Johnny Longden, the Hall of Fame jockey who rode Count Fleet to the Triple Crown in 1943 and was the first rider to win 6000 races, died on Feb. 14. Services will be held on February 24 at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Arcadia.
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.
Santa Anita Park cancelled horse racing Monday for the third consecutive day after 7-1/2-inches of rain fell on its Cushion Track, creating drainage problems.
The Breeders' Cup, known as the world championship of horse racing, was held at Santa Anita Park last Friday and Saturday. The event has helped the local economy in Arcadia, with an estimated $50 million spent on restaurants, hotels, wagering, taxis, etc.
The Breeders' Cup will be raced at Santa Anita Park on November 6-7, 2009. It will be its second consecutive year and fifth time overall held at Santa Anita Park.
Santa Anita Park Race Track owner Frank Stronach has met with city officials about Arcadia's concerns with the track expansion plan and future sessions will be held. The concerns centered around plans to build new barns on the north side of the property, the internal connections between the track and Westfield Shopping mall traffic and people, and architectural compatibility with the track.
Area residents pray, reflect on September 11 attacks. Memorial services were held at area city halls including Arcadia, where about 300 people paid tribute to the victims.
Since Magna Entertainment Corp., the owner of Santa Anita Park, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The race track will be auctioned off in September. That land is zoned for horse racing. Jason Kruckeberg, Arcadia's Development Services Director, said it will remain as a race track.
Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. was awarded $2.7 million in a lawsuit against Huntington Ambulance Service. He claims that Huntington's treatment of him after a riding accident in which he broke two bones in his neck and a spinal injury, caused him to end his career. The Ambulance company is not affiliated with Huntington Hospital.
AbilityFirst and Santa Anita Park held a fundraiser to benefit adults and children with disabilities. Pictured is jockey Kayla Stra atop Fred, a horse that appeared in the movie "Seabiscuit."
Telephone and online wagering was approved by the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday. Now gamblers may place bets at Santa Anita Park from home.
Racing improprieties and cheating alleged at Santa Anita Park. "Sponging" speculations are causing an increase in security policies at Santa Anita Park. Fist-sized sponges have been allegedly placed in horses' nostrils to impede their breathing capabilities, and thus, their chances of winning.