First Free Friday a hit at Santa Anita
An on-track crowd of 9,269 showed up at Santa Anita for the first Free Fridays promotion of the 84-day meet. This season, all fans are granted free general admission on Fridays. Free reserved seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. One dollar hot dogs, popcorn and soft drinks are also available.
So what does Friday's turnout mean? Well, the first weekend of the meeting drew crowds of 10,720 and 9,283 last Saturday and Sunday, respectively. On Monday, only 4,352 showed up, and there was a New Year's Eve crowd of 5,001 on Wednesday. Friday's turnout was like a weekend crowd, and that's a positive for Santa Anita management.
A very early sampling shows that this Free Fridays program could be a very good thing. If it proves successful the whole meet, track president Ron Charles has said management will consider expanding the promotion in 2009-10. That would be a very positive development, considering Southern California racing offcials need to be very creative in ways to lure new and exisiting fans to the races.
Art. My grandson is a late developer and is way behind his age group and classmates in height and weight. I have been thinking about taking him to the track and, without making a big deal about it, exposing him to the jockeys and their physical prowess. Maybe at one of the morning workout sessions or even at the races themselves. Any chances to get close enough to these athletes for him to realize the size differantial withut hitting him in the face with it?
KC,
If you show up early in the mornings, between 7 and 9 a.m. at Clockers' Corner at Santa Anita, a lot of times the jockeys will be having a cup of coffee or just standing around talking with trainers and/or other jockeys. That's a good time to get up close to them. Also, during the afternoon racing cards, if you go to the paddock where the horses are saddled, the jockeys come out before the races and walk right by the fans on their way to the horses. When they return to the jockeys' room after the races, sometimes you can catch them for an autograph or a quick picture, etc. Hope that helps.