Santa Anita closes, Hollywood up next
Santa Anita ended its 2012-13 Winter Meet with a mixed bag of results. Here is an excerpt from a Daily Racing Form interview with Track President George Haines.
“ARCADIA, Calif. – The Santa Anita winter-spring meeting ended Sunday with a slight gain in all-sources handle, but a sizable drop in on-track business, according to the track’s president, George Haines.
The track released limited business and handle data.
In an interview, Haines said the all-sources handle rose 4 percent. On-track handle fell 10 percent on comparative days from the 2011-12 winter-spring season, while on-track attendance was down 9 percent, he said.”
I am not sure why Santa Anita would want to release limited business and handle data. OK maybe I do know, because the news is not good. Here is the good news.
“The gain in all-sources handle was caused by an increase of approximately 40 percent in account wagering through telephone and Internet sources.”
“Our greatest strength has been in [the account wagering] side of our business,” he said. “We’re up close to 40 percent.”
So basically Internet wagering saved Santa Anita’s ass…. somewhat. That being established, I got a laugh out of their publicity release (posted on the home page of their website) of how the meet turned out.
ARCADIA, Calif. (April 21, 2013)—Santa Anita Park, which will again host the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 1 & 2, concluded its 76th winter/spring meeting on Sunday with overall handle up four percent. The increase was fueled, in part, by strong gains in Account Deposit Wagering (ADW) handle through its 71-day meet which began on Dec. 26.
The increase was fueled, in part? How about fueled entirely by gains in ADW. Some things never change.
Stewards get it right this time 
On closing day’s 8th race at Santa Anita #5 Tiz Futurity was declared a non-starter and any bets on him were refunded in accordance with the pari-mutuel rules. The stewards decided that Tiz Futurity was denied a fair start when he lunged as the gates opened but was held by an assistant starter.
This decision was in contrast to an earlier decision that was made on a horse (Harlington Night) on January 17th, race 4. That day the stewards determined that Harlington Night lunged through the gate but caused his own problems, no refunds were given. Although Harlington Night would have been disqualified had he finished the race with the rider aboard.
Rules are still muddled a bit, but it was the right call this time.
Santa Anita Twitter Misses Again 
After the stewards ruled that the #5 Tiz Futurity (see above) is a non-starter and bets shall be refunded, there was some confusion among bettors (at the track and ONLINE) as to what happens to their wager especially regarding the Pick 3, Pick 4, Daily Doubles etc…
You would think that the Official Santa Anita Twitter Account would have some information (or at least acknowledge it) but this is all that was tweeted.
The usual congrats to everyone for winning (which is cool). But how about some usable info? Maybe someone should have put a fedora on Tiz Futurity, that would have caught their attention, since fashion seemed to be the most important thing happening most days.
Great Choice for Employee of the Meet
Frank Garcia, who is the Head Stable Gateman at Santa Anita was named Employee of the Meet. In the few years that I worked for Santa Anita, I could say that Frank was always pleasant and professional. What more can you ask?
Have a very lucky week,
Yes, Unstable Notes was a day late this week, my apologies.
