(Reuters) – Santa Anita Park has postponed weekend racing given overnight developments with the wildfires on the west side of Los Angeles, and the property is being used to support several relief efforts, the track said on Saturday.
Air quality standards at the Arcadia racetrack remain within the limits established by the California Horse Racing Board and Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority but the impact of the fires is growing, track officials said in a news release.
Six simultaneous blazes that have ripped across Los Angeles County neighborhoods since Tuesday have killed at least 11 people, and damaged or destroyed 10,000 structures.
Santa Anita Park has been the site of numerous prestigious races in its 90-year history, including the Breeders’ Cup which it hosted in 2023 for a record 11th time.
A charity drop-off was relocated to Santa Anita Park’s south parking lot on Friday from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and utility Southern California Edison is using the north parking lot as a basecamp to restore power to those in the affected areas.
Morning training will continue as scheduled on the weekend and Santa Anita will remain open for simulcast wagering. Santa Anita Park has its own security staff and unlike many other venues, does not use local first responders for normal events.
Rescheduled dates for the affected races will be released after discussions with stakeholders.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Toby Davis)
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