WITH TRAINING SUSPENDED FOR SEVERAL DAYS, SANTA ANITA ANNOUNCES FRIDAY’S NINE-RACE CARD HAS BEEN POSTPONED

By Mike Willman —-

WITH TRAINING SUSPENDED FOR SEVERAL DAYS, SANTA ANITA ANNOUNCES FRIDAY’S NINE-RACE CARD HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO PREPARE HORSES FOR THIS WEEKEND & UPCOMING FIVE-DAY RACE WEEK

ARCADIA, CA (Feb. 7, 2024)—With training suspended since Sunday due to historic rainfall from a series of storms, Santa Anita Park, in consultation with its horsemen, postponed Friday’s nine-race card to give time for horses to return to a normal routine before this weekend’s races. The Friday races will be offered back next Thursday. Per CHRB rules, they will be re-drawn when entries are taken this Saturday.

“With training suspended for the last four days, per the CHRB protocols only joggers will be allowed on Thursday and we return to regular training Friday morning,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita Senior Vice President and General Manager. “Many of our trainers and horse owners have conveyed they would prefer an extra day for their horses to resume training before we race this weekend.

“Dennis Moore and his maintenance team have done a terrific job taking care of the track. We got over 10 inches of rain since Sunday afternoon, but the forecast looking forward is very good. We’re confident that the main track and the turf course, especially with the improved drainage that was installed last year, will be in excellent condition ready when racing resumes on Saturday.”

With a favorable weather forecast, Saturday’s races, which are being drawn this morning, will include a trio of Grade III Stakes: the $100,000 Las Virgenes, the $100,000 San Marcos and the $100,000 Palos Verdes Stakes.

Regular first post time this Saturday is at 12:30 p.m. and Santa Anita will have a special early first post time on Big Game Sunday of 11 a.m. Free parking and admission will be offered along with a Big Game Watch Party in Sirona’s Bar.

Santa Anita Park will host five days of racing next week, beginning with Thursday, Feb. 15 through President’s Day Monday, Feb. 19. First post time throughout the week will be 12:30 p.m.

For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
About The Stronach Group
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland).
For more information, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.