View of Santa Anita Race Track and Grandstand looking west. There are twelve horses and riders racing and the grandstand appears to be nearly full. (Date is disputed to be after 1955, not 1950, per researcher race track historian Leonard Wynne, who says the inner track part, known as the "Turf Course" was put in during 1955. The inner track part is not where the horses are seen running.)
Aerial view toward east of Santa Anita Race Track with enormous crowd. It may possibly be opening day or shortly thereafter judging by small size of trees planted along edge of property.
Group in winner's circle at Santa Anita Race Track with horse and rider. It is a group from PLEASC (Public Library Executives Assoc. of Calif) meeting held at Arcadia Public Library. Lunch for the group was at Race Track. None of the people are identified.
Panoramic view of Santa Anita Park taken from south parking area near water drainage course that formerly cut across property. View is looking north toward the mountains and includes everything from the club house(on the right) to the far west end of the grandstand. It is a crystal clear day.
The current racing meeting will open Thursday December 27. Sunday racing will be inaugurated for the first time in Arcadia. Track officials are uncertain as to how the energy crisis will affect operations.
Arcadia would lose approximately $472,268 yearly if Santa Anita Park race track were to close down and the 324 acre facility were to be developed with low density residential units. Losses would be partially offset by $190,750 in new property taxes and $278,482 miscellaneous taxes. New city services would account for a 6.18% increase in the city budget.
The City Council is considering collecting taxes on free admissions to the Santa Anita Park race track. It would mean considerably greater income for the City.
30 people were injured on opening day at Santa Anita Park when two men became involved in an altercation. One dropped a gun and this was enough to cause a wave of panic which spread through the crowd.
A spokesperson for Santa Anita Consolidated has indicated that there is no intention of moving the Santa Anita Park race track to the $100 million sports complex proposed for the City of Los Angeles by Hollywood Park, Inc.
The California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles has applied for a 2 week fair race meeting, to be held at Santa Anita Park Race Track from September 30 to October 10, 1979.
Santa Anita Park will have thoroughbred racing from December 26 through April 22, a season expanded by two weeks. The horse racing bill AB 3383 provided other changes in the sport that will affect Santa Anita Park.
A special 8 page supplement offers a variety of articles on the Santa Anita Park track, its history, activities, facilities and its contributions to the community.
1. Earlier days in Los Angeles - Prospects of horse racing at Santa Anita. news clip about 1944 season. June 13, 1969. 2. Sport of Kings. page from unknown source about the 1947-48 season. 3. The track that Doc built. COLLIERS March 13, 1948. 4. Doc's gold mine. TIME magazine January 31…
1. Earlier days in Los Angeles - Prospects of horse racing at Santa Anita. news clip about 1944 season. June 13, 1969.
2. Sport of Kings. page from unknown source about the 1947-48 season.
3. The track that Doc built. COLLIERS March 13, 1948.
4. Doc's gold mine. TIME magazine January 31, 1949.
5. City sets tax rate. Pasadena Independent, circa August 22, 1951.
6. A day at the races. WESTWAYS January 1959.
7. Jewel of a track. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. February 6, 1961.
8. Golden days at the dentist's. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED January 11, 1965.
9. Santa Anita opens public workouts with gala free horse show. Public relations sheet from Santa Anita for 1966-67 season.
10. Santa Anita fails to open gates. Arcadia News-Post December 26, 1969.
11. Labor dispute cancels opening of Santa Anita. Arcadia Tribune February 28, 1969.
12. Santa Anita National Horse Show July 2 through 8, 1979 - program. (SEE: Box 76)
13. Doc Strub's place. Los Angeles Times WEST magazine article March 8, 1970.
14. What would happen if the track closed. Daily News April 7, 1970.
15. Santa Anita track in midst of fourth decade. Arcadia Tribune August 11, 1971.
16. Santa Anita Turf Club property. page copied from Arcadia General Plan 1973.
17. Dear Arcadia. Letter from Robert Strub to citizens on Sunday race ban June 8, 1973. page 2 only. p.1 missing since 1984.
18. Sunday race fans bet less. Los Angeles Times July 24, 1973.
19. Sunday racing bill passes committee. Arcadia News-Post August 17, 1973.
20. Santa Anita head blasts council action. Arcadia News-Post June 7, 1973.
21. Sunday racing bill angers councilmen. Arcadia Tribune June 7, 1973.
22. Santa Anita fights Sunday racing ban. Arcadia Tribune June 10, 1973.
23. Council relents; citizens want Sunday racing. Arcadia News-Post June 14, 1973.
24. Arth outlines racing position. News Post June 15, 1973.
25. Council reversal seen on Sunday racing ban. Arcadia Tribune June 17, 1973.
26. Ban on Sunday racing retained. Arcadia Tribune July 1, 1973.
27. Council reacts on Sunday racing. Arcadia Tribune July 5, 1973.
28. Council rescinds Sunday racing law. Arcadia News Post. July 12, 1973.
29. Sunday racing fate near. Los Angeles Times July 15, 1973
30. Sunday racing ban lifted. Arcadia Tribune July 15, 1973.
31. Racing board approves season. Arcadia News Post. Arcadia News Post. July 17, 1973.
32. Sunday racing approved. Arcadia Tribune July 19, 1973.
33. Track will open today. Arcadia Tribune October 11, 1973.
34. Santa Anita opens today. Arcadia Tribune December 27, 1973.
35. Story of Santa Anita offered. Arcadia Tribune December 15, 1974.
36. Even $350,000 does not a championship make. Los Angeles Times October 27, 1975.
37. Rainy Santa Anita meeting has two $7 million days. Pacesetter-Highlander April 19, 1978.
38. Santa Anita plans no move to new track. Pasadena Star News July 19, 1978.
39. A birthday cake that's long, long, Longden. Arcadia Tribune February 11, 1979.
40. Santa Anita Park's biggest season opening one week from Saturday. Arcadia Tribune December 18, 1947.
41. Art at Santa Anita. THE BLOOD HORSE December 24, 1966.
42. Racing classic to open. Arcadia Tribune special tabloid to commemorate Oak Tree opening October 6, 1980.
43. Santa Anita: The great race place. Brochure gives history and introduction to the Park. n.d.
44. Interview done in 1976 by Arcadia High School students Mark Stanley and Randy Skomsvold with Arcadia school personnel, John Simmons; he is the man who heads the class conducted at Santa Anita Race Track on training young people in the intricacies of track management.
45. This is Santa Anita. Pamphlet from Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc. n.d.
46. Obituaries, death record, burial location, and articles about Dr. Charles H. Strub who with Hal Roach and some investors built Santa Anita Park. He served as vice-president and general manager of the Los Angeles Turf Club from 1934-1945 and executive vice-president since 1945. Died March 28, 1958.
47. "Santa Anita owns vast playgrounds at famous mile-high Lake Arrowhead." Discusses plans for Lake Arrowhead since the purchase by the Los Angles Turf Club in February, 1946.
48. A Day in the City : The Greens of Arcady (Santa Anita Park and the Arboretum) by Jack Smith. WESTWAYS, March 1968, p. 2-4.
49. Change at the Arcadia Oval, Joe Hernandez is gone and the Wine Shed has come and one player asks himself, will there always be a Santa Anita? by Michael Fessier Jr. WESTWAYS, April 1972, p. 51-54.
50. Riding into Dawn by Frances Halpern. WESTWAYS, December 1975, p. 25-27+.
51. By the way, with Bill Henry. Bill Henry of KHJ Radio describes a day at Santa Anita Park, including the Turf Club. Los Angeles Times, December 28, 1948.
52. Santa Anita a Palace for the Sport of Kings. Description of Santa Anita Park, including the chandeliers, by Kim Blair. Los Angeles Times, January 3, 1965.
53. Doc's Gold Mine, Charles H. Strub built Santa Anita Park (photo). Time Magazine, January 31, 1949.
54. Scoreboard: in Arcadia, Calif., Jockey Willie Shoemaker, 22, set a record, his 485th win. Time Magazine, January 11, 1954.
55. Santa Anita 25th Silver Anniversary Jubilee 1959-1960 winter racing brochure racing schedule.
56. Official Program February 27, 1946. Official Program March 16, 1946. Official Program March 5, 1947. Official Program December 31, 1956.
57. Description and photos of Santa Anita Park from book Westward, Whoa! by Thayer, Bert Clark (1948). The central entrance is a Beaux Arts prize winner for its architect.
