Hugs (left) and Nora are two of the six horses Santa Anita Park keeps to transport racing officials around the racetrack. (Photos courtesy of Cynthia Holt uness noted)

The horse-drawn carriages at Santa Anita Park have been a time-honored tradition since the track’s opening in 1934, and even before, beginning with Lucky Baldwin’s original Santa Anita Racetrack in 1907. Today, the vast majority of tracks ferry racing officials to their posts by van and car, but Santa Anita, with their fans' enthusiastic endorsement, continues to keep a part of the past alive by transporting the starter to the gate and a patrol judge to his observation tower via the means of REAL horsepower! 

The principle person behind the carriage team is operations office manager Paige Rickerd, a 26-year veteran of Santa Anita, who was placed in charge of choosing and maintaining the team as well as the carriages and attending gear. At the time of her appointment, Paige found a buggy which she particularly liked at a sale in San Bernardino, and felt that a couple of similar carriages would suit her purpose perfectly. With nothing but a single letter inscribed on the body of the buggy as a clue, Paige was eventually able to trace its origin to a carriage maker in Indiana.

Santa Anita subsequently sent Paige to Hoosier Amish country to purchase three buggies and all of the harnesses and trappings. Two of the carriages, a surrey and a larger modified surrey with an elevated driver’s seat, are still in service. The third, a paired buggy known as a vis-a-vis, is rarely used. When the saddlery or any piece of carriage equipment needs to be replaced, they are freighted to Santa Anita from Indiana. Most exciting of all, Paige was also flown to Oregon to personally choose five horses as the founding members of her team — what a delicious dilemma!

Today, there are six horses which form the heart of the carriage family at Santa Anita. Beloved by the employees and fans alike, they are an integral part of the spectacle which takes place on the track every race day. Although they are a team in every sense of the word, they each have their own individual quirks and endearing ways. The next time you visit Santa Anita, look for them on the track as well as in the small stable area which adjoins the operations and racing offices at the western end of the grandstand.

THE SURREY

MODIFIED SURREY WITH RAISED DRIVER'S SEAT

SIMPLICITY OF FORM AND BEAUTY OF DESIGN IS REFLECTED IN THE AMISH-MADE WHEELS

Reggie the Rich Kid, aka Reggie

With his striking snow-colored mane and pale gray coat, 22-year-old Reggie paints a pretty picture on the track, and he knows it!  He is a natural “poser,” and his ears will cock at the click of a camera or crackle of a candy wrapper.  A Standardbred, Reggie did not make it to the races simply because he was too slow, and he also suffered a bowed tendon. He is not allowed to pull a carriage in tandem (with another horse), because he prefers his partner to shoulder most of the load. However, when pulling solo, Reggie does not like to stand in one spot too long, and wants to giddy up and go! His favorite pastime is peppermint-begging at the winner’s circle, where he picks up and unloads passengers. 

REGGIE READY FOR HIS DAY'S WORK (AND PEPPERMINTS)

A COLD SHOWER ON A WARM MORNING FEELS GOOD!

Hugs

The only other gray on the team, 11-year-old Hugs (his real registered name), was prevented from racing due to a problematic knee. Treats and a good back scratch will go far with this Standardbred, who has been known to get up to tricks just to attract attention. Hugs is an excellent riding horse who loves to go exploring on the trail with Paige during his off time at Santa Anita. 

HUGS ON THE JOB

 ENJOYING SOME DOWN TIME IN THE OUTSIDE PEN

Saddle the Wind, aka Saddles 

A 20-year-old Standardbred pacer, Saddles is the only horse in the lineup to have earned money as a racehorse. He won 14 of 115 starts and more than $100,000 over a five-year span. Paige purchased Saddles for $250 off the Los Alamitos backside in the late 1990s, when he was racing fit. However, he soon became complacent and over-weight, and refused to have anything to do with pulling the buggy. He was exercised into physical and mental shape by driver Francisco “Paco” Sanchez, who employed Saddles as a lead pony, accompanying horses to the starting gate. Saddles is a consummate professional and is dedicated to his second career. He does tend to be territorial around his stall, the solution being to approach packing peppermints. 

SADDLES READY FOR THE MORNING ROUTINE

SADDLES PHOTO-BOMBING RICKERD

Ramsey

Standing 17 hands (measured to the top of the withers; a hand is equal to four inches), Ramsey is the tallest of the four Standardbreds. Because he was an ungainly boy who was clumsy and had a habit of stumbling, Ramsey was unraced. However, Paige saw something in him as a 2-year-old, and wanted him so badly that she had to purchase two horses in order to get him. In the beginning, Ramsey was a bit of a bully with the other horses, but has mellowed with maturity. He remains a baby in some ways, albeit a big one, and craves love. 

RAMSEY ON THE TRACK WITH SALLY IN THE BACKGROUND

Homestead Sally, aka Sally 

In the summer of 2013, Paige decided that she would like to add a larger breed to the team, capable of pulling heavier loads. She decided to look for a Percheron, and found a good prospect in Virginia, but the seller was not sure that this breed would work well for her. Paige then began searching for a Clydesdale among the listings of DraftsForSale.com, and the rest is happy history. Nebraska-born Sally arrived at Santa Anita in September, and when the autumn race meet rolled around, the big girl was an instant hit with the public, who loved all 2,000 pounds of her! In January 2014, Sally was accorded the honor of being the first four-legged employee to be awarded Santa Anita’s "Employee of the Week,” and to the cheers of the crowd she was paraded into the winner’s circle, where all 17.2 hands of her stood proudly.

SALLY LOOKING VERY MUCH A CLYDESDALE IN FULL GEAR

EASTER FUN!

Nora 

The wonderful experience with Sally encouraged Paige to add another Clydesdale to the string, and when she contacted Sally’s former owner and learned that Sally’s 5-year-old half-sister was available, the deal was sealed!  With her regal air, resounding whinny, and irrepressible personality, Nora was immediately adopted into the Santa Anita family when she arrived in December 2015. She came with the name of Homestead Betty, but Santa Anita decided that the fans might like to have a say in helping to provide a new name for her new life. “Nora” was the result. Like her half-sister, Nora has proven to be a quick learner, and is already sharing duties with Sally. After their initial exposure, neither horse was intimidated by the starting gate or other on-track equipment. To watch them drape their necks around each other while standing side-by-side in their stalls is to see that they somehow know that they are truly sisters, and share a very special bond. 

NORA TAKING IN THE ACTION FROM THE OUTSIDE PEN

SISTERS IN SPIRIT AND HEART, SALLY AND NORA

(Photo courtesy of Amy Zimmerman)

Lexi, the Jack Russell Terrier 

Although she is not a horse, Lexi is a rock star member of the carriage team. A wired-for-energy Jack Russell, Lexi has been a fixture in the carriages for most of her 15 years, and is the official greeter of racing officials and VIPs. She is dedicated to her job and is ready and eager to be hoisted into the carriage for her daily duties of tail-wagging, snuggling and snoozing.