Promoters cancelled the final day of Festival Santa Anita after drawing only 5000 of an anticipated 60,000 people. This was the first music event at Santa Anita Park.
The opening day of Oak Tree marked the introduction of satellite wagering on Santa Anita Park races at Hollywood Park and Los Alamitos. After years of resistance, Santa Anita Park has fully embraced satellite wagering in a bid to win back fans lost to the lottery and urban congestion.
Frank Stronach, founder and chairman of the board of Magna International Inc., is buying Santa Anita Park from Meditrust. The $126 million purchase is expected to close today.
Promoters expect 20,000 people a day to attend Festival Santa Anita, a Labor Day weekend event featuring Latin music, food, and arts and crafts. This will be the first major event at Santa Anita Park since the City Council decided in July to allow its use as a concert venue.
The current phase of plans for the Santa Anita Park race track include a 1,200-seat restaurant, retrofitting to today's seismic standards, bringing the facility into compliance with ADA, and a terraced concrete apron in front of the grandstands.
Dr. Dino Clarizio, Medical Director for the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, spends one day every week at the Clinic he helps operate at Santa Anita Park race track caring for race track personnel and their families.
The City Council approved two towers to be built along the front facade of the grandstand at Santa Anita Park to provide for the circulation of people going to the new Frontrunner restaurant.
Santa Anita Derby Day 5K started three years ago with less than 2000 participants but is expected to attract between 4000-5000 runners and walkers in the 5K's fourth year.
Plaza de las Fiestas, a new multipurpose arena in the northwest quadrant of the infield at the Santa Anita Park, has been created to accommodate Family Faire weekend outings for groups of 25 or more, as well as company picnics, concerts, trade shows, equine shows and other special occasions that can share the day with racing.