California finalizes dates for 2005

After months of delays, the California Horse Racing Board finalized the 2005 racing calendar for the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit at a meeting in Sacramento on Tuesday, giving Santa Anita fewer dates for its winter meeting than the track had hoped for.

Santa Anita will open its 2004-05 meeting on Dec. 26 and run through April 18. Hollywood Park will run from April 22 to July 17, followed by Del Mar from July 20 to Sept. 7, Fairplex Park from Sept. 9-25, Oak Tree at Santa Anita from Sept. 28 through Nov. 6, and Hollywood Park from Nov. 9-Dec. 19.

Earlier this year, Santa Anita officials said they wanted to run through April 24 to allow for 17 full weekends. The season will open the day after Christmas, a Sunday.