Hovdey: Santa Anita Handicap needs no defense

webmaster — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:12:26 +0000

Jay Hovdey

Benoit & Associates

Gladding, with Rafael Bejarano up, wins the 2011 San Antonio.

Somehow the 75th running of the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday will survive without defending champ Game on Dude, who is now being pointed for the $10 million Dubai World Cup half a world away instead of the $750,000 race back home.

Hovdey: Former WinStar partner Casner never afraid to go own way

webmaster — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:39:46 +0000

Jay Hovdey

Bill Casner, formerly a partner in WinStar Farm, is hopeful of pulling an upset with Kayce Ace in Saturday's Santa Maria at Santa Anita.

With the field featuring the high-flying Ellafitz, the reliable Great Hot, and the emergent Miss Mittagong, Kayce Ace will be a longshot to win the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. But if that ever bothered owner Bill Casner, he’s way beyond it now.

Hovdey: Santa Anita's Malibu worth a shot for Ellis

webmaster — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:01:32 +0000

Jay Hovdey

Santa Anita Park opens Monday, a few trees shy of a full orchard after recent winds but brimming with hope for a successful season free of the trials and tribulations that have plagued California’s most beautiful racetrack these last five years.

The racing surface is old news. It’s dirt. When it rains it will be packed tight and play fast. Horses will get quarter cracks and sore feet. Welcome to 1976, and live with it.

2011-12 Santa Anita Park Stakes Schedule

mbrennan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:02:57 +0000

2011-12 Racing Dates

Dec. 26, 2011 - April 22, 2012

Handicapping Information

Meet's name changes, but still same tough Yellow Ribbon

webmaster — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:06:47 +0000

Jay Hovdey

Autumn. It’s a lovely word, and generous, too, fully equipped with an extra letter in case you come up with an “n” missing later in the thought. Much better than “fall,” no question, because autumn means only one thing and fall is definitely not what you want to hear around a racetrack.