Arcadia highlight
Santa Anita Park racetrack
A world-class thoroughbred racing facility in Arcadia that opened on Christmas Day 1934, designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann and operated today by the Stronach Group.
Santa Anita Park opened December 25, 1934, on a site in Arcadia established by developer Lucky Baldwin. It was the first formally-established racetrack in California, designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann with a distinctive blend of Colonial Revival and Streamline Moderne architecture. The track's signature colors, Persian Green and Chiffon Yellow, remain recognizable today.
The park hosts major racing events including the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap, and has hosted the year-end Breeders' Cup races eleven times—more than any other racetrack in the country. It served as a venue for the 1984 Summer Olympics equestrian events and will host the sport again during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Stronach Group acquired the facility in 2011 and has operated it since.
Santa Anita Park draws families and enthusiasts to Arcadia throughout the racing season, creating a tradition of outings and gatherings that span generations. These are the years when people establish the connections and make the memories they want to protect through life insurance—a way to ensure that the people who depend on them can sustain those same traditions.