Santa Anita cashes winning ticket again as racing returns

ARCADIA, CALIF. — Horses are thundering down the stretch again at Santa Anita. There are no fans or owners cheering them on. No photos in the winner’s circle. No bets placed at the track’s windows.

Still, it’s a win for the sport to be back racing against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains after being idled for 11/2 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We were going to be willing to do whatever it took to get it open,” said trainer Bob Baffert, a twotime Triple Crown-winner.

From March 12-27, the track northeast of Los Angeles raced without spectators. Then the Los Angeles County Public Health Department shut it down, saying it wasn’t an essential business.

“It was sort of disappointing that we didn’t get any acknowledgment that we’re so safe here,” said Baffert, who at 67 is among an age group considered vulnerable to COVID-19.

Baffert compared Santa Anita’s stable area to a hospital with a similar level of disinfecting that goes on.

“We always keep a very clean environment back there because we don’t want viruses to come in and get the horses sick,” he said. “Our grooms wore masks and gloves before this started.”

Santa Anita received approval to resume racing May 15 with new protocols in place.

Without fans eating, drinking and gambling, track owner the Stronach Group has let go half of Santa Anita’s workforce. Face coverings and daily temperature checks are mandatory, and everyone who passes inspection slips on green wristbands. Social distancing is required, too.