Live horse racing returns Friday to Santa Anita

Major Audio Visual Improvements mark major investment horse racing

Racing fans are about to get a real treat at Santa Anita’s upcoming Autumn Meet, which opens Friday, Sept. 27. A huge investment in the audio and visual aspects of racing will greet racing fans on opening day this Friday. Not only that, but the track is now offering a lot more food choices and some unique craft beers will be offered for those who may prefer something more distinctive than Bud.
Santa Anita Park Chairman Keith Brackpool Tuesday pointed out that not only has the track had a major six-figure new paint job but invested a considerable sum of money making the excitement of the race more enjoyable for fans inside the park. This will include not only the massive High Definition TV’s but also a brand new food court with a large choice of great foods and specialty beers.
Brackpool told reporters Tuesday evening that it was time the racing industry did more to get and keep fans coming back for live horse racing and in his view creating a new and improved environment will hopefully do just that.
In several rooms at Santa Anita, giant TV screens are complimented by state of the art audio equipment which will help enhance any race watched under the cover of the track. A new bar is located at the clubhouse, new and improved, and very comfortable, seats plus new counters for handicapping.
There is also a terrific room in which a giant mural of 1930’s Santa Anita photograph which shows a parking lot full and looking north to the track and mountains.
Beacon Media got a preview Tuesday evening of what horse racing fans have been crying out for, according to Brackpool. “We had to change. The future of racing is very bright,” he said as he raised his glass for a toast in the Chandelier Room.
Santa Anita Park and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) have also announced they will jointly offer fans a $50,000 Pick Six Bonus on all non-carryover Sundays, throughout Santa Anita upcoming Autumn Meet, which opens Friday, Sept. 27. In addition to the Pick Six Bonus, Santa Anita will also be guaranteeing pools of $400,000 and $200,000 in the weekend and weekday Late Pick Four pools.
“We are very excited to have been able to reach this agreement with TOC, and we’re all looking forward to offering this very popular Pick Six Bonus to our fans here in California and across the country,” said Santa Anita’s Senior Vice President, Racing & Gaming, Tom Ludt. “This Pick Six model has proven extremely popular over the past two years at Del Mar and we have no doubt it will be here at Santa Anita as well.
“With the cooperation of the TOC, these monies will help stimulate significant additional handle not just on the Pick Six, but on other wagers throughout our betting menu. Additionally, we believe both of our Pick Four guarantees will also be well received by our fans. We anticipate several other innovative changes to our pari-mutuel look and we look forward to announcing those details soon.”
Santa Anita will again offer two 50 cent Pick Fours a day. The Pick Six will again be offered on the final six races each day.
The 30th annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships will return to Santa Anita for the seventh time on Nov. 1 & 2. Closing day for the 24-day Autumn Meet is Sunday, Nov. 3. Santa Anita will present Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day on Saturday, Sept. 28, as five Grade I stakes in preparation for the two-day Breeders’ Cup.
First post time on opening day is at 1 p.m. Entries for the opening day card will be taken Tuesday, Sept. 24. For more racing information, or to make reservations, visit SantaAnita.com, or call (626) 574-RACE.

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