Derby Day records, milestones

Santa Anita’s 18th annual Derby Day 5K Walk and Run attracted a record 5,683 participants Saturday morning, April 7, 2012.

And later in the day, during the 75th running of the Santa Anita Derby that drew a crowd of 33,646 and a national TV audience on NBC, Santa Anita Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith later won his 5,000th race in the Potrero Grande Stakes, only the 25th jockey in racing history to do so.

The 46-year-old, most famous for steering Zenyatta to stunning come-from-behind victories, 17 consecutive wins, the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and the Horse of the Year honors in 2010, also won the 2005 Kentucky Derby, the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 2011 Sprint at Churchill Downs this past November. He shares the all-time record of 15 lifetime Breeders’ Cup wins with retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey.

As for the morning 5K, “This is the best turnout we’ve ever had for this event and we had people of all ages—from 3 and 4-year-old kids, to people in their seventies,” said Santa Anita Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chris Quinn. “Everybody had a great time and we’re looking to have a great race-day as well.” (See video highlights produced by Santa Anita below…)

The Santa Anita Derby Day 5K benefits several charities and worth causes, including Pasadena-based AbilityFirst, the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), the Arcadia High School Athletic Boosters Club, the Arcadia Historical Museum and Arcadia Explorer Scouts. Participants arrived early and competition got underway at 8 a.m. over a course that took runners and walkers to the world-renowned Los Angels County Arboretum and afforded all a glimpse of the Santa Anita stable area. Participants finished up their five kilometer trek with a quarter mile tour of Santa Anita’s inner training track.

— By Scott Hettrick