Santa Anita cancels after 1ST race

Santa Anita canceled racing on Sunday for the first time in 10 years (Benoit Photo)

Racing at Santa Anita was canceled on Sunday after the 1ST race due to the

unrelenting rains that have inundated the track since the beginning of the meet

on December 26. The cancellation came by mutual agreement after track management

and jockeys met in the jockeys' room.

"The jockeys brought it to our attention that the track was pretty slick and

that the horses were not getting the necessary foothold," said George Haines,

Santa Anita's general manager. "Management then decided they didn't want to

expose the horses and jockeys to any unnecessary risks."

There was a spill in the 1ST race that involved jockey Mike Smith when his

mount, Unusual Sunrise (Unusual Heat), slipped and broke down.

"He didn't step in any hole or anything like that. That track was good; he

just slipped," said Smith, indicating that the track has held up well to the

constant rain. "Both riders and management all felt the same. It was the right

thing to do. There's always tomorrow."

Santa Anita has not had a fast racing surface since the second day of the

meet. This was the first cancellation at the track in 10 years. On January 8,

1995, racing was called off after the 1ST race due to torrential rains and

subsequent cards on January 11 and 12 were also canceled.

"We had three inches since last night," said track superintendent Steve Wood,

adding that nearly 16 inches of rain has fallen

during the 11 days of racing since the meet began, while the yearly average

is only 14 inches.