Santa Anita on recess; spring season opens April 19

ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita concluded the winter-spring portion of its marathon meeting on Sunday, and will start its spring season on April 19.

The spring season runs through June 16 and includes two Grade 1 races on turf May 27 worth $300,000 – the Shoemaker Mile and the Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares – as well as the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup, a $200,000 race on dirt at 1 1/4 miles.

There are four stakes on the opening weekend of April 20-21, highlighted by the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes, a $200,000 race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on dirt April 21.

Trainer Drysdale fined

Trainer Neil Drysdale was fined $2,500 by Santa Anita stewards earlier this month for being named in the track program at Del Mar in November as the trainer of a horse that remained in the care of its previous trainer, according to a published ruling.

The decision was part of an agreement between Drysdale and the California Horse Racing Board, the ruling stated.

The incident occurred when M is for Magic was transferred by owner and breeder Stepaside Farm from trainer Peter Eurton to Drysdale on Nov. 8 with the intent to make the mare eligible for a race on Nov. 11 in which Eurton already had two runners, according to a document on the racing board’s website.

M is for Magic remained with Eurton’s stable, the racing board’s document said, resulting in a scratch by track stewards.

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