Behind the scenes at Santa Anita Park, a vital community hub supports the people who make California racing possible every day. For backstretch workers whose long hours, physical demands, and dedication are foundational to the sport, the Santa Anita Recreation Facility serves as far more than a break room. It is a place for connection, wellness, education, and belonging.
Open seven days a week, the Recreation Facility functions as the central gathering space for the backstretch community. Workers have access to comfortable common areas with televisions, a fully equipped gym, billiards room, library, women’s lounge, and laundry facilities. In addition, there is a “General Store” in the Facility where workers can buy food, snacks including sweet treats, beverages, and many sundry items. The Stable Café, open daily, provides access to meals during early mornings and long workdays.
Beyond the physical space, the programming offered through the Recreation Facility plays an important role in fostering morale and quality of life. Recreational events like the Santa Anita Soccer League and annual Soccer Tournament bring workers together through friendly competition, teamwork, and pride. Social gatherings, including Lotería nights, holiday meals, and family celebrations, create moments of joy, connection, and cultural continuity on the backside.
“Recreational and family-focused events make the backstretch community stronger.” says Javier Gonzalez who leads Special Projects at Santa Anita Park, “These gatherings foster a sense of belonging and allow workers to celebrate their cultures while sharing these experiences with their families and coworkers. Events like soccer tournaments, holiday meals, and family celebrations help break up the routine of demanding workdays and remind everyone that they are valued members of a supportive community. By bringing people together in positive social settings, these programs boost spirits and reinforce the idea that the racetrack is not just a workplace, but a home away from home.”
Annual Thanksgiving and Christmas events welcome workers’ spouses and children, transforming the racetrack into a place of celebration and shared experience. Christmas Eve meals, gift distributions, live music, and children’s activities reinforce the idea that the backstretch is not just a workplace, but a community that values the people and families behind the sport.
The Recreation Facility also serves as a gateway to essential services and support systems. Weekly English-as-a-Second-Language classes, religious services, clothing drives, and food distribution programs are coordinated in partnership with organizations including California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT), the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation (CTHF), the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, and the Winners Foundation. Together, these groups provide health care, educational resources, financial assistance, emotional support, and emergency aid to workers who need it most. The Zenyatta Lounge is the place where women working the backside
can gather to relax, enjoy each other’s fellowship and take classes.
Programs like these underscore an important truth about California horse racing: investing in people is essential to the long-term sustainability of the industry. By prioritizing recreation, wellness, and community, Santa Anita Park demonstrates how racetracks can support not only the sport itself, but the lives of those who sustain it every day.