How to Follow Horse Racing at Santa Anita Racetracks

The Santa Anita Racetracks cover more than 300 acres of prime property in southern California. Santa Anita combines traditional seating for nearly 30,000 racing enthusiasts with electronic elements that help gamblers follow daily races. You can follow horse racing at Santa Anita Racetracks during the winter and summer months to take advantage of comfortable weather.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Arrive early at the Santa Anita Racetracks to place your bet without dealing with big crowds. The gates open early each morning to allow die-hard fans to make bets on self-service machines for the first running of the day.
2. Dress up to enjoy fine dining and horse racing at the Turf Club within the gates of Santa Anita Racetracks. This club has a strict dress code for men, women and children, as well as a sense of decorum different from the grandstands.
3. Plan your trip to Santa Anita Racetracks during the holidays to follow horses from the Club House Loge seats. These seats are unavailable outside of major holidays and events at Santa Anita, which puts the ticket price at a premium level.
4. Navigate around Santa Anita using daily tram tours before you sit down to follow your favorite horses. A basic tour of the stables, administrative facilities and behind-the-scenes activity will put your enjoyment of horse racing in perspective.
5. Learn about the jockeys, owners and horses involved in horse racing at Santa Anita by attending morning workouts. Follow the health of individual horses and deteriorating track conditions to make informed bets later in the day.
6. Study the vagaries of parimutuel betting before you get involved in wagers at Santa Anita Racetracks. Parimutuel betting pools the funds of all betters instead of hitting the house with a high liability for a large payout. Each winning bet features a small cut for the winning team, track owner and investors.
7. Rent out a box along the race track for your family and friends to enjoy a day at Santa Anita Racetracks. These boxes are expensive due to high demand, but a full day of watching races and taking in the California sun make it a worthwhile investment.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch the simulcast of daily races at Santa Anita Racetracks to get familiar with the track. Local television and racing websites carry races throughout the season to help gamblers make off-track bets. Track the performance of jockeys and ownership teams in different conditions to prepare for your trip to Santa Anita.