Santa Anita Park announced Saturday that the 30th running of its traditional Derby Day 5K Run & Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 5.
The race begins at 8 a.m., with participants encouraged to arrive between 6:30 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. Horsemen and local residents should note that Baldwin Avenue will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. to all but foot traffic between the 210 Freeway and Huntington Drive. All participants will start from South Lot B.
Thoroughbred racing action begins at 12 p.m. on Santa Anita Derby day, featuring the Kentucky Derby point race and four additional stakes events. The day’s festivities will include the Spring Carnival. Derby Day 5K participants 21 and over will receive two complimentary beers, admission to a post-race party, a commemorative medal, shirt, and track admission to enjoy the day’s racing program.
“The Derby Day Run & Walk embraces all that is good here in Arcadia,” said Pete Siberell, director of community events and special projects at Santa Anita. “In addition to our magnificent facility here at Santa Anita, we have access to the 127-acre L.A. County Arboretum, which is known world-over for beautiful gardens, lakes and botanical diversity.”
Siberell acknowledged the event’s key supporters, noting, “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 a huge supporter. They will have 250 employees participating along with as many as 40 staffers from the city. We expect to have 6,500 people running and/or walking, so this is a big undertaking that requires quite a bit of coordination between all of us.”
Registration for the Derby Day 5K Run & Walk is available online, with in-person registration also possible on Friday, Apr. 4 at the Centre Court at the Shops at Santa Anita.
