Hello, my name is Eric Sondheimer, and I’m filling in for John Cherwa for today’s horse racing newsletter.
There’s no better deal in town than the free coffee offered at Clockers’ Corner at Santa Anita every morning when training is taking place.
You can hang out with Bob Baffert, Phil D’Amato, Jerry Hollendorfer and Neil Drysdalewhile watching dozens of horses working out, galloping or breezing on the main and training tracks.
Activity begins at 4:45 a.m. and continues until around 9 a.m. The temperature was in the 40s this week, so gloves, ear muffs, ski caps and winter jackets were everywhere.
“It’s ridiculous,” said one track worker. “I feel like I’m back in New York.”
Yes, it has been a little chilly in sunny Arcadia, but the steaming hot coffee, heated lamps next to tables overlooking the track and free parking makes Clockers’ Corner one of the best-kept secrets to take an out-of-town visitor. And if they’re from Michigan or Minnesota, they’ll probably think we’re experiencing a heat wave.
Here’s the link to a video of what you get to see.