Any recommendations for going to Santa Anita Derby Day?
 

Looks about 80% we'll make a quick trip down to attend the Santa Anita Derby.

I posted here prior to going to the 2008 Breeders Cup and was correctly touted that General Admission tix would be available "day of."

I'm presuming I should be able to walk up and buy a General Admission ticket this Saturday for the Santa Anita Derby. Is that correct, or should I maybe try to lock something down in advance?

I remember someone here once spoke positively of the tram tour of the stable area. I see there are only two racing days it does not operate....and one is Derby Day.

Any thoughts or prior experiences would be appreciated.

Just pray it doesn't rain.

You will have no problem getting seats, if your an early riser I recommend breakfast at Clockers Corner, the breakfasts are great and you will see all the trainers, jocks and jocks agents out and about right there, it's a real nice experience.

Thanks LARHAGE, that sounds great.

I see one article that references getting to Clockers' Corner at 7:30AM.

I'm presuming the track ticket sales opens early enough to get there at 7:30AM?

You can just walk in at that hour. Walk to the farthest left end of the grandstand behind the loading dock.

There's always plenty of room for general admission. The one time I got there early (for the tram tour--sorry!) we never actually had to leave so I didn't have to pay admission! Don't know if they're more vigilant shooing people out after the workouts. In a pinch you can go over to the big shopping center and waste time with a coffee.

Last I heard prediction is party cloudy and mid-sixties, which wouldn't be bad at all.

Have dinner at Smitty's....Lake Ave. in Pasadena

Thanks for the advice, Steve. I doubt I would have arrived at that tidbit intuitively.

Our accommodation plans are still up in the air. We may stay with my wife's friend from college in Pasadena (thanks for "Smitty's ASUDEVIL), or we may elect for paid accommodations as close to the track as we can still get a reservation.

Do you know of a good restaurant in LA?

Wow, that's subject to personal likes and interpretation.

For example, for me and my wife we enjoy late night eclectic menu choices at Bully's when at Del Mar. I love their sauteed mushrooms in the late night hours with a glass of a hearty red wine. But Bully's may be a secondary preference to those who like to watch the Pacific surf as they dine on California fusion or somethin'.

I like eating tasty and hopefully sometimes healthy food around a bar or lounge. I'm a sucker for seared ahi tuna with wasabi and a tall cold beer.

Seriously, if you need LA restaurant recommendations I'm sure some of us here can help. I've worked a ton of my career in Santa Monica and also in Orange County.

Depends on what part of LA.

You can't go wrong in New Orleans, particularly the French Quarter.

I once got caught in an ice storm while on business in Texas and had to spontaneously spend the night in a cheap motel in Huntsville, Texas. Texas troopers had closed I-45. The Holiday Inn was sold out, so cheap motel next door it was.

Right down the street from the state prison where Texas executions take place.

I made it through the icy parking lot of my cheap hotel to the Holiday Inn "lounge" next door. I met a girl also caught up spontaneously in the road closure who had a room at the Holiday Inn and decided to head to the bar to make the best of the night.

She had a German accent, and told me she was running from some personal troubles in New Orleans and was headed to Los Angeles.

She claimed to have been a chef or chef assistant in many of the known New Orleans dining establishments. After a few drinks she offered, "let me tell you something, every New Orleans restaurant kitchen is infested with cock roaches...they can't get rid of them, no matter what they do."

Turns out she was running from a male in her life , but that subject didn't come up immediately upon meeting her.

Her legacy is that I have not really looked forward to fine dining in the French Quarter in the years since. I go with stuff that seems the germs would have been safely killed. Fried gator tail, on my last visit.

Where are you going to be?

He's dining with every response.:rolleyes:

Louisiana




I laughed

:)

I did have a nice Cobb Salad in the Turf Club at Santa Anita today.

It was fine, but it's sure apples and oranges to the crawfish and cold beer I've had in Breaux Bridge.

I detect some provincial folks here.....

LARHAGE and ASUDEVIL, thanks for the tidbits of info.

My wife and I slept too late to make it to Clockers Corner at a worthy time. I would have loved to have made it though.

My return tidbit of advice is to go an extra $15 one day and head to The Turf Club. No wait for food, drink or wagering.

My phobia had been that the Turf Club would not have a quick way to get to the paddock.

Turns out it has the equivalent of an express lane to the paddock.