Santa Anita Cancels Weekend Card Due to Heavy Rain

Due to inclement conditions forecast for Southern California through this weekend, Santa Anita Park announced the cancellation of racing Feb. 25-26 before entries were taken for either day. The track had already scrapped the Feb. 24 racing card, a makeup day not originally on the calendar. 

Blizzard warnings have been issued for the San Gabriel Mountains behind the historic track, with snowfall expected at the 1,000-foot level. It is the first blizzard warning ever issued in Los Angeles County. Per some forecasts, the storm, expected to begin late morning Feb. 23, could drop six inches of rain through Saturday. 

The decision to cancel both days out of an abundance of caution was made in consultation with industry stakeholders, including the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers Association, and the California Horse Racing Board. 

In the judgment of the stakeholders, because the track will have been closed for training for at least two days because of the storm, the races were called off through the weekend to prioritize the safety of the competitors. 

The main track and training track training schedule will be announced daily and open for training as the weather permits. 

Daily Racing Form reported Feb. 22 that Santa Anita would add a day of racing March 9, and offer additional races March 3-5. Due to the weekend cancellation, the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3), a prep on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1), will now be run March 5, as will the ungraded Baffle Stakes, Santa Anita director of racing/racing secretary Jason Egan told the publication.

The Santa Anita Oaks (G2) will now also move from April 1 to April 8 to place it five weeks after the Santa Ysabel, Egan told Daily Racing Form.