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Cheer home a winner at Santa Anita Park.
 In front of the paddock of historic Santa Anita Racetrack, in the center
of a walking ring, stands a life-size bronze statue of a smallish horse
with crooked knees, a horse still considered by many, some 60 years
after his death, to be the greatest ever. His name was Seabiscuit, and
if you’ve seen the movie by the same name—starring Toby Maguire as the
oversized, blind-in-one-eye jockey who rode the great horse to
glory—then you’re likely to recognize Santa Anita as the famous
thoroughbred’s home track. In fact, it was in the Santa Anita Handicap
in 1940 that an aging Seabiscuit, returning from what had been believed
to be a career-ending injury, cemented his fame by winning the one race
that had eluded him on two previous tries (both times in a photo
finish), plus breaking a track record in the last race of his career.
The track is captivating not only for its history, but also for its art
deco glamour—the retro flair of the green-and-gold grandstands and the
manicured grounds that include topiaries of horses and jockeys. On a
clear day, the San Gabriel Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to the
races themselves.
During a spring meet from December through April and a fall meet in
October and November, the park offers live thoroughbred racing on dirt
and turf. Admission to the grandstand is only five dollars, although we
can’t guarantee that’s the most you’ll spend.
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