Unveiling Santa Anita Park's Racing Revolution
How the New Lower-Level Races Came About
In the last few days, Santa Anita Park has had productive meetings with various stakeholders. Racing offices from every group in the state, along with the CTT, came together to come up with these changes. Lowering the minimum claiming prices was at the recommendation of these stakeholders, and Santa Anita Park was on board. Nate Newby, the General Manager, explained that although the first condition book for the meet has already been published, the racing office put out "extras" on Wednesday for the first week and will continue to do so in advance. These races will be included starting in Book 2, and they will be offered on race days starting the day after the opening on Dec. 27, marking the start of the new claiming hierarchy.Pleasanton will remain open as an 850-stall training facility before transitioning into its fairs-season dates in the summer. Details are being worked out to provide subsidies for shipping from Pleasanton, which Santa Anita management estimated at $1,000 per round trip. Santa Anita's documentation also includes the possibility that three-day racing weeks could expand to four days and maybe five days on holiday or special-event weeks if enough horses from NorCal swell the entries.
Santa Anita's documentation for the changes stated that each day's racing could consist of "between 7 and 11 races on weekdays and between 8 and 13 races on opening day, weekends, holidays, and closing week." This provides a diverse racing schedule to attract both local and visiting horse enthusiasts.
The Impact on the Racing Industry
The downward class-level moves at Santa Anita Park, along with the potential for additional dates and races in its upcoming six-month season, are expected to have a significant impact on the racing industry. It shows Santa Anita's commitment to providing more opportunities for horses and ensuring the continued growth and success of the sport.These changes come in the wake of Monday's revelation that there will be no NorCal "anchor" track running for the first half of 2025 until the traditional fairs season starts. The California Horse Racing Board unanimously approved the request by Santa Anita Park to address this issue. The support of the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the California Thoroughbred Trainers further emphasizes the importance of these changes.
However, there are concerns among some industry participants. Ellen Jackson, a longtime NorCal-based owner and breeder, raised a valid question during the public comments session. She expressed concern about the guarantee that the 1/ST Racing group would continue to provide training at Pleasanton, subsidize transportation, and maintain the purse structure. The CHRB's chairman, Gregory Ferraro, DVM, assured her that the board would have her back and that they would adjust the system if needed.
Thursday's CHRB meeting was subdued compared to previous similar discussions. Only one industry participant spoke during the public comments session. But the board remains committed to making these changes work and finding solutions to the challenges faced by the racing industry.