This week, horses are jumping in the infield at Santa Anita Park, with the San Gabriel Mountains behind them. International show jumpers are competing on the same grounds that hosted the equestrian events of the 1984 Olympic Games. The Santa Anita CSI3* runs November 11 through 15, the Santa Anita CSI5*-W follows November 18 through 22, and the sessions are open to the public.
If the Olympics feel early to you, you aren't alone. Over the past several weeks, a lot of Arcadia has been asking whether the work going on behind the track's fences is LA28 construction. It isn't. The Olympic project that would change the property for good, a cross-country course on the Hilltop that requires removing protected oaks, has been on hold since September. What the city is getting between now and New Year's is three separate events, one after another and sometimes on the same nights, all on a property that already works as an equestrian venue.
The Work Behind the Fences Is for November and December
The question came up at the September 15 Arcadia City Council meeting. According to the meeting minutes, City Manager Lazzaretto said the construction then underway at Santa Anita Park "is unrelated to the LA28 Olympics and is being conducted in preparation for the Split Rock Jumping Tour event in November and the Enchant Christmas event."
Here is what's on the calendar at the track from mid-November through December 27:
| Event | Dates | Where it happens | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Anita CSI3*, with California Crown | Nov. 11–15 | Infield | General admission from $40, free parking |
| Santa Anita CSI5*-W, with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Los Angeles | Nov. 18–22 | Infield | General admission from $60, free parking |
| Enchant Christmas | Nov. 20–Dec. 27 | Santa Anita Park | Tickets from $29, priced by date and entry time |
| Opening Day of live racing | Dec. 26 | Main track | $15 early bird through Dec. 10, $25 walk-up |
Twice the calendars overlap. From November 20 to 22, the last three days of show jumping fall on Enchant's opening weekend. Then on December 26, the first day of racing lands on the second-to-last night of Enchant.
Two Weeks of Show Jumping in the Infield
The first week builds to California Crown weekend on November 14 and 15. It closes Sunday with the $125,000 CSI3* 1.50m Grand Prix. The second week is the bigger one. Saturday, November 21, brings the $400,000 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, and Sunday, November 22, the $50,000 Perrier-Jouët 1.45m National Grand Prix. The organizers say the CSI5*-W brings in a selection of the FEI's top 100 riders, including most of the top 10, and they describe it as "the return of elite show jumping to Southern California ahead of the LA28 Olympic Games."
Hours change from day to day, so check before you go. For the first week, the show's FAQ lists public hours of 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 11, and 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Friday is 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday runs late, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday is 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The second week follows a similar pattern. General admission tickets are on the Santa Anita Show Jumping ticket page, and parking is free every day.
The event is run by 1/ST, and it also includes VIP hospitality from the supper club Delilah plus live entertainment. If you'd rather see horses for free, Santa Anita's September 10 announcement says Clockers' Corner, through Gate 8 off Baldwin Avenue, is open seven days a week for breakfast and morning Thoroughbred training, with free parking and admission.
Enchant Opens While the World Cup Is Still Running
Enchant Christmas starts its Santa Anita run on Friday, November 20, which is Opening Night. That same week, the World Cup riders are still competing in the infield. This year's light maze is called "Starlight Flight," and the story has visitors helping the reindeer find Santa's missing sleigh bells. Santa Anita's event page also lists ice skating, an ice slide, Santa's Landing, live entertainment and the Enchant Village Marketplace.
Prices depend on the date, the entry time and demand. On Saturday, November 21, the ticket calendar showed entry times from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at $36 to $40. That's the same Saturday as the World Cup, and on that date both events are open into the evening on one property.
Some nights have a theme. Enchant's special-events calendar lists these:
- Fri., Nov. 20: Opening Night and Kids Light Up The Night
- Sun., Nov. 22: Family Photo Night Out
- Wed., Nov. 25: Friendsgiving
- Wed., Dec. 2: Holiday Sing-A-Long and Kids Light Up The Night
- Fri., Dec. 4: Country Christmas and Line Dancing
- Sun., Dec. 6: Paws n Claus
- Thu., Dec. 10: Night of Honor
- Sun., Dec. 13: Heritage in Lights
- Thu., Dec. 17: Galaxy Night
You'll find tickets and the full date list on Enchant's Los Angeles page.
Racing Returns on December 26
Santa Anita's official calendar puts Opening Day on Saturday, December 26, with live racing scheduled from then through June 20. Gates open at 9 a.m. and first post is 11 a.m. Free parking is at Gate 3 off Huntington Drive. A few dates to plan around:
- Through Thursday, December 10: buy the $15 early-bird admission on the Opening Day page. Walk-up admission on the day is $25, and 1/ST Rewards members with a loyalty card pay $5.
- December 26: Opening Day, with premium dining options and the start of the Opening Day & Weekend Craft Beer Festival.
- December 27: Enchant's last night, the day after racing comes back.
The Hilltop Course and Its Oaks
LA28 has named Santa Anita Park the venue for both Olympic Equestrian and Paralympic Para Equestrian. At the Games, that means Dressage, Eventing and Jumping, each with team and individual medals, plus Para Dressage across five classification grades. Jumping already has an obvious home in the infield, as this month's events show. Eventing is different, because it includes a cross-country course.
That course is where the oak trees come in. The city's permit page describes Santa Anita's request as removing 34 protected oaks, planting 34 new trees, and letting the course and its improvements encroach on 45 more oaks. The Arcadia Quill reported that the proposed cross-country site is the elevated Hilltop directly south of Harvard Drive, above the track. The Pasadena Star-News reported that more than 150 people attended the August 27 community meeting on the proposal, which covered a 17-acre section, and that nearly all who spoke opposed removing the oaks.
On September 9, Santa Anita asked the city to pause its application. The city's project page now reads:
At this time, there is no decision regarding the proposed tree removals pending before City staff or the Arcadia City Council. The City will continue to follow all review and public notification processes should a revised proposal be submitted.
The page says Santa Anita is working with the International Equestrian Federation's course design team, LA28 and construction engineers to find ways to reduce the impact on protected trees. If a revised application is submitted, public notification starts over so the community can review the new plans. At the September 15 council meeting, the city manager said he didn't know when a revised application would come in.
To hear about a new filing as soon as it happens, sign up for e-notifications through the city's LA28 Cross Country Course project page. The same page links the course map, the arborist assessment and the biological resources report.
What happens at Santa Anita affects everyone who lives near it, whether that's a night at Enchant or a tree decision on the Hilltop. When you're ready for your next move, whether you're buying, selling or financing, E3 Realty puts the agent, the marketing and the loan under one roof. Start Your Home Journey with a team that follows these changes closely.
