Santa Anita Postpones Presidents’ Day Racing Card Ahead of Major Storm

Monday's special holiday racing program at Santa Anita Park will be postponed due to the declining weather forecast," Santa Anita Park said in a Feb. 15 press release, canceling the eight-race Presidents’ Day card originally scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16. The release said a three-day storm system was slated to hit Sunday evening after the conclusion of the Feb. 15 races and was expected to produce up to three inches of rain near the track, prompting evacuation warnings for several surrounding communities, including the Palisades and Eaton burn scar areas.

Santa Anita said the eight races will be rescheduled "in the coming week" and that a makeup day for the postponed President's Day card will be added to the Classic Meet before the season ends. Local schedules indicate the Classic Meet concludes April 5, leaving a limited window to reinstate the holiday card without compressing the spring showcase dates that include Santa Anita Derby Day on April 4 and Easter events April 5. The track listed the next scheduled live racing dates as Friday through Sunday, Feb. 20–22, and a Pick 6 carryover of $34,288 is set to await the Feb. 20 return.

Weather metrics amplified the operational stakes. National Weather Service guidance projected 80 to 100 percent rain chances Monday and the possibility of thunderstorms, reinforcing the track's decision to protect footing and equine safety ahead of heavy totals. This marks the sixth time this season that rain has knocked out a scheduled program at the Arcadia thoroughbred venue, underscoring a recurring operational risk that carries purse, wagering and logistical consequences for horsemen and bettors alike.

The postponement came after a busy stable day: Santa Anita stable notes dated Feb. 15 reported Grand Slam Smile worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 for trainer Sean McCarthy, Princesa Moche worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds for trainer Doug O'Neill, and Cee Drew worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 for trainer Dan Blacker. Those workouts signal horses already on campaigns that will now face a recalibrated timetable as the eight-race card is folded into the remaining Classic Meet calendar. Simulcast wagering will remain available at the track during the cancellation window, the stable notes said, preserving at least some daily handle for owners and on-site bettors.

The cancellation also touches a broader safety narrative at Santa Anita: the track's rain-cancellation protocols trace back to changes adopted after a spate of fatal injuries in early 2019 that coincided with prolonged wet conditions. With county evacuation warnings issued near burn scars known to flash-flood, the decision balances animal welfare, rider safety and the operational need to protect purses and betting pools. For contact and visitor information, Santa Anita Park is at 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, and the track can be reached at (626) 574-7223 for updates on makeup dates and weekend cards.