The installation of approximately nine acres of turf has been completed at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, and is expected to be ready in time for the fall meeting beginning Sept. 30. Santa Anita is the host site for this year's Breeders' Cup Nov. 4 and 5.
“This has been a major undertaking and we're very pleased with how the entire project has progressed,” said Joe Morris, Senior Vice President, West Coast Operations for The Stronach Group. “The hillside portion of the course was completed about three weeks ago and the oval was finished late yesterday. This particular turf has proven very resilient in our immediate area and right now, with the warm temperatures we've been experiencing, conditions are optimal for fast growth.
Morris continued, “The hillside has already begun to root, so that's great news. About 40% of our races are run on grass, so this project is obviously a huge priority for us, our customers and horsemen. We've been told that we'd be able to run on it in 45 days, but with the installation completed on time, we'll have 90 days before we have horses competing on it. We're excited about opening day on Sept. 30 and we're looking forward to welcoming the best horses in the world here for the Breeders' Cup.”
The new grass, a mixture of Bermuda-Bandera, was grown in La Quinta, about 120 miles east of Santa Anita, near Palm Springs.
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