Santa Anita Park Exhibit Brings Race Track's Human History to Life

has no shortage of legends and its ties to Arcadia run deep. This history is now on display in an exhibit entitled “And They’re Off! Euphemera and Images of Santa Anita Park” at the

The exhibit, which was assembled by museum curator Dana Dunn, includes historical photographs of the early days of the park and highlights the personal stories of some of the jockeys. The exhibit will be on display until Jan. 21.

At the exhibit’s opening Saturday, and Executive Director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers Alan Balch shared their personal memories of the park’s history and people.

, has worked at the Santa Anita in some capacity since 1958 and fell instantly in love with the place.

“When I first step foot in the stable area, I said, ‘This is where I want to be.’ It just felt like home to me,” Shear said.

A British native, Shear gained his U.S. Citizenship to move here and work at the park. In his job, he had the opportunity to meet regular fans as well as many legendary jockeys.

He remembered Bill Shoemaker was a great card player who loved to play gin rummy. Sometimes when they were looking for riders, Shear remembered Shoemaker telling them to find another jockey so he could finish playing cards.

Balch, who used to do marketing for the park, also remembered Shoemaker doing that, but believed that he was trying to give other riders a chance.

Balch spoke about Arcadia resident and celebrated announcer Joe Hernandez, who called more than 1,560 races. Hernandez never missed a race in his tenure as announcer from 1934 to 1972.

Arcadia resident and racing fan Lodi Galassi came to the exhibit specifically to see that Joe Hernandez was featured. Hernandez’s vivid descriptions captured 12-year-old Galassi’s imagination and turned him into a lifetime racing fan who even named his second daughter Anita after the park.

Saw Seabiscuit Win

The first race he ever saw in person was when Seabiscuit won the Santa Anita Handicap.

“Ladies were with tears in their eyes clutching tickets saying, ‘I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!’ I’m a 12-year-old kid and I’m thinking, ‘Adults, how can you be so emotionally involved with animals?’” Galassi said. “Oh, boy, it made an impact on me.”

Another visitor to the exhibit, Karen McAvoy, read about the opening in the paper 15 minutes prior to the opening and rushed over to make it on time for Shear’s talk. A retired Exercise Rider and Pari-Mutuel Clerk for Santa Anita, McAvoy found the exhibit to be a fascinating reminder of working at Santa Anita in the early days.

When she was still a student at , McAvoy came to the Santa Anita stable office and said she wanted ride the horses. The office told her she could only do it if she knew one of the trainers.

“I said I knew Johnny Longden, and I actually told a little fib because I knew his daughter [from school], but I didn’t know him,” McAvoy said.

The stable superintendent said that it should be enough to get her a job there, but they’d have to page him. Just as she was about to dash through the door, Longden came in and the superintendent asked Longden if he knew her.

“And he said, ‘Oh, Yes,’ and he put his arm around me and walked outside the stable office,” McAvoy said.

Once outside, she apologized and explained the situation. She got a job as a hot walker that morning and worked at the park 40 years until she retired a couple of years ago.