Guide to Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is one of America's most beautiful race tracks, filled with more than 1,500 trees indigenous to the San Gabriel Valley, and with more than 9,000 flats of flowers planted at the park each year. In addition to watching the races and taking in the plentiful Seabiscuit homages (this is where the famous horse won the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap, and the location where much of the movie about the horse was filmed), visitors can relax in the beautiful gardens throughout the park. Plus, there is plenty to do for families.
General Information
Santa Anita
285 W. Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91007
(213) 628-2772
More Info
Opening day of 2011 is Friday, September 30. Here are the logistics:
Tickets: There are three levels of tickets available for purchase at the gates of the park. General Admission is $5.00, Club House Admission is $8.50, and Turf Club Admission is $20.00 (Turf Club does require a dress code). Children 17 years and younger are admitted into the park for free with a paid adult.
Parking - $4.00 General, $6.00 Preferred, $10.00 Valet.
Morning Workout Viewing
You can come to Santa Anita for free admission to dine while watching the horses while they do their morning workouts. You can enjoy a full hot breakfast, coffee of pastries from their bakery. Breakfast at Clocker's corner is open year round and opens at 10am daily.
Tram Tours
At Santa Anita Park you can take a daily tram tour. Tram tours are available every Saturday and Sunday at 8:30am and 9:45am. The tram tour starts at Clockers corner and will show you all the highlights of the race track. While on the tour you will get a chance to see the stables, receiving barn, Paddocks garden, carriage horses and Seabiscuits original stable. Visitors will also have a unique opportunity to see some of the horses that starred in the movie of Seabiscuit.
Dining
There are many concession stands throughout the park for hot dogs, pretzels, sodas and beers. Visitors can also dine at many restaurants throughout the park. The most popular places to dine are Turf Club dining, Clubhouse Terrace and Front Runner Restaurant. All of these restaurants require advanced reservations.
Paddock Garden
Visitors can have a great opportunity to get close to the horses and the jockeys. The jockeys prepare their horses before races within Paddocks Gardens.
Playground
Santa Anita welcomes families to come and enjoy the experience. There are picnic tables available within the infield. There is also the Anita Chiquita playground where children can enjoy playing on a jungle gym and slides.
Special Admission Days
Seniors Day:
Every Thursday seniors who are 62 or older can get free general admission. You must be able to show valid id at the ticket booth.
Family Day:
Every Sunday from October 2nd until November 6th families can enjoy activities on the infield inside the main race track. Bounce houses and playground will be available at no extra charge. Face painting, pony rides and carnival games will be available for an extra charge. The cost to attend is $5 or free with regular park admission. Children 17 and under are free.
Upcoming Events
Opening Day:
Santa Anita will honor the residents of Arcadia with "Arcadia Day." With proof of residency visitors who reside in the city of Arcadia can enjoy free clubhouse admission. Opening day starts at 11am with the first race starting at 1pm.
Santa Anita Food Truck Festival:
On October 1st from 11am-5pm over 70 food trucks will be in the infield right in the middle of the race track. There will be live music and family activities all day. The food truck festival will be at the park from 11am-5pm.
Shelby Barone is a freelance writer in Orange County. She is a Mom to three young children and spends her free time doing volunteer work in her community. She is passionate about health, nutrition and helping people to live with food allergies. She currently writes at Glitterful Felt Stories.
