Santa Anita Park, horse racing venue in Arcadia, United States
Santa Anita Park is a horse racing track in Arcadia featuring spacious grandstands and a wide oval racing surface surrounded by green lawns and mountain views in the distance. The Art Deco buildings include restaurants and bars with multiple vantage points overlooking the entire track.
The track opened in the 1930s shortly after gambling was legalized in California, building on earlier racing grounds that existed in the area. Over decades, it became a center of horse racing culture and remains a fixture in Southern California sports history.
The venue carries names rooted in California's past and is deeply tied to horse racing traditions that shape daily life here. Visitors witness rituals like the horse parade before races and gatherings in the paddock that have defined the place for generations.
The venue is convenient to reach by car, about 45 minutes east of downtown Los Angeles and southeast of Pasadena, making it easy to plan a full day visit. Arrive early to watch the horses warm up and secure good viewing spots before the races begin.
A statue of Sea Biscuit, a legendary racehorse that once ran here, stands in the paddock area and remains a meaningful reminder of the track's storied past. This monument captures how deeply visitors connect with the horses and the history surrounding them.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.