SANTA ANITA’S ONE MILE MAIN TRACK TO REOPEN FOR TRAINING MONDAY AT 5 A.M

By Mike Willman/Tiffani Steer

SANTA ANITA’S ONE MILE MAIN TRACK TO REOPEN FOR TRAINING MONDAY AT 5 A.M.; TRACK TO BE AVAILABLE TO JOGGERS & GALLOPERS ONLY, WORKOUTS EXPECTED TO RESUME IN THE COMING DAYS

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 9, 2019)—Santa Anita’s one mile main track will reopen for limited training Monday morning at 5 a.m. Closed for training and racing since this past Tuesday, training will be restricted to joggers and gallopers on Monday. Three renovation breaks will be taken as regularly scheduled. These breaks will be from 6 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., and from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

“Over the past four days, we’ve been able to do a great deal in terms of amending the soil and inspecting it,” said California-based trackman Dennis Moore, who has been charged with heading a group of track maintenance personnel that includes third-party experts investigating Santa Anita’s main track. This group also includes representatives of the California Horse Racing Board.

Moore, who has 46 years of experience maintaining tracks in California and around the world, has been conducting extensive visual inspections of the one mile oval, as well as analyzing soil samples and test data generated by Dr. Mick Peterson, a third party consultant who serves as the director of the University of Kentucky’s Agricultural Equine Program and is a professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.

“I think the most important thing with this track right now is that we closely monitor compaction levels,” said Moore. “With all the rain, and this is the case in any wet winter, the ‘fines,’ silt and sand, can change very quickly and that affects the clays as well. Compaction, as well as dilution, of silt and sand, are all factors in the overall composition of the soil.

“More specifically, it’s been very helpful that we have not had any significant rain since this past Wednesday. We’ve been able to harrow, roto-till and aerate the soil throughout each day in order to get a uniform track profile and that’s helped Mick in his efforts. With all of this, the objective is to get the ideal composition throughout our six inch cushion.”

Peterson’s primary focus has been conducting testing that simulates the force and speed generated by the leading forelimb of a Thoroughbred running at full speed. Utilizing what’s called an Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester, Peterson has gathered data that quantifies firmness, cushioning, grip and consistency from locations throughout the one mile surface.

“We’ve reviewed Mick’s research and it clearly indicates our cushion is right where it needs to be,” said Moore. “We also acknowledge that things can happen even under perfect circumstances, but from everything we’ve been able to learn, this track is in outstanding condition and it’s ready for training.”

Santa Anita’s main track is expected to reopen to horses breezing for the purpose of receiving official workout times in the coming days. Pending further testing and analysis of morning training, Santa Anita is expected to reopen for racing in the coming weeks.

Santa Anita Park announced new protocols yesterday with regard to training and racing, and these measures will be in-place Monday and in the days and weeks to come.

For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

ABOUT SANTA ANITA PARK
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP
The Stronach Group (TSG) is a world-class entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing at the core. The company’s mission is executed through the distinct but interconnected pillars of Racing and Gaming, Entertainment, Technology and Real Estate Development. TSG is dedicated to delivering the best in class Thoroughbred horse racing content and operations. The company holds some of the greatest brands in the industry including, Southern California’s Santa Anita Park, “The Great Race Place”; South Florida’s Gulfstream Park, home to the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series and retail destination, The Village at Gulfstream Park; Pimlico Race Course, home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Laurel Park and Rosecroft Raceway in Maryland; Oregon’s Portland Meadows; and the San Francisco Bay Area’s, Golden Gate Fields. TSG is a leader in digital and mobile wagering technology through its subsidiaries AmTote and Xpressbet and is a major distributor of horse racing content to a global audience through Monarch Content Management. The award winning Adena Springs is the breeding and training facility of The Stronach Group with stables in Kentucky, Florida and Ontario.