b'racingErrol Flynn, Bing Crosby, and Spencer Tracy owned horses. Other celebrities such as Jack Benny, Frank Capra, and Fred Astaire were box owners.Among the tracks racing highlights: Seabiscuit won the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap after near misses in two previous attempts. Affirmed and jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. won the 1978 Santa Anita Derby (G1) en route to winning the Triple Crown title. Justify and Mike Smith repeated the same feats last year. Crawford ifland CHad B. HarMon Spectacular Bid launched his unbeaten 1980 Horse of the Year season with four wins, including the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).Zenyatta became the first female to win With the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop, Santa Anita offers breathtaking vistas. the Breeders Cup Classic in 2009.California Chrome won the Santa Anita Derby before winning the Kentucky Derby santa anita Park L.A. is not far from Arcadia, Ritvo said.and Preakness Stakes (G1).No other track has played a larger roleWere not downtown, but the idea of theThis year Santa Anita will play host to when it comes to Thoroughbred racing onmountains in the backdrop really makes itthe Breeders Cup for a record-breaking 10th the West Coast than Santa Anita Park, nick- special. time.named the Great Race Place. Santa Anita has a one-mile natural dirtThe track is home to a group of grade Opened in 1907 by Elias J. Lucky main track that rings a turf course. It also has1 races that include the Santa Anita Derby, Baldwin a few blocks east of its current an unusual downhill turf course that crossesfor 3-year-olds; the Santa Anita Oaks, for location, San Francisco dentist Dr. Charlesthe dirt and is used often for turf races of less3-year-old fillies; the Santa Anita Handicap, H. Strub and movie mogul Hal Roach cre- than a mile. The course has a slight right- for older horses; the Frank E. Kilroe Mile, on ated a new park in its current location at thehand bend out of the gate and crosses theturf for older horses; and the Beholder Stakes, foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in 1934. main track into the stretch. for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.Like Gulfstream Park, the track is ownedSanta Anitas history is as rich as anyThere are also three grade 1s for 3-year-by The Stronach Group. other racetracks. Hollywood legends such asolds in DecemberMalibu Stakes (colts), La Brea Stakes (fillies), and American Oaks on turf (fillies).Santa Anita Parks European-style pad-dock area is adorned with a statue of jockey George Woolf and busts of riders Johnny Longden, Willie Shoemaker, Pincay, and Chris McCarron; a bust of trainer Charlie Whittingham, facing a statue of his dog, Toby; and life-sized bronze statues of Seabis-cuit, John Henry, and Zenyatta.General admission includes entrance to the grandstand and its Clockers Corner, where horsemen and fans gather to watch morning workouts, and the infield, offering picnic tables and a childrens playground.The clubhouse includes boxes, restau-rants, and venues, which can be reserved for private functions. Santa Anita has so much historyso many great horses, trainers, and jockeys. Plus, the mountains and the setting in the background, Ritvo said. And its that old mystique of a Thoroughbred racetrack that A unique downhill turf course is just one of the Southern California tracks charms. very few have today.Us-breD26 04_WinterRacing.indd 26 3/21/19 2:31 PM'