Wildfires have ravaged neighborhoods in Los Angeles in recent days.
More than 12,000 homes were destroyed by violent fires which left at least 11 dead.
A surge in wildfires in the western part of the city has prompted the latest evacuation order, prompting Santa Anita to cancel horse races scheduled for this weekend.
The Arcadia track, near the Eaton Fire that decimated Altadena, announced Friday that it plans to continue racing Saturday, depending on air quality conditions.
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Richi and jockey Kazushi Kimura, right, win the $100,000 Grade III Las Flores Stakes horse race on January 4, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. (Benoît Photo via AP)
However, track officials said Saturday’s races would be canceled due to new developments regarding the Palisades Fire.
Air quality standards at the track remain well within limits set by the California Horse Racing Board and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, according to track officials. However, organizers were concerned about the growing impact of fires throughout Los Angeles County.
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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection confirmed that the Palisades Fire was 11% contained as of Saturday morning, while the Eaton Fire was listed as 15% contained.
The 90-year-old runway, located in Southern California, is also used to support various relief operations.
An American flag hangs on the gate of a home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
A charity depot set up at the Rose Bowl was moved Friday to the south Santa Anita parking lot. Southern California Edison is using the entire north parking lot as a base to restore power to affected areas. The track works with other organizations requesting space.
Morning workouts will continue as scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. The track has its own security personnel and does not use local first responders for normal events.
The dates of the postponed races are expected to be announced at a later date.
The sports world felt the impact of unprecedented wildfires this week. Malibu was one of several areas hit hard by the Palisades Fire.
Pepperdine University, which has a main campus on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, postponed its men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on Saturday. School officials cited the Palisades fire and travel conditions in Los Angeles.
Pepperdine University in Malibu, October 18, 2023. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
However, Pepperdine’s Malibu campus remains clear of any immediate threat posed by the fire. But access to the campus is limited to the north side. Pacific Coast Highway, south of campus, is closed.
Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount are in communication with the West Coast Conference regarding the postponement. Elsewhere, the fourth-ranked USC women’s basketball team is scheduled to play a Big Ten Conference game against Penn State on Sunday night. Authorities are monitoring conditions, a spokesperson confirmed.
