Santa Anita was forced to cancel its New Year's Day racing card Sunday as steady rain soaked the Southern California area throughout Saturday night and into early Sunday morning. The rain began as a light drizzle Saturday morning, but increased in strength throughout the completion of the program, continuing throughout the night.
The holiday card's expected feature, the GIII Santa Ynez S., will be run next Sunday. Santa Anita Director of Racing Chris Merz said entries will be reopened and the field will be drawn on Thursday. The Santa Ynez will share the spotlight next Sunday with the GIII Sham S.
Four of Sunday's overnight races that were canceled–races three, five, six and eight–will be brought back as “extras” for Friday's card, which was drawn Sunday. According to Merz, with another substantial rainstorm forecast to hit the area midweek, there will likely be no turf racing Friday.
“We're probably going to be stuck with another all-dirt card,” Merz said.
Racing is expected to resume at the Arcadia oval Monday with 10 races and a first post at noon. Merz expects both the main track and training track to be open for training Monday after both were closed Sunday.
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