Raymond M. Rogers, Former Santa Anita Official, Dies

Raymond M. Rogers, who began at Santa Anita as track and plant superintendent and rose to the position of executive vice president of the Oak Tree Racing Association, died July 8 in Pasadena, Calif. He was 87.

Rogers served as executive vice president of Oak Tree from May 1989 to December 1992. From January 1993 to February 1994 he was Breeders' Cup coordinator, and played a large role as Oak Tree hosted the 10th annual event in 1993.

Rogers held several key positions with the Los Angeles Turf Club, which operates Santa Anita, beginning as track and plant superintendent in 1955, after having served three years as city engineer for Arcadia and previously for Ventura. He was the track's assistant general manager from 1958-1973 and general manager from 1973-86. He was executive vice president from 1982 through Jan. 1, 1989.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Rogers was a registered civil engineer. He served in World War II as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers.

Rogers is survived by his wife, Dorothy; daughter Julie; son Jeff; and stepson Rick Hechten.