New era begins at Santa Anita

Santa Anita's opened its newly installed sand-and-clay track to training for the first time on Monday, although with only 200 horses on the grounds there was seldom more than 10 horses on the track at one time.

The horses who did test the new surface were mostly limited to jogging on a surface that received approximately three-quarters of an inch of rain overnight.

The new surface received favorable reviews from exercise riders and trainers.

"I love it, and the horses love it more than me," said exercise rider Goncalino Almeida, who works for trainer Carla Gaines. "For now, it feels very good. It's got a nice cushion. They jog differently than the last times at Del Mar, Hollywood Park, or here. They jog more confidently, very smoothly."