Oak Tree renews with Santa Anita

The Oak Tree Racing Association, which has conducted racing at Santa Anita every fall since 1969, on Monday extended its lease with the track's Los Angeles Turf Club through 2016, Oak Tree's executive vice president, Sherwood Chillingworth announced.

"We've had an enjoyable relationship with the management and employees of the Los Angeles Turf Club, and we are pleased that this partnership will now proceed well into the future," Chillingworth said in a statement.

Oak Tree's next meeting is scheduled to begin Sept. 26. It will be the first meeting at Santa Anita in which a new Cushion Track synthetic surface, installed over the summer, will be used for racing. Oak Tree contributed $3 million to the project, which cost slightly more than $10 million.

The current lease was due to expire in May of 2010. Santa Anita and Oak Tree are scheduled to host the Breeders' Cup in 2008, making the fourth time it will be held at Santa Anita.