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.
55,130 racing fans saw the 10th Breeder's Cup, which included the upset 133-1 final race win by Arcangues. Over $36 million was wagered, including $15 million in on-track betting.
Meditrust will be selling Santa Anita Park race track at a lower price than the $400 million purchase price about a year ago. Due to laws changing in July, tax advantages are no longer available.
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.
Oak Tree Racing Association's 1996 season started with a bang on October 2. Patrons discovered a new look with the $3.5 million improvement programs completed over the summer at Santa Anita Park race track.
The Oak Tree Racing Association reversed a national trend of declining on-track attendance by finishing its 28th meeting at Santa Anita Park with a 1.1% increase in on-track attendance.
City officials met with new Santa Anita Park owner Frank Stronach to discuss his plans for the race track. He wants to build a retail and entertainment village and an interactive horse racing theme park.
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.
Concerns about a proposed entertainment complex next to Santa Anita Park race track have been expressed by representatives of three stores in the Santa Anita Fashion Park.
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.
Some residents north of Santa Anita Park are organizing to protest plans to build an enclosed 16,000 capacity concert arena in an unused portion of the race track parking lot.
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.