Santa Anita has sent a text to local horsemen confirming that it will take entries Tuesday for the Friday, May 15 card. Due to the coronavirus, Santa Anita has been closed for racing since Mar. 27.
Earlier this month, track officials announced their plans to reopen on the 15th and issued a new condition book and stakes schedule.
The state has begun to lift restrictions on some businesses, including parks and golf courses and the county's “Safer-at-Home” order is set to expire Friday. But the track has yet to be given clearance to operate by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. It is unclear what will happen if the county does not officially grant its permission for Santa Anita to race before Friday. All racing would be held without spectators in the stands and Santa Anita is ready to put in place strict protocols that include mandating that jockeys temporarily take up residence in housing at the racetrack.
Santa Anita issued a statement Saturday that said the track is in ongoing discussions with the county.
There are 10 races in the condition book for Friday, plus two substitute races. If the race goes, the feature will be a $67,000 allowance at one mile on the dirt. Saturday's card is slated to offer the first two stakes races since March, the $150,000 Echo Eddie S. and the $150,000 Evening Jewel S. Both are for California-breds.
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