The 72nd $1 million Santa Anita Handicap is running today. Some of the top contenders are named Colonel John, Einstein, Cowboy Cal, Court Vision, and Matto Mondo. Helen Pitts is Einstein's trainer. Einstein is the son of horse Spend a Buck.
Although The Pamplemousse and Pioneer of the Nile are favored to win the Santa Anita Derby, a third choice, Chocolate Candy, could cause an upset. Chocolate Candy is the son of Candy Ride. Chocolate Candy is owned by Jenny Craig and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.
George Schwary's horse Georgie Boy and jockey Garrett Gomez won the $150,000 Grade II San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita Park. Georgie Boy was trained by Kathy Walsh. Georgie Boy won last month's Sunshine Millions Spring.
Governor Gray Davis has signed into law a bill allowing telephone and Internet wagering on horse races in California. The bill was authored by Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg.
Inglewood's race track Hollywood Park might be developed into a site for big-box retailers, cookie-cutter condos, and franchised theme restaurants. Developer Wilson Meany Sullivan presented a $2 billion proposal to Inglewood City Council for this mixed use development. If the track is torn down, Hollywood Park's 100-or-so days of racing would be split up between Fairplex in Pomona, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, and Del Mar in San Diego.
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.
More than $1.2 million was bet across the state in the first 11 days that computer and telephone betting was approved in this state. It is known as account wagering. There is no way of telling yet if this is affecting attendance and live betting at Santa Anita Park. Two providers of online betting, XpressBet and TV Games, where approved by the California Horse Racing Board. Xpress Bet is owned by Magna Corp., which owns Santa Anita Park.
The Pamplemousse, which means "the grapefruit" in French, is a fast colt. Ridden by veteran jockey Alex Solis, The Pamplemousse won the 1-1/8 mile $200,000 Grade III Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park yesterday. His time 1:47.86 was the fastest in the Sham's 9-year history.
Pioneer of the Nile (the horse) won the Santa Anita Derby this year and will go on to run the Kentucky Derby. Bob Baffert is the trainer and Garrett Gomez is the jockey.
Race horse Apollicee, a 4-year-old California-bred son of Apollo, is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame and occupying the same stall that famous race horse Seabiscuit did back in the 1930s.
The race horse "Return of the King" with jockey Martin Pedroza, won a race at Santa Anita Park. The horse belonged to the Ortega family, some of whom were killed by Bruce Pardo in a Christmas Eve massacre in Covina.
Santa Anita Park concluded its 2002-2003 season on April 20 with a total of more than $1 billion wagered during the 85-day meet. Average daily handle was $11.8 million, representing a decrease of approximately 2% from 2002.
Trainers and owners found to have sent injured or retired racehorses to slaughter will be banned from running or stabling horses at Santa Anita Park under a new policy from Magna Entertainment Corporation. Santa Anita Park President Ron Charles hopes to ensure the safety of its racehorses by monitoring injured or retired horses and keeping dealers known to sell horses for slaughter off the property. The policy was entered into the track's horseman's agreement, which governs racing terms and conditions.
Two articles describe this coming weekend's Breeders' Cup race at Santa Anita Park. "Unbeaten Zenyatta already looks like a Classic choice," p. B1 and "Smart money may be on Einstein," p. B3.