Santa Anita Opener Biggest in Years

A crowd of 44,579 thronged to Santa Anita for its opening-day card Dec. 26, the largest since 1994. An hour after The Factor won the Malibu Stakes (gr. I), last race on the card, the traffic still clogged the surface streets surrounding the racetrack, a rare event in recent years.



On-track handle hit $4,246,751.90, an increase of 10% over the 2010 figure of $3,851,594. All-sources handle was $12,866,300.60, up 9% from last year’s $11,707,276. Total attendance, including California’s ITW sites, was 54,439.







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