Racing the dates previously held by now-closed Betfair Hollywood Park, Santa Anita Park reported average daily all-sources handle of $9.92 million and average daily attendance of 6,970 for the inaugural 38-day spring meet.
Santa Anita Park will soon have a new president in Tom Ludt, the former chairman of the Breeders' Cup, after longtime executive George Haines was selected to head Southern California's offtrack wagering facility network.
Mike Lakow, who served for 12 years as director of racing for the New York Racing Association, has been hired as racing director at Santa Anita Park, the Southern California track announced Feb. 28.
Keith Brackpool's Gervinho, winless since the 2013 Del Mar meet, got back in the win column with a strong off-the pace victory in the $201,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita Park Dec. 26.
Horsemen said Oct. 28 they like racing at Santa Anita and appreciate improvements in the clubhouse and grandstand, but conditions in the barn area leave something to be desired.
When the Breeders' Cup World Championships returns to Santa Anita Nov. 1-2, several key areas of the grandstand will sport new, updated looks, including the Chandelier Room in the turf club.
Gervinho grabbed the lead in deep stretch and prevailed gamely over the fast-closing Greeley Awesome to win the opening division of the Oceanside Stakes on opening day at Del Mar July 17.
The Breeders' Cup and Santa Anita Park announced June 3 that tickets are on sale to the general public for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Santa Anita Park unveiled renovation plans for its Chandelier Room May 14 in advance of this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships and that it may have more dates with the pending closure of Hollywood Park.
Joe Morris will step down as general manager of Golden Gate Fields to become president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, The Stronach Group announced April 17.
Former CHRB chairman Keith Brackpool bought a minority equity stake in The Stronach Group. He is now on the company's board of directors and has been appointed chairman of its racing operations in California.
Keith Brackpool, chairman of the California Horse Racing Board for the past three years, announced Jan. 18 that he had notified Gov. Jerry Brown's office that he is resigning to become part of The Stronach Group.
Live racing from Santa Anita Park will be available to viewers nationwide on TVG during the track's upcoming winter meet, the California Horse Racing Board learned Oct. 18.
In celebration of the Breeders' Cup World Championships' return to Southern California, a 3D painting will be unveiled at LA Live on Oct. 25.
The California Horse Racing Board and Thoroughbred Owners of California are discussing plans about what to do if Betfair Hollywood Park shuts down.
Trainer Carla Gaines is the subject of two complaints from the California Horse Racing Board alleging that two fillies in her care both tested positive for levels of testosterone in excess of the authorized amount.
The Breeders' Cup confirmed Aug. 9 that the 2013 World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2.
Racing from Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields would be available on television network TVG under a content swap currently being negotiated, an executive from The Stronach Group told the California Horse Racing Board.
Exchange wagering seems to be getting all the scrutiny it can handle from the California Horse Racing Board. Nearly two years after the concept was signed into law, the board decided to delay implementation June 28.
John Sadler, president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, told the state horse racing board his group objects to exchange wagering and is not prepared to sign an agreement with the Del Mar for the upcoming meet.
Proposed rules for operation of exchange wagering were approved for a 45-day public comment period by the California Horse Racing Board during its meeting March 22 at Santa Anita.
Satisfied with its performance so far, Santa Anita Park announced Feb. 22 that it had received permission from the California Horse Racing Board to not add Wednesdays to its current live race schedule during March and April.
The California Horse Racing Board received a surprise visit Jan. 19 from Santa Anita owner Frank Stronach, who told the board he wants to guarantee Santa Anita's long range future.
The California Horse Racing Board agreed Dec. 15 to extend the license of account wagering firm TwinSpires.com after receiving assurance that parent company Churchill Downs Inc. would meet with the Jockeys' Guild.
The Jockeys' Guild has sent letters to Gov. Steve Beshear and the Kentucky General Assembly, asking that jockeys not be forgotten when the legislature considers any changes in the laws concerning the equine industry.
The decision by Churchill Downs Inc. to drop a longstanding insurance agreement with the Jockeys' Guild could have ramifications in California for the company's advance deposit wagering firm TwinSpires.com.
With no discussion, the California Horse Racing Board approved an eleventh-hour settlement between rival horsemen's groups Nov. 17 aimed at heading off a decertification vote of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
A bitter dispute between two Thoroughbred owners' groups in California has apparently come to an end after the organizations reached an agreement with the California Horse Racing Board.
A 2012 race dates calendar was approved by the California Horse Racing Board Oct. 6, with only minor changes from its 2011 version.
The Santa Anita autumn meet can proceed as expected after the California Horse Racing Board dropped its objection to The Stronach Group's distribution plan for its television network.
Unhappy with Santa Anita's plan for distribution of its television signal on racing network HRTV, the California Horse Racing Board suggested the track should broadcast its upcoming fall meet on rival TVG.
The mini-satellite wagering network in California expanded to Santa Maria with the California Horse Racing Board's approval Aug. 25.
Random drug testing of jockeys and harness drivers is set to begin in California after the state horse racing board gave final approval to the rule at its May 26 meeting at Golden Gate Fields.
With a month left in its current winter meeting, Santa Anita is continuing to work with the California Thoroughbred Trainers and the California Horse Racing Board on its new dirt surface.
During a meeting with the California Horse Racing Board March 14, Hollywood Park made it clear that it wants to remain a part of the racing calendar at least through 2012.
The California Horse Racing Board allocated Santa Anita Park the fall racing dates previously operated by the Oak Tree Racing Association at its meeting Feb. 17.
Satisfied that owners were getting as much as possible for purses from a recent state increase in takeout, the California Horse Racing Board granted three advance deposit wagering companies one-year extensions Jan. 20.
Temporary license extensions of 30 days to the state's four advance deposit wagering companies were approved by the California Horse Racing Board Dec. 16.
MI Developments received two waivers from the California Horse Racing Board Nov. 9 allowing it to move forward with the operation of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields and complete its new dirt track at Santa Anita.
The California state Senate Oct. 7 confirmed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's appointment of chairman Keith Brackpool and actress Bo Derek and to the California Horse Racing Board.
Why can't all of California racing be more like Del Mar? Keith Brackpool, who took over as chairman of the California Horse Racing Board earlier this year, challenged his state to embrace racing's fun factor.
The California Horse Racing Board deferred action Sept. 23 on its race dates calendar for 2011 as well as a waiver of state regulations requested by MI Developments to allow it to operate more than one pari-mutuel entity.
California legislation increasing the takeout rate for exotic wagers beginning this winter and making the state the first in the nation to approve exchange betting was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Sept. 23.
Keith Brackpool, chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, will be the featured speaker at the Harris Ranch Seminar, which returns this year from a one-year hiatus with the theme, "Marketing the Thoroughbred."
Santa Anita applied for the traditional Oak Tree Racing Association dates for 2011 during a Sept. 22 California Horse Racing Board race dates committee meeting.
Santa Anita is about to become the first California racetrack to abandon the 2006-mandated synthetic surface experiment and return to dirt.
A national horseplayer's group is hoping to head off a takeout increase of 2% to 3% for exotic wagers on California races being discussed by Thoroughbred interests and the speaker of the state Assembly.
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, "permanently" suspended by the California Horse Racing Board in September 2008 following a drunk driving conviction, was authorized to return to action in the state July 22.
Thoroughbred racing in California remained uncertain about the future following a state horse racing board meeting July 22 in which major track owner MI Developments refused once again to provide a glimpse of its plans.
A San Clemente, Calif., tavern moved one step closer July 6 to becoming the state's first bar or restaurant to offer wagering on horse races under a law authorizing "mini-satellites" passed in 2007.
