santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Traditional Wall Calendar, Mathis Brothers Plush Giveaway Headline Santa Anita Opening Day Promos

With Santa Anita's 85th Winter/Spring opener fast approaching on Sunday, Dec. 26, on-track fans will again be treated to a number of promotions, headed by the track's traditional Wall Calendar giveaway and the Mathis Brothers Plush Toy Horse charity donation. The Wall Calendar is free with paid admission, while the Mathis Brothers Toy Horse is available by making a $20 donation to the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), which provides assistance to racing's retired Thoroughbreds.

Special early first post time for a blockbuster opening day card is at 11 a.m. Three Grade 1 stakes, the $300,000 Runhappy Malibu, the $300,000 La Brea and the $300,000 American Oaks, along with the Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio, the Grade 2, $200,000 Mathis Mile and the Grade 2, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes, will highlight what figures to be an unforgettable day at The Great Race Place.

Following is a complete schedule of important Opening Day times & promos Sunday, Dec. 26:

–Admission Gates Open at 9 a.m.

–General Admission, $10, includes General Parking, Program, Open Seating in Grandstand, Sirona's Sports Bar, Seabiscuit Court & Grandstand Paddock Room

–Experience Dining Offerings including a FrontRunner Menu curated by Celebrity Chef Jeremy Fall, a Silks (formerly Turf Terrace) menu featuring Santa Anita Classics and the Santa Anita BBQ in the Loge Box Seats & Trackside Dining. All packages include a reserved seat.

–Infield General Admission, $5, includes Parking & Program

–Children 17 & under admitted free with paid adult

–Preferred Parking, $6, Valet Parking, $10

–First post time at 11 a.m.

–Traditional Wall Calendar, free with paid admission

–Mathis Bros Plush Toy Horse available with $20 donation to CARMA

–Craft Beer & Cider Tasting on Grandstand Apron

–Infield Winter Family Fun Zone, including Pony Rides, Face Painting, Games & more

–Free Online “ShowVivor,” available at santaanita.com

Santa Anita will be open for a 10-race card on Monday, Dec. 27, with first post time at 11:30 a.m. The track will be idle on Dec. 28 & 29th and will then be open for a four-day week from Thursday, Dec. 30 through Sunday, Jan. 2.

Bring Proof of Vaccination: Per the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Mega Event Guidelines, fans 12 and older, must provide proof of vaccination status prior to entering Santa Anita Park. Alternatively, fans can show proof of a negative test result (taken within 72 hours from date of event). For more information on safety protocols, please visit santaanita.com/health.

Fans are encouraged to make reservations and purchase tickets for Opening Day events at santaanita.com/events. For additional information, please call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Traditional Wall Calendar, Mathis Brothers Plush Giveaway Headline Santa Anita Opening Day Promos appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Medina Spirit Collapses, Dies After Santa Anita Workout

This year's Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Medina Spirit collapsed and died after a workout at Santa Anita Park on Monday morning, the California Horse Racing Board's Equine Medical Director Jeff Blea confirmed. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old son of Protonico had just completed five furlongs in 1:01.40 in his second work since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

“I spoke to the attending veterinarian, and when they got to him on the track he had already expired,” said Dr. Blea, former American Association of Equine Practitioners president, speaking from the AAEP convention in Nashville, Tenn. “Not sure where on the track it happened but it was post wire.

“I will have them draw blood and pull hair and will try and get urine for testing. He'll go out to UC Davis in San Bernardino, for a full and
comprehensive necropsy including toxicology, forensics and tissue sampling. We will take a close look at the heart to try and identify the cause of death.”

The colt's Derby win remains in jeopardy due to a positive post-race test result for betamethasone, a therapeutic medication that is not allowed on race day. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not yet held a hearing, required to disqualify Medina Spirit, but on Friday attorneys for Baffert released a statement claiming that tests conducted by a New York laboratory have “definitively confirmed” Medina Spirit tested positive for a corticosteroid not through an injection but because of an ointment used to treat a skin rash.

Medina Spirit was bred in Florida by Gail Rice, mother of Eclipse Award finalist Taylor Rice (apprentice jockey) and mother-in-law to top jockey Jose Ortiz, out of the Brilliant Speed mare Mongolian Changa. The mare failed to produce milk when Medina Spirit was first born, and Rice had to turn to her only other broodmare, Scribbling Sarah, for assistance. The young Medina Spirit thrived, and his own mom started producing milk several hours later.

Unfortunately, Rice's divorce forced the sale of Medina Spirit as a yearling. He brought the bottom-dollar bid of $1,000 at the OBS Winter Mixed sale in early 2019.

Bloodstock agent Gary Young saw the 2-year-old Medina Spirit at the 2020 OBS July sale, and recommended the purchase to Amr Zedan, who was able to purchase the colt for $35,000.

Medina Spirit won the G3 Bob Lewis, then underwent throat surgery after a sound defeat in the G2 San Felipe. The colt rebounded to run a good second in the G1 Santa Anita Derby before heading to Louisville.

Medina Spirit has run four times since his Kentucky Derby win, finishing third in the Preakness Stakes and recording victories in the Shared Belief Stakes and the Grade 1 Awesome Again. Overall, the colt's record includes five wins, four seconds and a third from 10 starts, with earnings of $3,545,200.

Baffert had been aiming Medina Spirit at the Saudi Cup in February.

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Medina Spirit Dies of Apparent Heart Attack at Santa Anita

by Bill Finley & Dan Ross

Medina Spirit (Protonico) died of an apparent heart attack following a five-furlong workout Monday morning at Santa Anita. The colt's owner, Amr Zedan, confirmed the news to TDN.

The incident happened after Medina Spirit completed a five-furlong workout in 1:01.40.The breeze took place at about 7:45 a.m. PT.

“I just heard. He had a heart attack,” Zedan said. “It was quick and he didn't suffer. It's unfortunate. In a moment like this there is not much that we can do. All I can say is that he gave us the ride of our lives and brought everyone together. We are mourning this loss, Bob [Baffert], myself, our team and Johnny [Velazquez], as well. We are all very sad.”

California Horse Racing Board Equine Medical Director Jeff Blea said after watching a video of the breeze that there were signs of trouble near the conclusion of the workout.

“He looked like he was struggling the last part, and the rider was pulling him up,” Blea said.

Blea added that by the time a track veterinarian reached Medina Spirit, the 3-year-old colt had already died.

It was Medina Spirit's second work since he finished second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

“We had such high hopes for him and so many plans,” Zedan said. “We were going to go to the Saudi Cup and possibly to Dubai. We wanted to campaign him all next year. The last thing I expected was to hear something like this. It is God's will.”

Throughout Medina Spirit's racing career, Zedan has stood by Baffert and continued to do so Monday.

“We have a great team and Bob is an amazing friend and an amazing trainer,” he said. “This unfortunately happens sometimes. I have full confidence in my team and in Bob. Unfortunately, this happens.”

As per usual in California, Medina Spirit will now undergo a full necropsy examination. A panel of experts will also conduct a review of the fatality.

When asked if he believed there were any suspicious precipitating circumstances behind the sudden death, Blea responded in the negative.

“Absolutely not. We'll address this like we do all our fatalities, try to find out the reason for it and how to prevent it in the future,” Blea said. “But at this point, there is nothing that's untoward that I'm concerned about.”

Monday's news was the latest and most tragic twist during a career filled with dizzying highs and lows.

Medina Spirit was sold for just $1,000 as a yearling and later for $35,000 as a 2-year-old at the OBS July 2-Year-Old Sale. After breaking his maiden in his lone start at two, Medina Spirit won the GIII Robert Lewis S. before finishing second in both the GII San Felipe S. and the GI Santa Anita Derby. Dismissed at 12-1, he led every step of the way to cross the wire a half-length in front in the GI Kentucky Derby.

Afterward, however, it was revealed that he had tested positive for the medication betamethasone. That led Churchill Downs to issue a two-year suspension to Baffert, which, as things now stand, will keep him out of the 2022 and 2023 Kentucky Derbies. The New York Racing Association has also attempted to ban Baffert. Its case against him has yet to be resolved.

The post Medina Spirit Dies of Apparent Heart Attack at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Santa Anita’s Traditional Wall Calendar Giveaway Returns On Opening Day

A decades-long tradition, racing fans will again be treated to a magnificent Santa Anita Wall Calendar, beginning opening day, Sunday, Dec. 26. Free with paid admission, this year's calendar features many never-before publicized archival photos of The Great Race Place dating back to its opening on Dec. 25, 1934.

With first post time for a tremendous 11-race card on opening day set for 11 a.m., Santa Anita has also announced that it will be open for live racing on Monday, Dec. 27, with first post for a 10-race program at 11:30 a.m.

From crowd shots to photos of legendary racing figures such as George Woolf, Gordon Glisson, Johnny Longden and Bill Shoemaker, the calendar will also feature racing and architectural photos depicting technological advances offered in a “compare and contrast” format each month.

Following opening day, the Santa Anita Wall Calendar will be available for sale in the track's gift shop, Champions! Gifts & Apparel.

Following Dec. 27, Santa Anita will be idle for live racing on Dec. 28 and 29 and will reopen for a four-day racing week on Thursday, Dec. 30 through Sunday, Jan. 2.

First post time on Dec. 30, 31 & Jan. 2 will be at 12:30 p.m. First post time on New Year's Day, Saturday, Jan. 1, will be at 12 noon.

Free General Admission and parking will be offered on Dec. 30 & 31.

While post times will vary due to limited daylight over the first six racing days, first post with few exceptions, will be at 12:30 p.m. for most other racing days through April.

Santa Anita's 78-day Winter/Spring Meet will conclude on June 19.

For additional information regarding opening day Dec. 26 and the upcoming Winter/Spring Meeting, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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