Well, lemme tell ya, things ain’t stayin’ the same at that there Santa Anita, no sir. That Santa Anita changes, you know. They’re pourin’ a whole heap of money into that place, like $32 million, I heard. Somethin’ about makin’ it all fancy-like.
They used to have them horse races there, and folks would bet on ’em, you know, claimin’ races, they called ’em. Now they say they gonna drop the prices on them horses. Some horses, the ones that ain’t won yet, they call ’em maidens, will be goin’ for $8,000. Others will be $5,000. Sounds like a lot of money to me, but I guess it is cheaper now at Santa Anita.
And that Golden Gate Fields, up north somewhere, they’re shuttin’ it down. All them horses gotta go somewhere, I reckon. Looks like they’re all comin’ down to Santa Anita. Gonna be crowded, I bet. More races, more horses. That Santa Anita, it’s gonna be the place to be, they say.
But, you know, it ain’t all sunshine and roses. They’s been some sad news, too. Horses gettin’ hurt. They say eleven horses died there in 2023. That’s just awful. Last year, in 2022, they said it was twelve horses died. And the year before, in 2021, well that was another sad year for those poor animals. They run so fast, and sometimes, well, it’s just too much, I guess. Breaks my heart.
Now them owners, they’re sayin’ all kinds of things. They talk about closin’ Santa Anita, sellin’ it even. Makes you wonder what’s gonna happen. It’s all a big mess, if you ask me. People gettin’ all riled up. One fella, I think his name is John, he writes for some paper, he was soundin’ the alarm about all the changes to Santa Anita. I guess he knows a thing or two about it.
This whole thing, it’s that Stronach Group, they’re the ones behind it all. They own that Golden Gate place, and now they’re shuttin’ it down. They ain’t sayin’ much about what’s gonna happen to all them folks up north. Just that it’s gonna change things for racin’ in California.
But back to them changes at Santa Anita. They’re puttin’ in some new kind of track. They’re replacin’ that dirt trainin’ track. I don’t know what this new stuff is, but it ain’t dirt. I heard it’s called “synthetic”. They say it’s better for the horses, maybe they won’t get hurt as much. I sure hope so. They say they’re doin’ it because of all them new horses comin’ in. Gotta make room for ’em all, I guess.
- They are spending a lot of money on Santa Anita changes.
- Some horses will be cheaper to buy now.
- Golden Gate Fields is closing, and its horses are moving to Santa Anita.
- A lot of horses have died at Santa Anita in recent years.
- The owners might close or sell Santa Anita.
- They’re putting in a new kind of track that’s not dirt.
That Santa Anita, it’s been there a long time. I remember hearin’ stories about it when I was a little girl. They used to film movies there. “A Day at the Races”, that was one of ’em. And “A Star Is Born”, that was another. Famous folks went there, too. Bing Crosby, Spencer Tracy, Errol Flynn, even that Alex Trebek fella. And some big shot from them movie studios, a Mr. Mayer. They all had horses there.
Back in 1940, there was this famous horse, Seabiscuit. He won a big race at Santa Anita, the Santa Anita Handicap. They say it was his last race, too. He must have been somethin’ special. They still talk about him, even now.
Well, that’s all I know about them Santa Anita changes. It’s a lot to keep up with. Things are changin’ fast these days, even for an old gal like me. It is a big deal around here, though. Everyone’s talkin’ about it. Just hope them horses are gonna be alright, that’s all I care about.
