The Taste of Arcadia will also be offering a taste of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships when more than 1,200 people are expected to attend the Sept. 22 event.
Breeders’ Cup, the Oak Tree Racing Association, and Santa Anita Park have partnered to become the platinum sponsor of the evening of wine and food tasting at the Los Angeles County Arboretum across the street from Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
“This will be part of our making the local community aware of what’s going on with the Breeders’ Cup,” George Haines, Santa Anita’s vice president and general manager, said during a press conference at Santa Anita’s Clocker’s Corner July 10.
About 35 local restaurants, wineries, and breweries are expected to showcase their food and drink at the Taste of Arcadia, which will also feature information about the 14 Breeders’ Cup races to be held Oct. 26-27 at Santa Anita. In addition, Breeders’ Cup, Oak Tree, and Santa Anita will be canvassing the community for volunteers to help with the two-day event.
“The volunteer program here will be much stronger than at any previous Breeders’ Cup,” said Rick Baedeker, the event coordinator for Breeders’ Cup. Baedeker, formerly president of Hollywood Park, has been working with Breeders’ Cup since the beginning of the year.
“Rick has been crucial in keeping the lines of communication open between here and Lexington and New York,” said Sherwood Chillingworth, Oak Tree’s executive vice president.
Baedeker, Chillingworth, and Haines said that they expect to provide 300-400 volunteers around the racetrack during the two Breeders’ Cup programs. Oak Tree for years has used about 100 volunteers to help with the infield party during its California Cup program.
“The volunteers will greet the guests and help them find their seats,” Chillingworth said.
Chillingworth said they decided to expand their volunteer program after seeing people at previous Breeders’ Cups have difficulty finding their way around. The event draws people from around the world, many of whom have never been to that particular racetrack before.
Haines said the sponsorship of the Taste of Arcadia is also being done to help raise the awareness of Arcadia’s community within the worldwide racing community. The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce spearheads the Taste of Arcadia program, and at the press conference Baedeker briefly outlined the Breeders’ Cup program for those in attendance.
“The Breeders’ Cup has always moved around until now,” Baedeker said. He gestured to Chillingworth and Haines and added: “Largely due to the folks sitting next to me, we will have the Breeders’ Cup here for two years in a row.”
Santa Anita and Oak Tree often sponsor many events in and around Arcadia.
“Arcadia’s a marvelous place to live and operate in,” Chillingworth said. “It’s a pleasure to be a part of this community."