]]
* [[San Gabriel Stakes]]
* [[San Luis Rey Stakes]]
* [[San Marcos Stakes]]
* [[San Pasqual Stakes]]
* [[San Vicente Stakes]]
* [[Santa Anita Oaks]] (1935)
* [[Santa Anita Sprint Championship]] (1985)
* [[Santa Margarita Stakes]] (1935)
* [[Santa Maria Stakes]]
* [[Santa Monica Stakes]]
* [[Santa Ynez Stakes]]
* [[Summertime Oaks]]
* [[Triple Bend Stakes]] (1952)
* [[Twilight Derby]]
* [[Zenyatta Stakes]] (1993)
}}

'''Grade III'''

{{Div col|colwidth=28em|content=
* [[American Stakes]] (1938)
* [[Autumn Miss Stakes]]
* [[Chillingworth Stakes]]
* [[Daytona Stakes]]
* [[Desert Stormer Stakes]]
* [[Honeymoon Stakes]]
* [[John C. Harris Stakes]] (2012)
* [[Kona Gold Stakes]]
* [[L.A. Woman Stakes]] (1986)
* [[La Cañada Stakes]]
* [[Las Cienegas Handicap]]
* [[Las Flores Stakes]]
* [[Las Virgenes Stakes]]
* [[Megahertz Stakes]] (2011)
* [[Midnight Lute Stakes]]
* [[Monrovia Stakes]] (1968)
* [[Providencia Stakes]]
* [[Robert B. Lewis Stakes]]
* [[Robert J. Frankel Stakes]]<ref>[http://www.santaanita.com/press/pressrelease/2010/12/santa-anita-honors-legendary-trainer-frankel-san-gorgonio-becomes-gr-ii "Santa Anita Honors Legendary Trainer Frankel, San Gorgonio Becomes Gr. II Robert J. Frankel"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230035646/http://www.santaanita.com/press/pressrelease/2010/12/santa-anita-honors-legendary-trainer-frankel-san-gorgonio-becomes-gr-ii |date=2010-12-30 }}, ''Santa Anita Park'', December 27, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60487/santa-anita-names-stakes-after-frankel "Santa Anita Names Stakes After Frankel"], ''The Blood-Horse'', December 27, 2010.</ref>
* [[San Juan Capistrano Stakes]]
* [[San Luis Rey Stakes]]
* [[San Simeon Stakes]]
* [[Santa Ana Stakes]]
* [[Santa Maria Handicap]]
* [[Santa Monica Handicap]]
* [[Santa Ysabel Stakes]]
* [[Senorita Stakes]]
* [[Surfer Girl Stakes]] (2012)
* [[Sweet Life Stakes]] (2010)
* [[Thunder Road Stakes]]
* [[Tokyo City Cup]]
* [[Wilshire Stakes]]
* [[Zuma Beach Stakes]] (2012)
}}

=== Other events ===

{{Div col|colwidth=28em|content=
* [[Affirmed Stakes (LATC)|Affirmed Stakes]] (1979)
* [[Astra Stakes]] (2015)
* [[Blue Norther Stakes]]
* [[California Cup Derby]]
* [[California Cup Oaks]]
* [[Cinema Stakes]]
* [[Desert Stormer Handicap]]
* [[Eddie Logan Stakes]]
* [[Landaluce Stakes]]
* [[Lazaro Barrera Stakes]]
* [[Santa Barbara Stakes]]
* [[Santa Paula Stakes]]
* [[Senator Ken Maddy Stakes]]
* [[Speakeasy Stakes]]
* [[Thunder Road Handicap]]
* [[Tiznow Stakes]]
}}

===The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita===
[[File:Start of the Juvenile Sprint at Santa Anita Park.jpg|thumb|Start of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in 2008]]
In 2023, Santa Anita will host the [[Breeders' Cup]] for a record 11th time. Highlights of the previous events include:<ref>{{cite web|title=Event By Year|url=http://www.breederscup.com/history/event-year|website=Breederscup.com|access-date=June 2, 2012}}</ref>
* 1986 - [[Lady's Secret]] wins the [[Breeders' Cup Distaff|Distaff]] on her way to becoming Horse of the Year
* 1993 - [[Arcangues (horse)|Arcangues]] wins the [[Breeders' Cup Classic|Classic]] in the biggest upset in the race's history
* 2003 - Trainer [[Richard Mandella]] wins a record four races including the Classic
* [[2008 Breeders' Cup|2008]] - Overseas based runners win five races including the Classic
* [[2009 Breeders' Cup|2009]] - [[Zenyatta]] becomes the first (and to date only) mare to win the Classic
* [[2012 Breeders' Cup|2012]] - [[Wise Dan]] wins the [[Breeders' Cup Mile|Mile]] on his way to a Horse of the Year title
* [[2013 Breeders' Cup|2013]] - Wise Dan goes back-to-back
* [[2014 Breeders' Cup|2014]] - [[Bayern (horse)|Bayern]] upsets [[California Chrome]] and [[Shared Belief]] in the Classic
* [[2016 Breeders' Cup|2016]] - [[Beholder (horse)|Beholder]] wins the Distaff in a thrilling stretch battle over the previously undefeated [[Songbird (horse)|Songbird]].
* [[2016 Breeders' Cup Classic|2016]] - [[Arrogate]] wins the Classic in a thriller over the heavy favorite [[California Chrome]].
* [[2019 Breeders' Cup|2019 -]] Storm the Court upsets the field to win the [[Breeders' Cup Juvenile|Juvenile]] by a neck at 45-1.

== Event venue ==
Santa Anita Park is also an event venue, most notably for popular food festival [[626 Night Market]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-xpm-2013-jun-07-la-me-ln-san-gabriel-valley-626-night-market-20130606-story.html|title=San Gabriel Valley's 626 Night Market returns this weekend|date=2013-06-07|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref> Since 2013, the event draws up to 100,000 attendees per 3-day weekend, four times a year during the summer. More than 250 vendors sell food, merchandise, crafts and art. There is also a stage with live music, an Art Walk, cosplay contest and [[Breakdancing|b-boy]] dance competitions.

Arcadia High School holds its annual graduation ceremony at Santa Anita Park during the month of June and holds alumni reunions during September and October.

==See also==
* [[Luck (TV series)|''Luck'' (TV series)]]
*[[Santa Anita Ordnance Training Center]]
*[[Arcadia County Park|Arcadia County Park (formerly Santa Anita Recreational Park)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|title=The World Atlas of Horse Racing|last=Bedford|first=Julian|year=1989|publisher=Hamlyn|isbn=978-0600563556|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/worldatlasofhors0000bedf}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Santa Anita Park}}
* [http://www.santaanita.com/ Santa Anita Park Official Website]
* [http://www.oaktreeracing.com/ Oak Tree Racing Association Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101182748/http://www.oaktreeracing.com/ |date=November 1, 2006 }}
* [http://www.colinsghost.org/2008/10/santa-anita-park-1907-1909.html Early history of Santa Anita Park, 1907-1909]
*[http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/zz002h8p4m Horses finishing the California Breeders' Stakes Race at Santa Anita Park, 1938] at the [[Los Angeles Times]] Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, [[Charles E. Young Research Library]], [[University of California, Los Angeles]].

{{1984 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{2028 Summer Olympic venues}}
{{Olympic venues equestrian}}
{{Japanese American internment camps}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Santa Anita Park| ]]
[[Category:Horse racing venues in California]]
[[Category:Stronach Group]]
[[Category:Internment camps for Japanese Americans]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Venues of the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Venues of the 2028 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic equestrian venues]]
[[Category:San Gabriel Valley]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in California]]
[[Category:Sports venues on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1934]]