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Santa Anita Park Horse RacingLive Santa Anita Park Racetrack Odds from Bodog Racebook
Santa Anita Park RacetrackThe main track at Santa Anita is a one-mile track (1,609 meters) with a synthetic surface. The main track rings a turf track that is nine-tenths of a mile (1449 meters). The track cancelled some race cards during the 2010 spring meet due to torrential rains in California that caused drainage failures. Word on the street (and in the barns) is that Santa Anita Park is going back to a dirt track surface and most would welcome that move. Santa Anita sits on 320 acres of land and the 1,100 foot long grandstand is a historical landmark that can hold up to 26,000 horse racing fans. The infield has a capacity of 50,000 with much of it in a park like settling. The track can house close to 2,000 horses in 61 barns and has an onsite equine hospital facility. The single day attendance record at Santa Anita was set on March 3, 1985 when 85,527 horse racing fans wagered on the Santa Anita Handicap stakes race. On that day race fans witnessed horse racing legend Willie Shoemaker win his eleventh and final "Big 'Cap" race onboard Lord At War. Santa Anita Racetrack holds three thoroughbred racing world speed records. Kostroma set the record for a 1 1/8 mile race in 1991 at 1:43.92. Double Discount ran the 1 ¼ mile in 1:57 2/5 in 1977 and Hawkster clocked 2:22 4/5 over 1 ½ miles in 1989. Santa Anita Race Track HistorySituated in sunny southern California, Santa Anita Thoroughbred Racetrack is nestled in the shadows of the San Gabriel Mountains and is one of the United States (and the Worlds) most storied horse racing facilities. Santa Anita Park, also known as Santa Anita Racetrack ran their first thrilling race on December 25, 1934 with an estimated 30,777 horse racing fans in attendance. It is the oldest racetrack in Southern California and its famed facade, built in 1933, still stands today. Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin opened the first Santa Anita Park in December 1907 with an inaugural 108-day winter meet. Lucky Baldwin made his fortune in mining investments and he was nicknamed Lucky because some of his investments were considered to have turned out lucky. Baldwin accumulated 63,000 acres of land, now Monrovia and Arcadia CA, which includes the area that Santa Anita sits on today. Baldwin was an active horseman and a co-founder of the Los Angeles Turf Club. Santa Anita Leading JockeysSanta Anita has always been home to horse racing legends and famous people alike. No one will ever forget thoroughbred great Seabiscuit who won the Santa Anita Handicap in 1940 in what would be the final race of his legendary career. A bronze statue of the horse that gave people hope in the depression era stands in the famed Walking Ring at the track. Silky Sullivan, with Bill Shoemaker on board, captured the 1958 Santa Anita Derby in grand fashion. Silky dropped 28 lengths off the pace after five furlongs when "The Shoe" asked him to go and he ended up winning the race going away. Many Hollywood stars have graced Santa Anita past and present. Legends like Errol Flynn, Bing Crosby and Spencer Tracy were horse owners. Jack Benny, Frank Capra and Fred Astaire were box owners at the track. Today, legends like Jack Nicholson, Cybil Sheppard and Joe Pesci come out to the park to cheer on the horses. The track has been featured in countless movies and was home to the epic equestrian events during the 1984 Summer Olympics. Santa Anita has a multitude of food and beverage outlets with many of them facing trackside. These include the Front Runner, Sierra Vista, Turf Terrace, Club Terrace and the Club Theatre. The latest food and beverage addition at Santa Anita is Sirona's Bar where race fans can relax at the 70 foot oval bar while watching the race action on over 50 TV screens and four, high definition, projection big screens. Santa Anita Park - Race with the Legend. 
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