More Than a Race: How Derby Day Starts with the Community
By California Horsepower Coalition
Before the first race is run at Santa Anita Park on Derby Day each April, something else unfolds on the grounds as thousands of runners cross a finish line where the sport’s stars will compete just hours later.
The Santa Anita Derby Day 5K opens the gates of one of racing’s most iconic venues to the community in a way that feels accessible. Long before top-class racing begins, the track belongs to families, first-time runners, students, and local organizations, many of whom are experiencing the venue from an entirely new perspective. In addition to local communities, a number of backstretch men, women and their children also participate in this high energy event each year.
That spirit has been at the heart of the event since it began in 1994.
“The main objective in starting the race way back in 1994 was to provide a healthy and enjoyable event for the community,” said Pete Siberell. “This ties in directly with our partnership with USC Arcadia Hospital, a longtime sponsor of the Derby Day 5K.”
What started as a community-focused initiative has grown into an annual tradition that continues to expand. This year marked a record turnout, with 7,500 participants registered, filling Santa Anita Park with incredible energy before a single horse steps onto the track.
“Secondly, we wanted to get people onto Santa Anita’s grounds and into the infield to celebrate their accomplishment and maybe see a four-legged race or two in the afternoon,” Siberell continued. “Maybe some of those people would come back for a full day of racing or a special event at the racetrack.”
Introducing new audiences to racing through experiences is a mission at the core of Santa Anita Park’s culture. The Derby Day 5K gives runners an opportunity to move through the grounds, through the adjacent arboretum, and ultimately onto the track itself, creating a moment that feels both personal and collective. Some come to compete, posting impressive finishing times across both the men’s and women’s divisions. Others come as part of something bigger, like this year’s largest team, Dog Haus Running Club, which showed up 172 participants strong. For many, it’s their first time stepping onto a racetrack. For others, it’s a tradition. Either way, it creates a connection to the sport while creating real impact.
This year, the event is expected to raise at least $16,231, with additional contributions still being calculated through partnerships with local high schools who volunteer their time in exchange for donations to their athletic and music programs. In total, six schools, including Arcadia High School, participate in supporting the event, reinforcing just how embedded this race is within the local community.
The funds raised will be awarded to five nonprofit organizations this year, including Arcadia Parks Foundation, CARMA – an organization that provides rehabilitation, retraining and retirement of California Thoroughbreds – Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation, Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage, and the USC Arcadia Hospital Foundation.
Every step taken on Derby Day supports something beyond the race itself, it celebrates community while contributing to local programs, community spaces, and the care of Thoroughbred racehorses.
