According to a post on the 1/ST Racing feed on X, racing at Santa Anita Park has been canceled for both Saturday and Sunday. After some internal discussions on Friday, it was decided that live racing–including Saturday's California Cup stakes and Sunday's GIII Las Cienegas Stakes–would go on as planned.
The post from 1/ST Racing references 'the overnight changes on the west side of LA.' According to a story from the Los Angeles Times, the Palisades fire can now be seen from the San Fernando Valley and a flare-up of the fire–estimated at better than 21,500 acres–caused the expansion of the blaze into areas north and east, burning through large portions of the Santa Monica Mountains. Mass evacuations were ordered overnight in the Brentwood and Encino areas.
The post from 1/ST indicated that air-quality readings remained well within the limits established by the California Horse Racing Board and HISA and with that in mind, Saturday morning training was allowed to proceed at Santa Anita.
A release from the track indicated that Santa Anita Park's expansive property is currently being used to support several relief efforts. The large charity drop-off that was set up at the Rose Bowl just to the west in Pasadena was relocated to Santa Anita Park's south parking lot Friday afternoon, with thousands driving in to give what they can or pick up what they need. Southern California Edison is using the entire north parking lot as their basecamp to restore power to those in the affected areas and Santa Anita Park is working with additional response organizations requesting space.
Morning training will continue as scheduled both days and Santa Anita will remain open for simulcast wagering. Santa Anita Park has its own security staff and unlike many other venues, does not use local first responders for normal events.
Details for rescheduling the California Cup, with races dedicated to horses bred in the state, were set to be released after discussions with stakeholders later Saturday morning.
In a message from the racing office regarding rescheduling, the cancelled races will return as extras and are being given preference. A make-up day of racing is also pending approval from the CHRB for Thursday, Jan. 23. The full message is below.
“Today's [Saturday, Jan. 11] carded races will be offered back as extras (X5-X14) to be run Saturday, January 18 and given preference. Entries will be taken tomorrow. You will need to re-enter if you were entered on today's cancelled card.”
“Sunday's carded races will be offered back as extras (X5-X13) to be run Sunday, January 19 and given preference. Entries will be taken on Monday. You will need to re-enter if you were entered on tomorrow's cancelled card. Pending CHRB approval, a make-up day of racing on Thursday, January 23 will be added. Every effort will be made to use races offered in the condition book for Jan. 18 and Jan. 19 as quickly as possible.”
This story will be updated as details merit
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