Santa Anita Park race track gets into the holiday spirit. The park’s inaugural Winterfest, which launched over the weekend, continues through December 23. The park has transformed into a winter wonderland, giving people the chance to ice skate beneath towering pine trees and dance in snowfall amid 70-degree temperatures. Other activities include holiday movies, a giant snow globe photo booth, a petting zoo, food, shopping, an obstacle course and other rides.
View of Santa Anita Race Track from the parking lot, looking toward the front entrance. View includes hundreds of 1930's era automobiles in parking lot, all facing front. Tree on left of photo.
Santa Anita Park race track attendance is on the upswing. It drew 40,810 on Friday, its biggest opening day turnout since 2011. On-track attendance was up 33% over last year, partly because of the free infield admission program, which drew more than 10,000 people. Total wagering, including bets placed from all over the country, rose nearly 30% to more than $17 million. On-site betting was more than $3.4 million. The City of Arcadia gets 1/3 of 1% of all on-site wagering.
Late afternoon shadows show in this photo of 10 horses and riders competing in a race at Baldwin's original race track. Grandstand is seen on the right with capacity crowd. Photo was taken from in the infield. Trees seen in distance would be along Santa Anita Ave.
On opening day of the winter - spring season at Santa Anita Park race track, fans will find renovations including additional dining areas, outdoor lighting, new restrooms, a new restaurant, SIRONA, on the Terrace level and palm trees near the entrance.
Many horses with riders are seen galloping west across infield of original Elias J."Lucky" Baldwin Santa Anita Race Track. We were told by Vesta Tucker Reeves, that the infield was used for rodeos when racing season was not in progress. This apparently was taken from grandstand.
Pasadena Pops Orchestra debuts its first summer season at the Los Angeles County Arboretum today with Marvin Hamlisch, composer and conductor. The CalPhil lost out to the Pasadena Pops in a bid to stay at the Arboretum and CalPhil signed up with neighboring Santa Anita Park instead.
Santa Anita Race Track seen from a distance. View is toward the north. The San Gabriel mountains are visible behind the track. Cars are parked in the parking lot.
Arcadia ice skater Mirai Nagasu is going to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Friends and family send her off with a party at Arcadia Presbyterian Church. She will skate in the singles competition starting February 23, 2010.
Santa Anita Park will reduce its work force by merging departments. More than 100 full-time and seasonal positions will be affected--including some layoffs and some full-time positions becoming part-time positions, said Greg Avioli, CEO and President of Stronach Entertainment, the track's parent company. The shift to off-track betting and account wagering has brought less revenue to the race track.
Santa Anita Companies have submitted a down-scaled entertainment complex with the new proposal for developing the South parking lot of the Santa Anita Park race track property.
