Santa Anita Park to re-open inner exercise track Friday

Starting Friday, Santa Anita Park will reopen its exercise track to all horses stabled on the grounds. That circuit, about six furlongs in circumference, is inside both the one-mile main track and seven-furlong turf course at Santa Anita.

Since opening day, on Dec. 26, there have been no catastrophic injuries sustained on it.

Veteran trackman Dennis Moore and Dr. Mick Peterson, from the University of Kentucky’s Racing Surfaces Testing Lab, inspected the inner exercise track. After evaluating it extensively, Moore said he’s “happy with it." Once it reopens, they will closely monitor that track’s condition as horses stabled at Santa Anita Park begin using it.

“Like all athletes, horses need to stay active, so this is a good decision for their overall health since it allows our horses to get out of their stalls and keeps them moving to aid their digestion,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Use of the inner exercise track will be restricted to galloping or jogging only until further notice.

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