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.
A life-size bronze statue of race horse Zenyatta was unveiled at Santa Anita Park yesterday. Zenyatta owners Jerry and Ann Moss were present. Photos and captions only.
Former Mayor Charles Gilb and Ruth Gilb will donate $300,000 to build a new historical museum. The historical society will contribute an additional $100,000.
Santa Anita Park to unveil Zenyatta statue and renames it autumn stakes' races, as part of its rebranding. The statue of legendary mare Zenyatta, 2010 Horse of the Year, will be in the Paddock Gardens.
Unveiling of Anita May Baldwin statue brings peace and beauty. Anita May Baldwin was dedicated down the road from the statue of her father, Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. The statue was unveiled yesterday at the official grand opening of the Le Meridien Hotel on Huntington Drive in Arcadia. The statue is called "A Legacy of Charity," made by artist Alfred Paredes.
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.
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.
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum celebrates its tenth year anniversary with an exhibit called Ten Years and Counting: the Legacy of the Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum, through October 29.
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.
Echoes of hoofbeats: Thoroughbred Racing Walk of Champions to honor history of horse racing on September 27 at its grand opening at Huntington Drive and First Avenue in Arcadia. Sandy Snider and Gail Marshall, the masterminds behind the bronze sidewalk plaques, gave a talk at the new Arcadia Museum Education Center. See hard copy in VF Historical Society.
MI Developments, the new owners of Santa Anita Park, defended canceling Oak Tree Racing Association's lease for fall racing, saying the contract did not account for the true economic cost of running the race track, according to Dennis Mills, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Canada-based MI Developments. On the other hand, Oak Tree's director and executive vice president Sherwood Chillingworth said the race track was getting the better deal, as Santa Anita Park got 75% of Oak Tree's profits. Chillingworth is talking about running Oak Tree at Hollywood Park or Del Mar.
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.
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.