Chrome Diaries: Almost Showtime at Santa Anita

As I pulled into the parking lot at Santa Anita Park just before 6 a.m. on Tuesday, a low fog hung in the air, obscuring everything beyond a hundred feet or so. I carried some treats that I had baked for the team the night before, along with a substantial box of prints that required their signatures in order to be shipped out to waiting fans.
As I made my way to the barn where champion colt, California Chrome was being stabled this week, prior to the San Antonio Stakes on Saturday, I was greeted by exercise riders who were already heading back in from the track after a morning training jog. When I stepped into the dim light surrounding the barn of trainer Danny Velasquez, Chrome’s host at Santa Anita, the team was already assembled. Joining them this morning was an efficient, two-man film crew from Fox Sports, who were getting assistant trainer, Alan Sherman and exercise rider, Willie Delgado, wired for sound.

Fox Sports is producing a behind-the-scenes piece that will be broadcast prior to the race on Saturday, and this morning they were here to shadow the team through their day-to-day training. The fog was barely starting to lift on the back side as groom, Raul Rodriquez, brought his charge out to be mounted, and the trio of Alan, Willie and Chrome started their brisk walk to the gap in the track.

I’ve said before that Santa Anita looks like a Hollywood set, and this morning the thick air gave it a mystical quality, as horses and riders slowly emerged from its wispy veil. As they passed people, whispers of recognition could be heard in their wake. Alan led Chrome behind the pony barn to enter the track from the gap at the center of the final turn, and though I did not hear it, Alan said later that Chrome had announced his arrival to his fellow equines with a loud, trumpeting call.
Though I knew my team was on the track, galloping once or twice around the oval, I had to keep a watchful eye to capture them as they pierced the mist and rounded the turn into the home stretch. On their second pass by my position on the rail, Willie was standing up in his stirrups, trying to ease his mount into a slower gate. It took some time for them to backtrack up the rail on the home stretch as they walked to meet Alan to head back to the barn, indicating that it took some time before Chrome was ready to stop running.

As horse and rider were led back to the barn, with steam coming off the chestnut colt as he walked, the camera crew and I double-timed it through the adjoining shed rows, as best we could, to get ahead of the team as they neared their destination. This team was quite different from others that have visited in the past, with lots of horse sense and great connections with the outriders to help ensure everyone stayed safe – and they got the shots they came for.

Back at the barn, Chrome got his bath and took his place in the parade of horses circling the lawn adjacent to the barn, led by a squad of hot walkers marching alongside them. While the Fox Sports crew was getting some final shots of Alan and his star trainee, one by one I herded team members into the office to guide them through signing the stack of limited edition prints I had brought with me. I was especially touched as Raul paused to gaze at each one and sigh his approval – as much for this gorgeous horse as for the captured images.

Work was done before 9 a.m., and I was back on the road to San Diego and halfway home when I heard that California Chrome will start from post position 8 on Saturday. I’ll return for Chrome’s training gallop on Friday morning and settle in for race day, as mild temperatures and a good crowd are anticipated for a matchup with strong competition.

#TheRematch on The Jockey Club Tour on FOX Sports 1
$500,000 San Antonio Stakes
Saturday, February 7 at 2:30 ET/4:30 PT