This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Photograph was edited for publication purposes; Original print has vertical crease along middle. Santa Anita Racetrack, located at 285 W. Huntington Drive, is the oldest racetrack in Southern California. The 'first' Santa Anita Racetrack was built on Elias Jackson ("Lucky") Baldwin's immense estate of "Rancho Santa Anita" and opened on December 7, 1907, but closed just two years later when horse racing was banned in California. In 1933, Hollywood director Hal Roach and San Francisco dentist Dr. Charles Strub formed the Los Angeles Turf Club and raised funds to build a new track. Designed in an Art Deco style by Gordon B. Kaufman, the "new" Santa Anita Park opened December 25, 1934. In 1942, racing at Santa Anita was suspended and Santa Anita was used as a Japanese American internment center from 1942-1944. The park is one of eleven detention camps included on California Historic Landmark #934. A downhill turf course was added in 1953 and in the 1960s, major renovations included a much-expanded grandstand as well as additional seating. In 1974 the Westfield Santa Anita Mall was built on the site of the old barns and training track. In 2007 the park added a synthetic "cushion" track to the existing turf course. The Park contains 61 barns, which house more than 2,000 horses, and an equine hospital. Photograph caption dated March 3, 1964 reads, "The Cadenzas and their guests get preview of horses before running of race. Fans at the rail included Mrs. Jess Whitehill, Sherman Oaks; Mrs. W. R. Blackford, Woodland Hills; Mrs. Carroll Willoughby, Tarzana; L. Dean Petty, Woodland Hills, and C. T. DeCinces, Northridge."; See images #00116772 through #00116776 for all photos in this series.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;29 x 36 cm. Photographic prints
Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, Calif.) Cadenzas (Los Angeles, Calif.) Racetracks (Horse racing)--California--Arcadia Horse racing--California--Arcadia Crowds--California--Arcadia Spectators--California--Arcadia Race horses--California--Arcadia Jockeys--California--Arcadia Men--California--Arcadia Women--California--Arcadia Arcadia (Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs Roach, Hal,1892-1992 Strub, Charles Kaufmann, Gordon B Baldwin, Elias Jackson,1828-1909
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
