Santa Anita Park has canceled thoroughbred racing for both Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January 1, due to an impending storm in Southern California. The announcement came early Wednesday morning, marking the latest in a series of weather-related disruptions at the renowned racetrack.
The cancellations follow the delay of the initial two days of Santa Anita’s winter-spring season, which were postponed from December 26-27 to December 28-29. In a communication to horsemen, the track confirmed that some races from the canceled days will be included in a makeup card scheduled for Thursday, January 8.
Looking ahead, Santa Anita officials anticipate that racing will proceed as planned on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. However, a track executive noted that they are closely monitoring weather forecasts. According to AccuWeather, there is a 75% chance of rain in Arcadia during the hours leading up to the first race, which is set for noon. Rain probabilities are expected to increase to 100% on Thursday, with 84% on Friday, 25% on Saturday, and 88% on Sunday.
Historically, tracks like Santa Anita would continue racing even on muddy surfaces, but the protocol has shifted in California following a notable increase in fatal horse injuries in early 2019, which was attributed to a particularly wet winter.
Despite the postponement of opening day from last Friday to Sunday, Santa Anita attracted a crowd of 41,962 on the new opening day. This turnout was above average and was highlighted by notable wins, including Goal Oriented in the Malibu Stakes and Nysos in the Laffit Pincay Jr. Stakes.
As the season progresses, Santa Anita aims to ensure both the safety of the horses and the enjoyment of its patrons, while adapting to the unpredictable weather patterns that have affected the region.
