Taiba among trainer Bob Baffert's 5 winners on opening day at Santa Anita Park, in front of a crowd of 41,446. The crowd, Santa Anita park's largest on opening day since 46,514 showed up in 2016.
30 people were injured on opening day at Santa Anita Park when two men became involved in an altercation. One dropped a gun and this was enough to cause a wave of panic which spread through the crowd.
Innovations were unveiled at the opening day of Santa Anita Park. There is a new horseshoe - shaped bar and the SIRONA restaurant overlooking the paddock plus a new entertainment area and two grills now under construction. A list of people seen in the crowd is included.
Oak Tree Racing has begun at Santa Anita Park. Opening day drew a crowd of 17,239, a number that slightly eclipsed last year's opening day attendance, but the on-track handle of $1.88 million fell by about $315,000 compared to last year's opening day.
Major traffic jams during Santa Anita Park Race Track's record breaking opening day. All parking lots were full by 12:20 PM on December 26, 2017. See also Mountain Views News, p. B1, December 30, 2017 opening day recap crowd of 40,000.
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.
Santa Anita Park has been purchased by Frank Stronach for $126 million through MI Development, the real estate, entertainment unit of Magna International Inc., Canada's largest auto-parts manufacturer, of which Stronach is chairman.
Opening day of its 72nd season of thoroughbred racing at Santa Anita Park brought in 33,112 fans. Santa Anita Park officials were pleased with the turnout.