Santa Anita - BC Help
 

First time poster. Thanking you in advance for any help you can provide. My son and I are going to this year's BC. A last minute decision so we don't have tickets yet. I've been to several BC's and there are often many tickets available outside. So we are counting on being able to get tickets outside on the days of the races. Figure Friday will be pretty easy not so sure about Saturday.

So we wanted to do some contigency planning. I've been to a previous BC at SA but I didn't really pay attention to the general admission situation. Any advice on what kind of experience we might get with general admission tickets would be appreciated.

For example I know you can bring chairs to the infield. Are there any decent places to watch the race from the infield?

Thanks Again

Half the paddock side is being reserved for connections and special VIP's. There will also be specials tents/seating areas on the apron and other concourses.

I actually don't think seats are needed at Santa Anita. We were standing 10 feet from finish line with general admission and saw everything, and just grabbed a ledge if we needed to sit down.

You're not going to add in how you guys co-opted the dishy barkeep which made the standing considerably more pleasant?

Year 2 was just as pleasant, but that didn't hurt. It isn't like those are available almost everywhere there! :)

Scavs and waitresses, now where have I heard that before...repeatedly?

Google "Judy Courtland."

Like many in Hollywood, she was forced to work as an actress for a time until the bartending gig could take off for her.

Bless you.

Blasphemy. No status and you undoubtedley wore your Dee Tee cap backwards with your short shorts.

I'm her friend on Facebook - lovely girl!!

Oh, I'm sure you're very 'close friends'............. Just like with Jessica.

They both only agreed to that 'friendship' because of the distance provided by a continent and an ocean! Perhaps if you attempted to bridge the physical distance between them and your Irish arse, you might learn about a quaint, American c-blocker we call a "restraining order."


P.S.-So glad to hear you'll be bringing other Irish freeloaders along with your bad self to our Santa Anita rendezvous next week. And please, tell Seamus and Finn and Father O'Malley and anyone else sober enough to stand that we don't want them to spend a dime. Why start now!

Don't know if offered this year, but the buffet lunch that was served along with the infield tickets at the 2009 BC was darn good !!!!

But could you see the race! I've never watched a race from the infield at any track. I can't remember the placements of the video boards at SA. Are they placed so that you can follow the race? How about access to betting windows?

I doubt we will end up there. It seems that the track comps a lot of tickets and some of those are already for sale on Craigslist. We should be able to come up with tickets pretty easily outside before the races but I always like to have backup plans.

Thanks.

It was the 1st time that we had ever experienced the infield. It really was not bad. You had a good view of the starting gate, upper stretch, and the back stretch, but it was difficult to see down the stretch and the finish line. There were plenty of TV's and betting windows avaialble. However, as the horses ran down the stretch, you did have to run to a TV to see the finish.

Overall though, it was very relaxing and comfortable with a younger and fun crowd. We were winning that day so of course that makes it all the more enjoyable !!!

Thanks for sharing your experience. I bought a couple of tickets off of Stubhub yesterday for Friday and Saturday (same seats.) Section L in the Grandstand (between 1/16 and 1/8.) I paid the price that it would have cost for Saturday alone so I'm set. I really like Stubhub. I know a lot of tickets get comped to the BC so this guy was willing to take the money now and not try to make a killing. Tickets were delivered today so I can quit trying to figure out that part. Now on to the handicapping!

I am going to pay attention to the infield and general admission this time though. I will go visit the infield. Pretty silly to have been to so many races and never watch a race from there. BC is back at SA next year and you never know!

Alysheba,
You did the right thing in getting the tickets, you will enjoy the day much more then being in the infield. I grew up going to Santa Anita and while the infield is fun for a picnic, its not that enjoyable if you are betting and watching the races. You only can see parts of the races from there is not a place to be during the Breeders Cup. I read where General admission is $15 on Saturday. Here are some good places to eat in the Arcadia area. Right across the street is Peppers and they have good Mexican food with a good atmosphere. If you are looking a great place for take-out Mexican food, good to Taco Lita!! They have the best burritos with the their Taco Lita sauce which makes it so good. Its where everyone goes in Arcadia. Its more American style Mexican style food, but they use fresh and tasty ingredients. I cant wait to get out to Ca soon, me and my wife make it a point to stop there. Enjoy yourself, Santa Anita is for sure the Great Race Place!!

Rob from the AZ

Is the Horse Wizard Lounge still there?
 

Hi,
Has anyone been out to Santa Anita recently and noticed if the Horse Wizard lounge is still there? That's where we've sat the last couple of BC's at SA, but I read somewhere that it may have been co-opted for a "Hospitality Venue" for the Breeder's Cup weekend.

Thanks in advance for any info!

Bob in NorCal

too many alyshebas around here.

I was at CD in 1988 when he won the classic and a few years later got to feed him peppermint candies at Lanes End. So I'm professing my like for the horse to be real!

(Funny thing is that the best race of the day in 1988 wasn't the Classic. Personal Ensign's win was a race for the ages.)

....sweet, i got to take some cool pictures that year. strub, big cap, hollywood gold cup. those were good times man.