Baldwin Ave. To Be Closed To Vehicular Traffic From 7:30 A.M. To 9:45 A.M.
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Santa Anita’s popular Derby Day 5K Run & Walk will again be available to fans of all ages on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day, Saturday, April 8, 5K post time set for 8 a.m. With participants encouraged to arrive early, between 6:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m., horsemen and local citizenry are advised that Baldwin Ave. will be closed to vehicular traffic between the 210 Freeway and Huntington Drive from 7:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
With age groups ranging from age five to 90-plus, participants will begin their 5K sojourn from Santa Anita’s South Lot B, which adjoins The Shops at Santa Anita Mall and then proceed west to Gate 8 and turn north onto Baldwin Ave.
From there, runners and walkers will turn left into the LA County Arboretum prior to returning to Baldwin Ave., from where they will head east into Santa Anita’s Gate 7 en route to an Infield finish replete with in-house video fanfare as runners and walkers approach the inner training track’s finish line.
“We are expecting a very robust turn-out,” said Santa Anita Director of Community Events and Special Projects, Pete Siberell. “The weather is trending in a much more favorable direction and with the cold, wet winter we’ve had, people are wanting to do things outside. As anyone who has participated with us since 1994 knows, Derby Day is always a festive occasion and the early morning views are spectacular.
“The Derby Day Run & Walk embraces all that is good here in Arcadia. In addition to our magnificent facility here at Santa Anita, we have access to the 127-acre LA County Arboretum, which is known the world-over for beautiful gardens, lakes and botanical diversity.
“We also want to thank the City of Arcadia, which is a major sponsor of the race and is again providing police and fire staffing to help ensure the safety of everyone involved. Additionally, USC Arcadia Hospital is also a huge supporter. They will have more than 150 employees participating along with as many as 40 staffers from the city. We expect to have about 5,000 people running and/or walking, so this is a big undertaking that requires quite a bit of coordination between all of us.”
First post time for a huge day of Thoroughbred racing will be at 12 noon, with the Grade I, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby highlighting a day that will also include five other stakes.
In addition to world class racing, Derby Day 5K participants aged 21 and over will also be treated to an Infield Beer Garden, Spring Carnival and much more.
To register for the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day 5K Run & Walk, fans are encouraged to visit www.derbyday5k.com and participants can also register in person on Friday, April 7, at the Shops at Santa Anita.
There will also be Race Day registration available in Santa Anita’s South Lot B on April 8, from 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. South Lot B is easily accessible via Gate 3 at Holly Ave. and Huntington Drive.
For additional information on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
