Santa Anita Park officials blamed February's rain for a 12.8 percent drop in average daily attendance at Santa Anita Park, but were heartened because the total money bet on and off track soared to a record of more than $1 billion.
Santa Anita Park plans to make at least half of approximately 600 equipment rooms and dormitory rooms available as living quarters for its back-stretch workers.
County health inspectors toured stablehand living quarters at Santa Anita Park, instructing race track officials on the repairs and upgrades necessary to make the "backstretch" habitable.
Labor officials conducted surprise sweeps Wednesday and Thursday at four California tracks, including Santa Anita Park, looking for violations of overtime and minimum wage laws amongst the backstretch workers.
Santa Anita Park was named last week to a list of "America's 11 Most Endangered Places" because of owner Frank Stronach's plans to create a retail-entertainment center in the historic race track.
Arcadia's officials, harboring "serious concerns" about a massive expansion plan for the Santa Anita Park property, want to meet with owner Frank Stronach. An artist's rendering of the proposal is included.
About 500 Hollywood hopefuls participated in the casting calls for the film "Seabiscuit." Possible shooting locations include Santa Anita Park race track where Seabiscuit raced.