Santa Anita Re-Opens Tracks for Light Training
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Photo: Courtesy of Santa Anita Park
After being closed for training the past two days, both the main track and training track at Santa Anita Park were open for light training Feb. 26.
According to Santa Anita officials, a total of 6.5 inches of rain fell in Arcadia from Feb. 23 through Feb. 25. The heavy winter storm also caused racing to be canceled this week.
On Sunday, horses were able to jog on both surfaces under partly cloudy skies with a spectacular backdrop of the snow-laden San Gabriel Mountains which were blanketed with snow as low as 1,000 feet. There have been no timed workouts at Santa Anita since Thursday.
More rain is forecast for the first half of next week, but the amount projected is much lighter than the recent deluge that saturated the area. Jason Egan, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary, said he expects both tracks to remain open for training with timed workouts resuming Feb. 28.
Santa Anita should be full steam ahead next week for three straight days of racing beginning March 3. Entries are being taken Sunday for both Friday's card and Saturday's blockbuster program featuring four graded stakes: the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1T), Buena Vista (G2T), and San Felipe (G2) for 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail.
As a result of this week's cancellations, Santa Anita has added a card for March 9. Furthermore, the plan next week is to run more overnight races than were originally scheduled.