ARCADIA, Calif. — Horses are thundering down the stretch again at Santa Anita. There are no fans or owners cheering them on. No photos in the winner’s circle. No bets placed at the track’s windows.
Still, it’s a win for the sport to be back racing against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains after being idled for 1½ months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We were going to be willing to do whatever it took to get it open," said Bob Baffert, the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer.
From March 12-27, the track northeast of Los Angeles raced without spectators.