how Santa Anita has fallen...

[dilanesp]

They carded a 7 horse $6,250 claimer yesterday.

In the 1980's, their lowest class was $10,000 (over $21,000 in today's dollars).

[cj]

I did a double take when working on the figures for the card yesterday, couldn't believe it.

[thaskalos]

This is only the beginning. In a few years...the $7,500 claimers will be the feature races of the day.

[HuggingTheRail]

The "Free To A Good Home" $0 claiming event - 3rd Division

[ronsmac]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

They carded a 7 horse $6,250 claimer yesterday.

In the 1980's, their lowest class was $10,000 (over $21,000 in today's dollars).

No slots.

[airford1]

Santa Anita has a "HOPE things get better" Business plan. There is NO REAL PLAN. I remember Santa Anita NEVER ran a claiming race on the turf less than 32,000. When Frank Stonich die's Santa Anita is Condo's.

[ultracapper]

They still don't race on the turf for less than a $25K tag, $50K if maidens.

I remember when they went down to $8K, and now the $6250, which Los Al has been carding, with N2X conditions, since Hol closed. Nickel claimers in SoCal may become a reality one day.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by ultracapper

They still don't race on the turf for less than a $25K tag, $50K if maidens.

I remember when they went down to $8K, and now the $6250, which Los Al has been carding, with N2X conditions, since Hol closed. Nickel claimers in SoCal may become a reality one day.

I'm hoping you mean $5,000 claimers, though the way things are going, it wouldn't surprise me if you mean 5 cent claimers.

[EasyGoer89]

Santa Anita can go father down when otherwise smart people realize it's better to sit in Frontrunner restaurant watching a horse you own race on simulcast back east for twice the money. Getting 'seen' in the winners circle isn't worth what So Cal based owners are currently willing to pay for it.

[Si2see]

Not making excuses for Santa Anita but I would think this would be the time of the year that the horse population is down the most... mares being sent to breed, maybe a few stallions off to the shed, and retiring a few more.... a lot of barns probably waiting to debut their three year olds and waiting on a fresh shipment of two year olds. It should get better

[JustRalph]

What are they down to on MDN claimers?

[ultracapper]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

What are they down to on MDN claimers?

$20K older horses, $30K for age restricted.

[ultracapper]

Originally Posted by Si2see

Not making excuses for Santa Anita but I would think this would be the time of the year that the horse population is down the most... mares being sent to breed, maybe a few stallions off to the shed, and retiring a few more.... a lot of barns probably waiting to debut their three year olds and waiting on a fresh shipment of two year olds. It should get better

Great point. Not exactly sure if that's the exact reason, though it makes sense. Bobby Wayne Grayson is a trainer/owner that definitely fits this mold. His 4 and 5 year old fillies and mares disappear, and then a number of them will pop back up in the late summer/ early fall. Probably ones that didn't conceive and then had to be put back into training. The open claimers for older horses for anything over a $20K tag are far and few between this time of year, and they draw small fields. It's been a seasonal type thing for years now down there. They'll start running the 3yo with the older maidens in about 4 to 6 weeks, and in open claiming races soon after, and that's when the open claiming fields will start filling and they'll start carding more.

The horse population is a real concern in SoCal. That, along with what appears to be a shortage of really, really committed owners, is a real issue down there, and one that, from the outside, really looks to need addressing aggressively. The loss of the types like Ben Warren, Bud Johnston, Barry Abrams and John Liviakis, and the lack of anybody stepping into their shoes, is disconcerting for SoCal race fans. Being a total outsider, I have no idea what the real issues are, but on the surface, it looks kind of scary. Joe Torres and Jim Rhomes pop up for awhile, and then their gone just as fast.

[MonmouthParkJoe]

I really didnt follow Santa Anita that much back in the day (like ten years ago or so), but was it always normal for them to card 8 races on a thursday and friday?

[illinoisbred]

I moved my wagering to SoCal racing and away from Illinois racing approx. 2 years ago. Pretty much saw what is going on in Ca. here in Illinois...dwindling field sizes, lower and lower class opportunities for lesser runners, and basically,noncompetitive racing that's virtually unplayable. Illinois is the classic do nothing state. Racing more than likely will not receive any helping hand in it's continuing decline here in Illinois, and arguably, perhaps it shouldn't. Really hope Ca. can get a handle on this problem.