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SPORTS Saturday 9 March 2019

Santa Anita

Continued from Page 17 cold winter. The track re-
ceived 11 ½ inches of rain
A white van stopped at in February when tempera-
various spots around the tures failed to reach 70 de-
oval with its back door grees (21 Celsius) on any
open to reveal a device day.
that mimics the impact of a Its surface has been con-
horse running at full gallop, tinuously sealed, a pro-
allowing engineers to see cess in which the dirt is
how the surface holds up. packed down to reduce
Those results will be used to the amount of precipita-
evaluate the consistency tion absorbed on dry days.
and uniformity of the dirt for Conversely, on rainy days
training and racing. the wet track was sealed
Last week, ground radar in an attempt to provide a
testing was done on the safe and even surface.
various layers of the dirt sur- “The track might be safe,
face. but it’s inconsistent,” Harper
“It’s hard to find a smok- said. “It might be inconsis-
ing gun on these kind of tently good, but it’s incon-
deals,” said Joe Harper, sistent and that seems to The home stretch and stands are empty at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Thursday, March 7,
chief executive officer of bother a horse more than 2019.
Del Mar racetrack north of anything.” Associated Press
San Diego. “It’s a combina- Two top Kentucky Derby Mandella hasn’t encoun- Joel Rosario, who leads need to do something. If
tion of track and horse and contenders — Game Win- tered any problems with the jockeys’ standings at you take it (racing) away,
conditions.” ner and Improbable — the main track since rac- Santa Anita, is waiting to they get upset.”
In 2016, Del Mar faced a were set to face off in the ing began Dec. 26, but he hear when racing will re- Thoroughbreds in training
similarly harrowing situa- San Felipe Stakes at Santa knows “something is up. sume before deciding typically are up early in the
tion, with the deaths of 17 Anita on Saturday. Instead, I’m trying to not panic and whether to relocate earlier morning for a jog or timed
horses during its summer Hall of Fame trainer Bob take care of my horses.” than planned for Kentucky, workout in preparation for
meet. Another five died Baffert will send both horses San Luis Rey Downs, a train- agent Ron Anderson said a race.
during its fall meet. to Los Alamitos to work out ing center with a mile track Thursday. The horses return to their
The seaside track’s surface on Sunday. in north San Diego County, Hall of Fame jockey Mike barn, where they are
was renovated and officials Plans for their next race will was preparing to accept Smith was headed to New bathed and walked
made procedural changes be decided after the work- horses scheduled to race York to ride Saturday in the around for 30 minutes or
that led to improved safe- out. An option for Baffert’s soon from Santa Anita, Gotham Stakes at Aque- so before returning to their
ty. In 2017, there were a duo could be the Rebel about 100 miles away. duct, a key Kentucky Derby stalls. They’ll spend the rest
total of seven fatalities for Stakes on March 16 at Oak- General manager Kevin prep. of the day eating, napping,
both meets and four all of lawn Park in Arkansas. Habell said the facility has Idling highly fit thorough- getting a visit from a vet
last year. Richard Mandella, an- 50 to 70 available stalls breds for long stretches is and receiving therapeutic
Harper credited Moore other Hall of Famer trainer, from its total of 400. not good for them, said treatment. They might also
with helping solve Del Mar’s said he’s moved eight of Del Mar is unlikely to take Mandella. be reshod, before repeat-
problems. his 40-horse stable to Los in any horses because a “Most of them are ready to ing the process the next
Although weather hasn’t Alamitos to get in workouts. state-mandated water race and if all you do is just day.
been cited as a reason for The others require basic reclamation project is un- lead them around the barn “It doesn’t take much for
Santa Anita’s woes, South- training that can be done derway in its infield, making and walk them, they’ll hurt a sedentary lifestyle to
ern California is experienc- whenever Santa Anita’s in- the dirt track unavailable themselves just playing and change their whole training
ing an unusually wet and ner training track reopens. for training. acting up,” he said. “They routine,” Harper said. q

Golovkin to return in June

after signing deal with DAZN

NEW YORK (AP) — Gen- clusive deal with the sports contests, which were both
nady Golovkin will return to streaming service and is set pay-per-view fights. When
the ring in June after sign- to meet Daniel Jacobs in Alvarez signed his contract
ing a multiyear deal Friday a middleweight title unifi- last year, which his promo-
with DAZN, which gives him cation match on May 4 in tional company said would
the possibility of a third fight Las Vegas. The deal calls pay him a minimum of $365
with Canelo Alvarez. for Golovkin to fight twice million, DAZN executive
No date or opponent was a year on DAZN for the chairman John Skipper said
announced for the fight, next three years, giving he hoped it would help at-
which will be Golovkin’s the longtime middleweight tract other top fighters.
first since being edged by champion from Kazakhstan He finally got Golovkin, In this Sept. 17, 2017, file photo, Gennady Golovkin reacts
following a middleweight title against Canelo Alvarez, in Las
Alvarez last September in plenty of opportunities to whom he called “a gener- Vegas.
their second bout after regain titles. ational talent with interna- Associated Press
they fought to a draw in The biggest one would be tional appeal.” WBO champion Demetrius lovkin after defending his
the first one. through another bout with DAZN has all the middle- Andrade also fighting on title in January, saying he
Alvarez already has an ex- Alvarez after their two close weight champions, with DAZN. He called out Go- would “destroy” Triple G.q