Santa Anita opens its 16-day fall meet Friday with a spectacular weekend of racing that features 14 stakes races, 10 of them graded and three of them Grade I’s.
We talked with Santa Anita basic supervisor Nate Newby this week, quizzing in regards to the meet and what administration expects the following 5 weeks:
Q: Will the identical COVID-19 protocols that had been in place when Santa Anita accomplished its final meet on June 20 be in place for opening weekend?
Newby: They’re very comparable. They (well being division) appear to replace the foundations fairly a bit so it’s type of ever-changing pointers, however we’re beginning out with the present pointers are masks required indoors (besides when consuming or consuming), however not exterior. It’s such a giant facility we predict it’s very protected. We’ve received folks unfold out, and it’s such a giant constructing that I believe it’s a protected place to come back. There are some new pointers that may happen starting Oct. 7 and we’ve heard that there could also be extra coming quickly after that so we’ll simply preserve watching the state of affairs and modify. We’ll simply do as we’ve been doing and modify as wanted and comply with no matter they inform us.
Q: What are you anticipating this meet, with the Breeders’ Cup only one month away?
Newby: We’ll begin sturdy (after which taper off), however we’re optimistic. Del Mar clearly had a strong meet. We’ve raised purses once more for this meet. It’s our third consecutive meet of purse will increase and we’ve already introduced it for the winter-spring (meet). We’ve received some new faces with our horse recruitment program with (trainers) Mark Casse, Michael Maker and Steve Asmussen having introduced some horses in. I believe it’s going to be a powerful meet and let’s preserve the momentum entering into California. We’re actually working collectively (with Del Mar) to make it as compelling as attainable for barns to come back out to California. Del Mar’s had lots of success with that and we’re constructing on what they did. (Santa Anita’s) a superb place to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup, after which hopefully we are able to preserve them within the winter and spring as nicely.
Q: The favored downhill turf sprints will resume at Santa Anita for the primary time since March 2019 with the working of Friday’s Eddie D. Stakes. There’s additionally downhill turf sprints scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. What’s been the response from followers to the return of racing over the world’s most original course?
Newby: We’ve gotten lots of optimistic suggestions. The followers are excited and it’ll actually assist the thrill for opening day. The horsemen are excited so we’re trying ahead to it. We’re going to run 4 stakes through the meet (down the hill) plus some choose allowance races. We received’t be working a bunch of races down the hill to begin with, however will probably be a giant occasion after we do.
Q: Some naysayers will inform you horse racing is a dying sport as a result of on-track attendance just isn’t what it as soon as was resulting from off-track betting and on-line wagering. How do you’re feeling about that?
Newby: We’ve seen that development through the years, however actually the pandemic even accelerated the place we’ve made it very snug for folks to play the races from residence and lots of people are selecting to do this. It’s nice to have them on observe, however we actually admire their help once they’re taking part in from residence as nicely.
Q: Santa Anita is providing what it calls the “Sports activities Betting Problem” these subsequent 5 weeks. What do followers have to do to become involved?
Newby: Each Saturday and Sunday we’re going to do a contest both on-line or on observe. In the event you come on observe, you may get a bonus entry and play on-line as nicely. You’ll be able to enter at santaanita.com. It’s $1,000 prize cash every day, free to enter, and also you’re selecting a mixture of a few of our races and prop bets on the most important sports activities. So it’s type of a enjoyable solution to mix them, and clearly we all know that sports activities wagering might be on the horizon so it’s a superb alternative to seize followers on each side.
Q: Lastly, the Breeders’ Cup is scheduled for Del Mar (Nov. 5-6) this 12 months and Keeneland in 2022. Is Santa Anita a attainable host website for 2023?
Newby: There’s nothing official to announce, however we love internet hosting the Breeders’ Cup and there are discussions so I believe you’ll see it at Santa Anita (once more) sooner somewhat than later.
SANTA ANITA RACING
A take a look at the observe’s 16-day fall meet that begins Friday and runs by Oct. 31:
Racing days: Santa Anita will run Fridays by Sundays, aside from particular vacation racing Monday, Oct. 11.
First submit: 1 p.m. every day, aside from Saturday’s 11-race card that may start at 12:30 p.m.
Main races: There are three $300,000 Grade I races this meet – Friday’s American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds; Saturday’s Superior Once more Stakes for 3-year-olds and up; the Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares over the turf.
Defending champs: Flavien Prat received final 12 months’s jockey title with 27 victories and Bob Baffert and Peter Miller shared coaching honors with 11 victories apiece.
Extra information: santaanita.com
Comply with Artwork Wilson on Twitter @Sham73
