Walk-up admissions allowed beginning Friday

Santa Anita is amending its admission policy beginning Friday to allow walk-up customers for the first time during the pandemic, track general manager Nate Newby said on Wednesday.

The California state government relaxed most pandemic restrictions for businesses on Tuesday, including greater capacity at sports stadiums. The Los Angeles Dodgers drew an announced crowd of more than 52,000 on Tuesday, compared to the limited capacity of approximately 15,000 in place in recent months.

Newby said track officials hope attendance reaches 15,000 on Saturday, a day with an infield promotion.

“We’re opening some additional areas and we’ll be able to take walk-on admissions,” he said. “We expect a big crowd on Saturday and Sunday.”

Since early April, Santa Anita has operated with reduced capacity that required advance ticket purchases for all fans and no walk-up sales. Some seats in the grandstand and box-seat area were unoccupied because of social distancing regulations. Those spaces will be available this weekend, Newby said.

Newsby said tables and box-seat areas are close to being sold out for the Father’s Day, and closing-day, program on Sunday.

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Following Sunday, the track reopens for a five-week autumn meeting from Oct. 1-31 that is expected to have no restrictions.