Mysterious Santa Anita question

[jnunan4759]

Not sure, but that IS the thing I'm talking about.

TV does not give a good perspective on that course. They call it "The Hill" for a reason. Somebody there told me it's a 75 foot decent but I wouldn't be surprised if it's more.

They use part of that hill for two other turf distances, 1 1/4th and 1 1/8th. It is amazing to watch the crew manipulate the rails during the running of those races.

[ElPrado]

I think that is used when they set up races on the hill. You can see that the top of the frame of the gate is pretty much centered inside the ring.

[jnunan4759]

That is an interesting thought, but not sure. I actually was taken up there years ago for a race start. The gate barely fits there and there is only less than 10 feet behind.

[ElPrado]

It's pretty much a spot where they get the mid point of the gate to. If the box fits, they have it square and straight. There's likely a spotter on phone or radio at the booth or an office telling them it's right or it may be a computer. Knowing tracks, more likely a spotter. It's easy to see, directly under the "S" in Santa Anita.😀

[jnunan4759]

Put out a probe or two. May take a bit but we'll get to the truth on this.

[ElPrado]

Ok, I'll have an answer as soon as a friend checks her PM's.

[jnunan4759]

OK. Talked to people at Santa Anita. Surprisingly, hardly anybody there knows what it is or what purpose it serves. Don from the Racing office did some digging for me and talked with other employees who believe, and were told it was originally used when they had a "flag man" up there.

The track, as it is now, opened in 1934 but it wasn't until 1940 that they obtained a magnetic starting gate. Most likely, races were all started by flag prior to that.

Since turf racing was of much less of an occurrence then compared to now, they might have continued with the flagman start on the Hill for many years thereafter. Also, it would be prohibitive to haul the gate up there for one race.

From what I was told, the flagman was positioned so, that when he raised the flag, it appeared to the grandstand in the yellow circle. When the red center disappeared from the yellow circle, the race was off.

It appears this is a historical artifact that most people aren't aware of. It seems to serve no purpose, but is yearly maintained and kept painted and looking good. If so, this is a great tradition and should be known.

Don said he'd call me if he gets any new info and great thanks to him.