New Santa Anita Dirt Surface Generates Interest

A new season, new natural surface and renewed hope. Such are the elements Santa Anita Park officials hope will produce an elixir for horses, horsemen and fans alike as The Great Race Place embarks on its 74th season of racing on December 26.

The winter/spring campaign runs 76 days, through April 17, 2011, and the meet features a return to an all-natural dirt main track consisting of 90 percent sand and 10 percent clay. The upcoming meet is also expected to include a 25 percent increase in purses from last season. These are just two of the reasons trainer Steve Asmussen has sent a portion of his sizeable and high-powered stable to compete on a regular basis at the Arcadia, California, track.

"With Santa Anita going back to dirt and the increase in purses, it's generated a spark of interest, and we wanted to be a part of it," Asmussen explained. "We're very early in the process. What will determine whether we will be able to measure this a success or not for us is how well our horses come out of here and what kind of year we have with them, because the majority are young horses."

Among those "young horses" are soon-to-be three-year-olds Astrology (A.P. Indy) and Tapizar (Tapit). Astrology won the Iroquois S. (G3) on October 31 before finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) on November 27, both at Churchill Downs. Tapizar broke his maiden under the Twin Spires on November 27, schooling 11 rivals by 10 1/2 lengths on the wire.