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 race track attendance is on the upswing. It drew 40,810 on Friday, its biggest opening day turnout since 2011. On-track attendance was up 33% over last year, partly because of the free infield admission program, which drew more than 10,000 people. Total wagering, including bets placed from all over the country, rose nearly 30% to more than $17 million. On-site betting was more than $3.4 million. The City of Arcadia gets 1/3 of 1% of all on-site wagering.
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.
The Oak Tree Racing Association reversed a national trend of declining on-track attendance by finishing its 28th meeting at Santa Anita Park with a 1.1% increase in on-track attendance.
Santa Anita Park set a record for total attendance (2,690,834) and had it highest daily average attendance (31,289) since 1948, as the 1981-82 meeting closed April 21. Facts and figures about the racing season are presented.
Santa Anita Park. No horse injuries but fewer fans in stands. On Santa Anita Derby Day, the track attendance was 30,713, the third smallest in the past 75 runnings of the Santa Anita Derby, about 5,000 below the recent average. Spate of equine deaths might have taken toll on attendance. Jockey Mike Smith (pictured) celebrates after riding Roadster to victory in the Santa Anita Derby. Animal welfare protesters were present, and attendance was down, but no racing injuries were reported.
5,133 attended the first day of inter-track wagering at Santa Anita Park where wagering was offered on racing at Del Mar. $1,069,980 was wagered on the simulcast races. Santa Anita Park is one of 10 off-track wagering satellites.
Increases in total attendance and total parimutuel handle, compared to last season, and a decline in daily average were in evidence in figures released after the November 16 close of the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.
Santa Anita Park opens the 2010-2011 season with a new $3 million dirt surface on its track. The on-track attendance was 34,268, which was 1,400 less than last year. Trumpeter Jay Cohen calls the horses to the gate (photo).
Santa Anita Park completed its most successful season ever with $445 million wagered. Total attendance was also an all-time high. The admission tax netted the city $1.1 million. The Park's other contributions to the city are discussed.
Santa Anita Park opens its 76th winter/spring 2012-2013 meet with mostly sunny skies and an appearance by KISS (rock group) front man/singer Gene Simmons. On-track attendance was 27,273 this year.
Trouble at Santa Anita Park. According to figures taken from Equibase, Santa Anita Park's total handle was down $77.1 million, or 17.7% from a year ago. If the current trend continues, the track's all-sources handle could show a decline of more than $100 million for the 2010-2011 meet. George Haines, the president of Santa Anita Park, has other troubles, including some wet weather, a players' boycott, and the inconsistencies of a new dirt racing surface.
Santa Anita Companies have submitted a down-scaled entertainment complex with the new proposal for developing the South parking lot of the Santa Anita Park race track property.