Santa Anita Park ready to open 84th winter-spring meet with new turf course. The new turf chute will accommodate sprints up to 6 1/2 furlongs. Nate Newby is the new General Manager, who began as an intern in 2002. COVID-19 repercussions make it difficult to run the track but there have been no fatalities over Santa Anita's main track during afternoon racing in 2020, following a disastrous 2019, when 37 horses had to be euthanized.
Third horse in three days dies at Santa Anita Park, while animal rights activists continue to push for a nationwide ban on racing. The race horses were named Tikkun Olam, Uncontainable, and Harliss. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) was given authority, in legislation backed by Governor Gavin Newsom, to suspend racing. Officials at Santa Anita Park released a statement reaffirming their commitment to horse safety. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, January 23, 2020.
Horse euthanized two days before new season starts at Santa Anita Park. Truest Reward, a 3-year-old gelding died during a period when the track was closed to workouts but open for jogging and galloping. The horse broke its left front leg on the training track, which is considered the safest surface. This is the 38th horse to die at the track since December 2018.
Arcadia Invitational Track and Field event scheduled for May 7, 8. It is the signature event in the area this year with many of the top athletes in the state performing at Arcadia High School. See also Pasadena Star News, p. B2, May 2, 2021 about Arcadia Invitational being limited to runners from California due to COVID-19 restrictions. No spectators.
Arcadia High School takes first in the JPL Regional Science Bowl and is headed to nationals in April. See also Mountain Views News, p. 9, January 29, 2022.
Coverage of the 55th Arcadia Invitational, considered one of the top high school track and field meets in the nation. It brings together the stars of track and field from the state and throughout the country for a 2-day competition at Arcadia High School. Arcadia event coordinator Rich Gonzalez says a record 690 schools are participating from 36 different states. Spotlight on Kayla McBride from Ayala High School. See also spotlight on South Pasadena High School's Mia Holden, at Pasadena Star News, p. B2, April 8, 2023.
Obituary or death notice. Marine Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui died among terrorist victims in a two bomb attack outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. He attended Holly Avenue Elementary School and then First Avenue Middle School in Arcadia. He left this district in 7th grade in 2014. See also Pasadena Star News, p. A6, August 30, 2021.
Arcadia woman Ruixue "Serena" Shi, 37, pleaded guilty to soliciting $22.8 million in funds for a condominium and hotel project scheme. The crime is one federal count of wire fraud, which has a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, 7, October 28, 2021.
Arcadia's historic Derby Restaurant may be relocated. A mixed-use project may take the place of The Derby and Embassy Suites at 211 East Huntington Drive - 233 East Huntington Drive. Local historian Sandy Snider expressed concern that the 99 year-old building may end up being razed. George Woolf bought the Derby in 1938, originally named Proctor Tavern when it operated in 1922. Councilman Paul Cheng supports the relocation of The Derby. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 2, August 13, 2020 for "The Derby-what's next?"
Santa Anita Park to be a Los Angeles County polling place (Vote Center) for the first time in the racetrack's 86 year history. It'll be on the first floor of its Clubhouse, open 9 AM - 8 PM from October 30 through November 2 and 6 AM - 9 PM on November 3.
Elections in Arcadia: what you need to know. The election for Arcadia City Council members in District 1 and District 4 is on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. It is a mail-in ballot, which can be dropped off no later than 8:00 PM on Election Day. In District 1, incumbent April Verlato is seeking re-election and is being challenged by businesswoman Yuli Sira, a real estate agent and partner in a local engineering company. In District 4, incumbent Peter Amundson seeks re-election and his challenger is Paul Cheng, an attorney
Bay Area horse racing track Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco to close permanently later this year. After the Golden Gate Fields meet ends, The Stronach Group said it will focus on moving horses from the Bay Area to Arcadia, with a goal of increasing field sizes and adding a fourth day of racing to the weekly schedule at Santa Anita Park, beginning in January. See hard copy in VF. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 28, July 20, 2023.
Santa Anita meet opens: no fans but record betting. Santa Anita park began its 84th winter-spring meet yesterday with no audience, but had a record-breaking opening day in betting handle, as $23,003,159 was wagered on the 11-race card. The old record of $20,491,016 was set in 2018. First-year General Manager Nate Newby hopes fans will be allowed back soon. Until such time only essential personnel and horses' owners are allowed to attend races.
Arcadia High School girls soccer team earns top seeds in playoffs. Arcadia (14-2-1) which went undefeated in winning the Pacific League title, will be chasing its first championship since 1993, when it plays host to the wild-card winner--either Rio Mesa or California--in the first round as the top seed in Division 4.
Winner of the Kentucky Derby dies in training at Santa Anita Park yesterday. The horse was named Medina Spirit and died of an apparent heart attack after morning workout. See also related article Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 5. December 9, 2021.
Four men sought in smash-and-grab thefts of purses and watches from the store Rebag at The Shops at Santa Anita mall, at 400 South Baldwin Avenue, on Sunday afternoon, December 3. See also Mountain Views News, p. 1, December 9, 2023.