Courtesy Michael J. Marten

COLONEL JOHN NAMED HORSE OF MEET IN MEDIA POLL     Uploaded: 04/21/2008
MITCHELLE, BEJARANO EARN HONORS AS TOP TRAINER AND JOCKEY
Colonel John, who won the Grade I Santa Anita Derby after winning the Grade III Sham Stakes to establish himself as a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby on May 3, was named Horse of the Meet in Santa Anita’s annual Media Poll. Colonel John, owned and bred by the WinStar Farm and trained by Eoin Harty, joins his sire, Tiznow, among Horse of the Meet winners. Tiznow won in the 2000-01 poll and went on to be named 2000 Horse of the Year. In a unanimous vote, Colonel John also was named the meet’s Outstanding Three-Year-Old. “It’s a wonderful honor and I’m thrilled on behalf of everyone involved with Colonel John,” Harty said. The Santa Anita Derby, in which Colonel John rallied from last near the quarter pole to win by a half-length over Bob Black Jack, was named Race of the Meet.

SANTA ANITA WEATHERS STORM TO FINISH STRONGLY     Uploaded: 04/21/2008
RECORD ADW GAINS POSTED FOR WINTER/SPRING MEET
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 20, 2008)—Santa Anita Park, beset with a dysfunctional synthetic main track which created daily uncertainty as to whether racing would be conducted during periods of wet weather early in its winter/spring meeting, concluded its 2007/08 race meet with total handle down seven percent from last year. On an average daily basis, all source wagering on Santa Anita races was up two percent.

SANTA ANITA RACING TO CONTINUE WITH REFORMULATED SYNTHETIC SURFACE     Uploaded: 01/15/2008
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2008)—Santa Anita Park officials announced today that soil tests conducted both in Australia and at the Civil Engineering Lab at the University of Southern California have revealed a solution to the track’s hardening and inability to drain. As a result, Santa Anita Park will reformulate its troubled synthetic main track under the auspices of the Australian company Pro-Ride, which is one of the southern hemisphere’s leading providers of synthetic surfaces.
“The test results are dramatic and extremely encouraging,” said Santa Anita President Ron Charles. “We have only a short window of opportunity to get this done and we believe we have finally solved our Cushion Track drainage problem. After exhaustive research, we feel strongly that this is the way to go.

HOLLYWOOD PARK DEFIES THE ODDS WITH 5.1% INCREASE IN HANDLE     Uploaded: 12/24/2007
Daily Average of $10.9 Million Compared to $10.4 Million in 2006
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 28, 2007) — Hollywood Park, despite going against a meeting which included the Breeders’ Cup simulcast, closed its 32-day Autumn Meet on Saturday with average daily handle of $10.9 million — up 5.1 percent from the figure of $10.4 million in 2006.

OAK TREE POSTS SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN HANDLE, FIELD SIZE WITH NEW CUSHION TRACK SURFACE     Uploaded: 11/04/2007
ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2007)—With bullish out-of-state business leading the way, the Oak Tree Racing Association concluded its 39th season by posting significant gains in all sources mutuel handle over 2006. Out-of-state average daily handle was up 18 percent over last year and average daily total handle for the meet was up nine percent.
Oak Tree, which had the benefit of running as a live racing simulcast partner during this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships, also concluded its 31-day meet with gains in off-track handle and field size, both of which are directly attributable to Santa Anita’s new Cushion Track surface. Oak Tree average daily handle via Southern California Off Track Wagering Inc. (Scotwinc), was up five percent.

Successful Season Begins Del Mar's Polytrack Era     Uploaded: 09/06/2007
Continuing an upward trend nearly unabated since the start of the new century, Del Mar completed its race meeting Wednesday with plus numbers for handle and attendance, as well as a positive readout for its first season on its new, safer Polytrack racing surface.
When the 371st and final race of the 43-day season was run, the seaside track could boast of an overall handle increase of 3.3 % to a daily average of $13,987,295. It also could claim asmall, but welcome, on-track attendance increase of 0.4% to 16,719 per day. And, in addition, the beginning of the Polytrack era showed a marked decline in catastrophic injuries by more than 50% for the track's 68th summer of sport, validating the decision to spend $9-million to install the synthetic surface.

Michael Baze, O'Neill Are Jockey, Trainer Champs at Del Mar     Uploaded: 09/06/2007
Jockey Michael Baze and trainer Doug O'Neill continued their hot Southern California rolls during the Del Mar meeting when they each captured their respective titles at the conclusion of the shore track's 68th summer season.
Baze, the 20-year-old riding ace who was born in Renton, Washingon and is part of the big Baze clan that is sprinkled throughout West Coast racing, handled 50 winners during the 43-day Del Mar session to earn his first seaside title.

RECORD DAILY HANDLE OF $11.3-MILLION AT SPRING/SUMMER MEET     Uploaded: 07/16/2007
PURSES AVERAGE AN UNPRECEDENTED $448,909 AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 15, 2007) — Handle soared by 8.9 percent to a record daily average of $11,335,575 as Hollywood Park closed its 63-day Spring/Summer Meet Sunday with impressive increases in on-track business over the 61-day meeting in 2006.

SANTA ANITA TO INSTALL CUSHION TRACK     Uploaded: 05/23/2007
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 23, 2007)—Santa Anita Park has announced that it has contracted with Equestrian Surfaces of the United Kingdom to install Cushion Track, virtually the same synthetic racing surface installed at Hollywood Park Racecourse a year earlier.
Cushion Track is composed of silica sand mixed with synthetic fibers, elastic fiber and granulated rubber. The material is coated with a blend of wax.

SANTA ANITA SETS ALL SOURCE HANDLE RECORD, ON TRACK ATTENDANCE UP AGAIN     Uploaded: 04/23/2007
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 22, 2007)—Santa Anita concluded its 85-day winter/spring meeting today and established a record all source handle mark. Average daily all-source handle was up one percent (at $11.8 million), buoyed in large part by consistently strong out-of-state wagering. Additionally, for the first time in ten years, Santa Anita Park attracted more than 30,000 fans on five separate occasions, helping to result in a one percent increase in on-track attendance over last year.
Santa Anita Derby Day on April 7 was undoubtedly the highlight of Santa Anita’s 70th racing season. On-track attendance on Derby Day was 56,810, which was the biggest Derby crowd since 1984. The total mutuel handle of $23.9 million was the fourth highest Derby Day handle all-time and it marked an 8.4 percent increase over last year. The out-of-state Derby Day handle was up 16.2 percent.

LAVA MAN SANTA ANITA WINTER/SPRING HORSE OF MEET IN MEDIA POLL     Uploaded: 04/23/2007
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 22, 2007) ¡V Lava Man, who became only the third horse in the 70-year history of the Santa Anita Handicap to win the race twice when he captured the Grade I event on March 3, was unanimously named Horse of the Meet and, for the second straight year, outstanding older horse in Santa Anita¡¦s annual media poll.
Conditioned by Doug O¡¦Neill, who was named the meet¡¦s outstanding trainer for the second consecutive year, Lava Man is the most profitable claim in racing history. Taken for $50,000 on Aug. 13, 2004, the 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Slew City Slew has earned $4,531,103 since being claimed by Steve and David Kenly, who race as STD Racing Stable, and Jason Wood.

CUSHION TRACK GENERATES DRAMATIC INCREASE IN FIELD SIZE, MAJOR BOOST IN HANDLE AT HOLLYWOOD PARK’S AUTUMN MEET     Uploaded: 12/19/2006
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 18, 2006) — Bigger fields, safer racing, larger purses and increased handle were the theme as Hollywood Park completed its first meeting Monday with its new synthetic surface — Cushion Track.
Cushion Track, installed on the 1 1/8-mile main track at a cost of more than $8 million following the Spring/Summer Meet, was overwhelmingly accepted by horsemen as significantly larger fields helped generate a 19 percent increase in wagering on Hollywood Park races as well as handle increases across the board.

DEL MAR CHOOSES POLYTRACK FOR ITS NEW RACING SURFACE     Uploaded: 11/21/2006
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has announced the selection of Martin Collins Surfaces and Footings (MCS&F), LLC and its Polytrack® surface as the new main track surface for its 2007 summer racing season. MCS&F is an affiliate of the Keeneland Association in Lexington, KY – the track that introduced engineered surfaces to North American racing.
A five-member committee voted to select Polytrack following the completion of an RFP (request for proposal) process overseen by the California Construction Authority and the State Race Track Leasing Commission.

SANTA ANITA PARK OFFERS $12 MILLION IN STAKES DURING 2005-2006 WINTER/SPRING MEET     Uploaded: 11/16/2006
ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2006) – Santa Anita Park will feature 10 Grade I stakes races and will offer more than $12 million in stakes money during its 70th season of racing, which begins Tuesday, Dec. 26. The meet figures to be highlighted by the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday, March 3 and the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, April 7.
Santa Anita Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle expressed confidence in Santa Anita’s wide-ranging and diverse stakes schedule. “We offer more graded stakes opportunities for aspiring 3-year-olds than anyone else in America, and we fully expect to once again be showcasing some of the best Derby prospects in the world,” he said.

Oak Tree Posts Substantial Gains In On-Track Attendance, Lava Man Horse Of The Meeting     Uploaded: 10/30/2006
The Oak Tree Racing Association concluded its 38th season at Santa Anita today by posting gains in both on-track attendance and handle. On-track attendance for the 26-day meeting averaged 9,125 per day, a five percent increase from last year. The average on-track handle was $2 million per day, which represented a one percent increase from 2005.
Oak Tree's on-track increases mirrored the success demonstrated at the 2005-06 Santa Anita winter/spring meeting and confirmed the continued popularity of Santa Anita Park with southern California racing fans.

FAIRPLEX ENDS SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE ONCE AGAIN     Uploaded: 09/26/2006
POMONA, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2006) - Coming off a record-breaking year in 2005, Fairplex Park defied all trends by living up to expectations again in 2006. “Like last year, the stars all aligned and everything came together,” said George Bradvica, Fairplex’s racing manager.

Late Surge Propels Del Mar To Second Highest Handle In History     Uploaded: 09/07/2006
Rebounding from unusual heat and humidity in the early stages of its 67th summer racing season, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club experienced a surge in business past the midway point to conclude the 43-day season Wednesday with the second highest total pari-mutuel handle in its history – $582 million. That figure is exceeded only by the record $608 million in pari-mutuel handle in 2005 at the seaside track.

Installation of Cushion track at Hollywood Park Progresses     Uploaded: 08/08/2006
Work began July 18, to replace the Hollywood Park main track with a synthetic surface, Cushion Track, made by Equestrian Surfaces of Burnley, England. Cushion Track is composed of silica sand mixed with synthetic fibers, elastic fiber, and granulated rubber. The material is coated with a blend of wax. The six-week project will consist of the removal of the top 12 inches of the existing racetrack, followed by installation of an extensive drainage system that will include 4 1/2 miles of pipe, a base of porous rocks, and nine inches of Cushion Track.

Hollywood Park Will Install Synthetic Racing Surface With Conclusion Of Spring/Summer Meeting In Mid-July     Uploaded: 06/26/2006
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 21, 2006) - Hollywood Park will begin work with Equestrian Surfaces of the United Kingdom to replace the existing main track with a synthetic racing surface at the conclusion of the Spring/Summer Meet on July 16.
The surface, known as "Cushion Track," will be in place when the stable area re-opens in September. With the start of the 36-day Autumn Meet on Nov. 1, Hollywood Park will become the first California track to conduct races on a synthetic surface, complete with a new specially designed drainage system.

The NEW CalRacing Club is here!     Uploaded: 05/01/2006
We are excited to announce the start of a new horseplayers club in California. The CalRacing Club recently opened for enrollment at 21 participating satellite wagering facilities throughout the state . CalRacing Club members earn admission credits each time they scan their card at a participating location. Upon scanning their card for the 7th time, members receive a FREE admission. In addition, members may participate in promotions exclusive to the CalRacing Club. Visit your local satellite wagering facility and enroll today. Membership is free! For further information and details click here.

Business Booms at Santa Anita as Track Posts Dramatic Gains in Attendance and Handle     Uploaded: 04/24/2006
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 23, 2006)—Santa Anita Park concluded its 86-day winter/spring meeting today by posting the largest season-to-season gain in on-track attendance since the end of World War II in 1945. the average on-track attendance at this meet was 9,341 which was a 15.1 percent increase over last year’s average of 8,113. This year’s average was also the highest since account deposit wagering (ADW) was instituted in 2002.
Santa Anita Park is one of the premier properties in the Magna Entertainment Corp.’s family of racetracks.

Santa Anita Increases Purses for Second Time     Uploaded: 03/25/2006
For the second time at the current meeting, Santa Anita will increase its overnight purses by 5%, according to track president Ron Charles. The purse adjustment will be reflected in the March 29 program but is effective immediately and will be retroactive to opening day, Dec. 26.

CHRB BOARD MOVES TO REQUIRE POLYTRACK-LIKE SURFACES     Uploaded: 02/16/2006
ARCADIA, CA – The California Horse Racing Board approved a proposed rule Thursday to require the installation of a Polytrack-like surface at the major thoroughbred tracks in California by the end of next year. The rule proposed by CHRB Chairman Richard B. Shapiro and approved unanimously by all seven racing commissioners states: “As a condition to license, any track that operates four weeks (or more) of continuous thoroughbred racing in any calendar year must install a polymer, synthetic-type racing surface by no later than December 31, 2007.”

California’s Medication Testing Program: The Levelest of Playing Fields     Uploaded: 08/24/2005
By Mary Forney - Reprinted from the Owner's Circle Summer 05
California’s equine medication testing program is one of the most advanced in the world. It is designed to protect the horses, the fans, the racetracks, and the State. A look at what goes on “behind the scenes” of this comprehensive program is enough to convince anyone that our horses are, indeed, competing on a level playing field.
The process begins at the racetrack, where horses are tested before and after each race for a myriad of drug substances. Test samples are then analyzed at a state-of-the-art laboratory. With instruments that can detect drugs in amounts so small they could fit on the point of a pin, screening and detection procedures are as scrupulous as those used to handle criminal investigations.

CHRB using fingerprint technology for license applicants     Uploaded: 06/25/2005
The California Horse Racing Board is now using fingerprint-scanning technology to screen license applicants, cutting a processing time that used to take months down to hours.
The technology allows the CHRB to instantly transmit digitized information to the California Department of Justice to screen applicants’ criminal history. The applicant rolls their fingers across an image scanning device until a readable print is captured.

After Shock     Uploaded: 06/13/2005
by Lenny Shulman, Photos by Wally Skalij, reprinted from the June 4 issue of the Blood-Horse
Trainer Dan Hendricks hasn't lost his humor or his winning touch. The first thing you notice is the laughter. Four friends huddle around a table in the early morning at Santa Anita Park and enjoy a racetrack yarn to the soundtrack of horses training-"da-thump, da-thump"-mere paces away. A reporter approaches, inquiring if one of the revelers is ready to be interviewed.

Speaking of "Exciting"...     Uploaded: 05/13/2005
by Drew Couto, President of the TOC
  Personally, I think a little uncertainty in one’s life can be a good thing. In fact, it can be downright exciting! With the future of racing at Hollywood Park the subject of much speculation these days, we – as an industry – can either fear for the worst, or embrace the probability of change as a wonderful opportunity for California racing. My sense is that it should be the latter!

Where Horses Benefit the Most     Uploaded: 03/25/2005
Track Veterinarians have access to unique Southern California Equine Foundation with hospitals at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park
By Tracy Gantz
As Dr. Jeff Blea monitored the chestnut gelding’s breathing under anesthesia, Dr. Rick Arthur drilled a screw into the horse’s right front cannon bone to repair a fracture. They finished the procedure without complications, and expect the gelding to be able to successfully return to racing.

Shock Wave Therapy Gets CHRB Examination     Uploaded: 02/17/2005
by Jack Shinar. Posted on Bloodhorse.com: 2/17/2005.
The possibility that trainers may be covertly sneaking horses off backstretches for shock wave therapy has raised the concern of the California Horse Racing Board.

CHRB Moves To Set Minumum Jockey Weight, Health Standards     Uploaded: 02/17/2005
CHRB NEWS RELEASE - FEBRUARY 17, 2005
ARCADIA, CA – The California Horse Racing Board took initial steps Thursday to establish minimum weights for horses to carry in California races, paving the way for thoroughbred jockeys to weigh as much as 116 pounds without feeling business pressure to engage in unsafe weight-reducing

Other Resources:
California Thoroughbred Breeders
Daily Racing Form
BloodHorse Magazine
Thoroughbred Times