Training Set To Open On New Santa Anita Dirt Track On Dec. 6

Horses will be training in a few days on the the new dirt track - Photos by Terry Miller

Santa Anita Park will welcome horses to its new, all-natural dirt main track on Monday, Dec. 6, as “The Great Race Place” will reopen for training in advance of its traditional opener on Dec. 26,.
Santa Anita’s main track was comprised of synthetic material from September of 2007 through Oct. 11 when construction began on the new surface.
“We’re elated to be able to welcome everyone back,” said Santa Anita President George Haines. “We’re ready to get back to business. We expect the stable area to begin filling up over the weekend and we’ll have horses back on the main track on Monday morning.
“We’re not only offering our fans and horsemen a new track, but we’re also going to be offering huge purses, which will be for everyone’s benefit. We expect that our purses are going to be 25 percent higher than they were a year ago and this should result in larger, more competitive fields which will provide better wagering opportunities.”
Haines also said that although recent rains resulted in a few weather-related delays, the main track project has remained on schedule.
“We’ll begin grooming the surface Wednesday and we’ll take the next five days to work with the material. With any project of this magnitude, there’s going to be some settling of the dirt and we’ll need to work with and monitor that.
“I think everyone understands that as the track will change some in the first week or so. We’ve asked the horsemen to take their time and jog their horses and let them get comfortable with it initially. It’s important that we open for training on Monday and that we have three weeks before opening day to make any adjustments, if necessary.”
As a result of live racing being transferred to Hollywood Park this fall, live racing at Santa Anita has been idle since April, the longest such extended period of time since 1968, which has created a tangible sense of anticipation. .
“Our Group Sales and all advance ticket sales are way up, compared to last year,” said Haines. “Our fans are anxious to come back and so are the horsemen. Santa Anita is regarded as America’s premier winter racing venue and it’s a very, very special place to many people. We can’t wait welcome everyone back on Dec. 26 and it’s going to be exciting to see the horses back on the track on Monday.”
Santa Anita’s new main track, which consists of 90 percent sand and 10 percent clay, will be maintained by Track Superintendent Richard Tedesco. The track’s base and upper layers will have a depth of 15 to 17 inches.
Clockers’ Corner, the track’s popular breakfast area at the top of the stretch, also will be open to the public beginning on Monday, from 4:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Admission to and parking at Clockers’ Corner is free of charge and fans will be treated to a wide variety of breakfast favorites.
Santa Anita’s popular Seabiscuit Stable Area Tram Tours, which emanate at Clockers’ Corner, will be available beginning Saturday, Dec. 11, and will be offered free of charge each weekend morning at both 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.
For advance ticket sales and reservations, fans are encouraged to visit www.santaanitaevents.wagticketing.com. For more information on opening day and upcoming racing action, go to www.santaanita.com.

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