The 75th anniversary of Santa Anita Park was celebrated with festivities including a parade of Budweiser Clydesdales and the unveiling of sculptor Nina Kaiser's life-size bronze statue of the race horse John Henry. The article includes a list of people in attendance at the party in the Directors' Room.
Lava Man, with exercise rider Tony Romero, takes a jog on the Santa Anita Park race track's new surface, a Cushion Track that cost more than $10 million.
As part of Arcadia's centennial, the city is considering putting up historical markers around town as reminders of past people and events that have shaped Arcadia. There has been $12,000 in centennial funds allocated for the program and a tentative list of some 30 sites presented to Arcadia City Council. Some potential marker locations are given.
Friends and family remember famed rider, Johnny Longden. Less than a mile from the Santa Anita Park race track where much of his legendary status was built, Johnny Longden was honored in a funeral service at Church of the Good Shepherd.
An 8-foot tall bronze tribute to Arcadia's official bird, the peacock, will be unveiled August 5, as part of the city's centennial celebration. The statue will be located in the fountain at Peacock Corner, in the front of Arcadia County Park, at the southwest corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. The sculptor of the peacock is Dave Chapple and the sculpture cost $30,000.
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum keeps the past alive. Recently Doug Hayes donated family artifacts to the collection, an exhibit of Seabiscuit will run until October 31, and work will begin soon on restoration of "The Hugo Reid Family" statue.
Santa Anita Park race track's CEO and President Ron Charles said Santa Anita Park race track will not be sold to help Magnum Entertainment Corporation eliminate a $600-million-plus debt. However, Santa Anita Park race track is entertaining discussions with Magnum Entertainment Corporation concerning potential partnerships or joint ventures on a minority interest basis. Includes a historical timeline.
Orange County artist Dave Chapple will create a bronze statue of two uniformed officers that will be installed at the entrance to the new $16 million police station. The cost of the sculpture will be about $50,000.
The new landscaping and bus shelter for the west side of the Arcadia Public Library will cost $152,126.03 and will be done by Mariposa Horticultural Enterprises Inc.
The exhibit "Petals, Peacocks and Princesses" features more than 80 years of Arcadia's Rose Parade heritage. It is on display through February at the Arcadia Historical Museum.
The statue saluting Hugo Reid and his family will be donated to Arcadia by the county if the city pays cost of moving it and restoring the parkland. It will be moved to a spot near the Arcadia Historical Museum.
Art Wilson writes about some of the famous names in Santa Anita Park's 75 year history, including Charlie Whittingham, Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Seabiscuit, Citation and John Henry.
Locals are invited to document "A Day in the Life of Arcadia," by shooting pictures that reflect life in Arcadia. Photos will be part of an exhibit at the Arcadia Historical Museum to celebrate the city's centennial.
Community commemorations of September 11 will be held at the Arcadia City Hall, congregation Shaarie Torah, and the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum. A description of each event is given.
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum is now in a city-owned building, with a curator paid through the city, and is managed by the library and museum director Janet Sporleder. The Arcadia Historical Society owns the collection and a new agreement commits the city and the society to jointly pay for an insurance policy.