Cal Phil's 20 years of outdoor concerts ends. The familiar giant concert dome of the California Philharmonic (CalPhil) will not adorn the infield at Santa Anita Park this summer. The concert series has been canceled by its board of directors to concentrate on the remaining scheduled concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall this summer. The series started at Los Angeles County Arboretum in 1996 when CalPhil maestro Victor Vener started a Hollywood Bowl-type experience for Arcadia.
Battle of the Bands. Two major orchestras change venues for summer programs. CalPhil will be performing at Santa Anita Park's infield, while Pasadena Pops Orchestra will be performing at the Los Angeles County Arboretum.
Pasadena Pops Orchestra debuts its first summer season at the Los Angeles County Arboretum today with Marvin Hamlisch, composer and conductor. The CalPhil lost out to the Pasadena Pops in a bid to stay at the Arboretum and CalPhil signed up with neighboring Santa Anita Park instead.
California Philharmonic (Cal Phil) has announced its 2012 summer concert season is moving to Santa Anita Park. Cal Phil Music Director Victor Vener said a multi-year contract would be signed with the track, making the deal a partnership. CalPhil had been considered a Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden tenant for the past 15 years. The 2012 season will open June 30.
California Philharmonic played its last concert at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, after 15 years of playing summer concerts there. Next year, the California Philharmonic will be playing at Santa Anita Park, where the amenities include indoor plumbing, a full liquor license and improved parking.
California Philharmonic's debut at Santa Anita Park Race Track drew approximately 7000 guests. Featured music by Vanessa Carlton and conducted by Victor Vener.
California Philharmonic persists despite financial straits. It owes "quite a bit of money to quite a lot of people," including about $2,000 apiece to 60 musicians, but the orchestra has no plans to go out of business, said Music Director Victor Vener. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1 and 6, November 1, 2012.
Obituary/death notice. Victor Vener, Cal Phil and Pasadena Pops founder, dies at 78. Vener brought outdoor concerts to the Santa Anita Park Race Track, The Arboretum, Descanso Gardens, Rose Bowl, and others.
Interview on the 20th anniversary of Santa Anita Derby Day 5k, with Santa Anita Park Directory of Special Projects Pete Siberell (photo). See hard copy in VF Santa Anita Park 2011-2020.
1. CalPhil opens at Santa Anita. California Philharmonic Orchestra's Festival on the Green summer concerts opens on June 30 with a concert featuring singer Vanessa Carlton, USC Trojan Marching Band and pyrotechnics at Santa Anita Park. The Weekly Star (supplement to PSN, an edition of the Duartean,…
1. CalPhil opens at Santa Anita. California Philharmonic Orchestra's Festival on the Green summer concerts opens on June 30 with a concert featuring singer Vanessa Carlton, USC Trojan Marching Band and pyrotechnics at Santa Anita Park. The Weekly Star (supplement to PSN, an edition of the Duartean, Monrovia News Post, Arcadia Tribune and Star-Temple City Editions), January 24, 2012.
2. Breeders' Cup World Championships Official Track Program, Saturday, November 3, 2012.
3. 626 Night Market, 2013 Summer Garden Nights at Santa Anita Park. Guide to food booths. 626 Night Market, in its second year, is the largest Asian night market in America. Two copies. A) Shows all dates this summer. B) Shows July and August dates.
4. City of Arcadia pamphlet of local shopping, dining, attraction, Santa Anita Park information for visitors. Arcadia Welcomes You to the 2013 Breeders' Cup World Championships. 2 copies.
5. Santa Anita opening: blue skies and blue jeans. Pasadena Star News, p. A3, January 6, 2014. With pictures of $15 million renovation of the clubhouse and Chandelier Room, Alan Balch, Jane Goldstein, and Peggy Whittingham.
6. George Haines leaves Santa Anita; new president Tom Lundt is in. Arcadia Weekly, April 3, 2014.
7. Interview on the 20th anniversary of Santa Anita Derby Day 5K with Santa Anita Park Director of Special Projects, Pete Siberell. Arcadia Weekly, April 3, 2014.
8. Hang gliders land at Santa Anita Park (Jeff Chipman and Ron Keinan). The Weekly Star, April 13, 2014.
9. New dirt on way to track this summer, to resurface and renovate the main track, says Dennis Moore. It will be safer and easier to maintain. The Weekly Star (supplement to Pasadena Star News), June 15, 2014.
10. Santa Anita's future development plans. Santa Anita Park chairman Keith Brackpool says the track might add 800 horse stable barns in the north parking lot area, build two high class restaurants, and potentially develop a major retail/entertainment component that could include a hotel, August 17, 2014. Retrieved from www.Arcadiasbest.com, August 23, 2014.
11. Special supplement Santa Anita Park's autumn meeting and Breeders' Cup, Pasadena Star News September 25, 2014.
12. Santa Anita Park Spring Meet April 24-June 28, with picture of jockey Victor Espinoza. Special supplement in Pasadena Star News (San Gabriel Valley Tribune Newspapers), April 24, 2015.
13. Santa Anita Park winter meet preview, Dec 26, 2016-April 9, 2017. Insert in Pasadena Star News.
14. Santa Anita Park facing changes. The company that owns and manages Santa Anita Park is restructuring to better monetize the race track. Pasadena Star News, October 17, 2017.
15. Santa Anita main track set to re-open for training Sept. 3, as horses prepare for 2017 Autumn Meet opener on September 29. Stable area to begin welcoming horses on Sept 1, breakfast venue Clockers' Corner, open on Sept 2. Sandy loam main track removed. Bandera Bermuda turf course reinvigorated.
16. Future of Santa Anita Park in question. Owners paint dire picture for operations without significant upgrades, expansions. The Weekly Star, January 14, 2018.
17. At Arcadia City Council meeting, Santa Anita Park Race Track announces racing closure following horse deaths (horses euthanized). By Galen Patterson, Arcadia Weekly, March 7, 2019.
18. Stronach Group announced closure of Santa Anita Park Race Track for live racing and training (horses euthanized). By Terry Miller, Arcadia Weekly, March 7, 2019.
19. Third horse in three days dies (euthanized) at Santa Anita Park, while animal rights activists continue to push for a nationwide ban on racing. These three deaths brought the number of horse deaths at Santa Anita Park to 42 since December 2018. The LA County district attorney's office concluded December 19 that there was no criminal wrongdoing connected to the deaths, but offered a series of recommendations aimed at improving safety at racetracks in California. Pasadena Star News, January 20, 2020.
20. Racing's future is on the line at Santa Anita. Fall meet opens today and pressure is on to prove track can operate without killings its thoroughbreds. Pasadena Star News, September 27, 2019.
21. The truth about horse racing deaths, by Jeff Goertzen. From pasadenastarnews.com, June 28, 2019.
USC's new Athletic Director (A.D.) Jennifer Cohen says integrity will be key. After similar job at Washington, Arcadia native Cohen is excited for a chance to lead Trojans.
California Philharmonic Orchestra officials held a press conference and said they do not know why the county decided to end a 15-year run of concerts at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden with them. The press conference was held at Cal Phil's new office in Arcadia. In attendance were Cal Phil founder and Music Director Victor Vener, his son Andre Vener (the orchestra's CEO), Robert W. Miller (member of the Cal Phil board), Michael Arnold (principal clarinetist), Barbara Hicks (volunteer) and 20 protesters who had picketed at the Arboretum, in reaction to the ouster of the orchestra.
Cal Phil's "Be Instrumental" Holiday Haul 2011 runs through December 18. Cal Phil accepts donations of new or gently used musical instruments, toys or music-themed items for homeless and less fortunate children.
Arcadia's Santa Anita Park Race Track announces racing closure following 21 horse deaths since December. Racing is suspended immediately and will return at an undetermined date. See hard copy in VF Santa Anita Park 2011-2020.
Right woman for the job. New Athletic Director at University of Southern California (USC) Jennifer Cohen brings integrity to Trojans program. She has 30 years of collegiate athletic experience, including the past 7 years in the same post at University of Washington. Cohen was born in Arcadia.
George Haines leaving as President of Santa Anita Park to head Southern California Off Track Wagering, Incorporated. Tom Ludt has been appointed the new President, effective April 7, 2014. Ludt was hired a year ago as Senior Vice President, Racing and Gaming-Stronach Group. See hard copy in VF Santa Anita Park 2011-2020.