Santa Anita infield training track expected to open by end of month

ARCADIA, Calif. - The infield training track at Santa Anita is expected to open by the end of the month, a delay of more than six weeks from the original timeline, officials said on Saturday.

The track was closed in early November to install a synthetic track that was intended to be in use by mid-January.

Track senior vice president and general manager Nate Newby said on Saturday that construction has been delayed by recent wet weather and by the availability of installation crews.

“Everything will be ready in two weeks,” Newby said.

Work was delayed last week because of several days of rain. As of Saturday, the synthetic surface was in place on the innermost section of the course. Maintenance crews made progress in the last week to install the porous asphalt surface, known as macadam, on the outer sections of the course. The synthetic material covers the asphalt, which allows for better drainage.

Installation of the asphalt is expected to continue at a rapid pace this week before the remainder of the synthetic surface is installed, Newby said.

The asphalt “has been the slow part,” Newby said. “They couldn’t do that in the rain.”

There were other complications related to construction crews.

“Some days we weren’t ready and some days we couldn’t get them,” Newby said.

The installation will cost more than $7 million “and is approaching $8” million, Newby said.

“We want to make sure it was done right,” Newby said.

When in use, the course is utilized for a variety of facets of daily training, including workouts, jogging, galloping and ponying.

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