ON-TRACK BUSINESS AT SANTA ANITA UP, FREE FRIDAYS, SANTA ANITA DERBY LEAD WAY     Uploaded: 04/19/2009
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 19, 2009)—Santa Anita Park concluded its 84-day winter/spring meeting in robust fashion on Sunday, posting the first gain in on-track attendance at any major California racetrack since the summer of 2007 at Del Mar. Leading the way was Santa Anita’s “Free Fridays” promotion, which offered fans free on-track General Admission, free box seating and one dollar concessions, along with a robust Santa Anita Derby Day crowd on April 4 of 50,915, which helped Santa Anita to post a one percent gain in on-track attendance, reversing a trend of steep declines at racetracks nationwide.

Racing Fatalities Decline in California     Uploaded: 03/04/2009
By Jack Shinar
Email Print RSS ShareThisSince a rash of five horse breakdowns in the opening five days of racing at the current Santa Anita meet -- resulting in four fatalities -- there has been just one race-related death since Dec. 31, Dr. Rick Arthur told the California Horse Racing Board.

California Racing Gets Aid From State     Uploaded: 03/04/2009
By Jack Shinar
Email Print RSS ShareThisLegislation linked to the long-delayed approval of the California state budget Feb. 20 could mean up to an additional $32 million a year for the state’s beleaguered horse racing industry.