SANTA ANITA POISED FOR 2017 AUTUMN MEET OPENER ON FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

By Mike Willman —-

SANTA ANITA POISED FOR 2017 AUTUMN MEET OPENER ON FRIDAY, SEPT. 29 WITH REFURBISHED TURF & WORLD CLASS MAIN TRACK; PROMOTIONS SCHEDULE HEADED BY TRACKSIDE OCTOBERFEST OPENING WEEKEND

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2017)—With its Autumn Meet opener just 18 days away on Friday, Sept. 29, Santa Anita Park is poised to open its gates for a dynamic 19-day run through Oct. 29 as the track will offer horsemen and the betting public a newly refurbished turf course and world class main track along with a multitude of dining and entertainment options.With the two-day Breeders’ Cup looming Nov. 3 & 4 at Del Mar, Santa Anita’s opening weekend racing will be dominated by five Grade I Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge races on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Under the guidance of Track Superintendent Dennis Moore, Santa Anita’s sandy loam main track is in pristine condition as it underwent routine maintenance over the summer, with soil removed, applied and track gradients addressed and verified.

Santa Anita’s highly acclaimed Bandera Bermuda turf course, newly installed in June and July of last year, has been reinvigorated through a variety of measures, with a large area, from the quarter pole to the Club House turn, completely re-sodded with brand new turf.

In addition to world-class racing surfaces, fans will be treated to a first-ever Trackside Octoberfest over opening weekend, featuring German beer, food and music as revelers cheer their horses home down the homestretch on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1.

Fans are encouraged to visit santaanita.com to purchase tickets in advance and save big on pre-sale purchases made by Sept. 15.

A Santa Anita General Admission Trackside Octoberfest Package includes:

–Eight beer or cider tastings
–Mini souvenir tasting “stein”
–Five dollar wagering voucher
–Club House Admission
–Racing program and wagering tip sheet
–Access to special Trackside and Grandstand seating areas

In addition to its two-day Trackside Octoberfest Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, Santa Anita will also offer fans a Hall of Fame autograph session Sunday, Oct. 1, beginning at 11 a.m. in the East Paddock Gardens area.
First post time on opening day, Sept. 29, will be at 1 p.m.First post on all weekends will be at 12:30 p.m.For more information on Santa Anita’s racing and promotional schedules, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

About Us

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.