After drawing nearly 23,000 patrons on a horse race day with 80 gourmet food trucks earlier this month, Santa Anita Park is going to see how well the trucks draw when there are no races at the track.
Santa Anita will host its third Gourmet Food Truck Festival, featuring approximately 73 vendors, on Saturday, May 14. The first event was held in January with about 20 trucks.
“The Food Trucks have found a home here at Santa Anita,” said George Haines, Santa Anita President. “Both of the Food Truck Festivals, on Jan. 29 and earlier this month on April 2, far exceeded anyone’s expectations. We expanded the Festival to include the entire infield area and added many more trucks on April 2, and it was a tremendous success.
“We have a picturesque, safe and secure facility here at Santa Anita and we welcome the opportunity to introduce new people to horse racing and to what we consider to be the most beautiful sports venue in the world. The Food Truck Festivals deliver a family-oriented crowd, which is a great demographic for us.
“Additionally, we have received very positive feedback not only from attendees, but from all of the vendors as well. The Food Truck phenomenon has really taken root here in Southern California, and these vendors realize Santa Anita is a perfect place for them to maintain and expand their own fan base.”
Among the many prominent gourmet food trucks that are scheduled to be represented are The Grilled Cheese Truck, the Lobsta Truck, Ragin Cajun, Canter’s, Border Grill, Shrimp Pimp and many more.
All Food Truck Festival attendees will be admitted for just $5, and satellite wagering from Hollywood Park, Churchill Downs, Belmont Park and other tracks around the country will be offered.
All Santa Anita parking lots will open at 10:30 a.m. Admission gates will open at 11 a.m.
Festival operating hours will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. First race post time at Hollywood Park is 1 p.m.
— By Scott Hettrick