Santa Anita Issues Letter Regarding Possible Racing

A letter distributed from a Santa Anita Park executive to industry leaders in California states the track will release a condition book April 30 for a possible resumption of racing that could begin by May 15 if a Safer at Home order is lifted in Los Angeles County.

Racing has been closed temporarily at Santa Anita Park since March 27 under orders amid COVID-19 from the Los Angeles County Health Department. For an approximate two-week period prior to that date, the track had raced without fans in attendance. 

Aidan Butler, the acting executive director of California operations for The Stronach Group, which operates Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields in the state, distributed the letter April 29. Addressed to the Thoroughbred Owners of California, California Thoroughbred Trainers, and The Jockeys' Guild and forwarded to BloodHorse, he wrote that the release of the condition book coincides with the expiration of the Safer at Home order and "following California Governor Gavin Newsom's comments on Tuesday that the state could begin to relax the current COVID-19 restrictions in the next few weeks."

Butler and other TSG executives, including chair and president Belinda Stronach, met with Los Angeles County supervisor Kathryn Barger and other health officials by video conference April 16. They discussed reopening under strict protocols and, in a written proposal to Barger, stated they would be willing to relocate jockeys, starting-gate crews, and racing officials to on-site housing if needed as a safety precaution to resume racing.

Spectatorless racing continues at a handful of tracks across the country, including at Los Alamitos Race Course, the only track in operation in the state. Racing was suspended at Golden Gate this month by the Alameda Health Department.

Butler did not return a phone call or text message seeking comment.

"Horse racing is unique as we cannot literally open the doors the moment orders are relaxed. Horsemen need time to plan, which is why the tentative date is being put forth," Butler wrote. "It would be derelict of us to not give you as much notice as possible, with your understanding it is still a contingency plan. Additionally, the plan presented to County officials is logistically complex and it will take Santa Anita up to two weeks to resume operations with the guidelines in place."

In a telephone interview Wednesday, TOC president and CEO Greg Avioli cautioned the letter makes clear that the target date for a resumption of racing could be postponed if the Safer at Home order is extended.

Butler stated in his letter that racing would present no "additional risk to the 750 people who currently live onsite or to the community at large," where training is permitted at Santa Anita.