Arcadia Walk of Fame set in stone

The first two of 67 plaques that will inaugurate the new Throroughbred Racing Walk of Champions have been set in place in the sidewalk on the north side of Huntington Drive between Santa Anita and First Avenues.

An official dedication ceremony and gala for the first 67 plaques of the TRWoC created by a committee of the Arcada Historical Society comprised of Beth Costanza, Gail Marshall, and Sandy Snider is scheduled to take place in Downtown Arcadia on Saturday, September 27, 2014. A portion of First Avenue between Huntington Drive and Santa Clara Avenue will be closed for the celebration that will also feature appearances by the stand-in horses doubling for Seabiscuit in the movie of the same name, as well as other entertainment elements. The dedication on First Avenue will be near the Gold Line Station and Transit Plaza that are set to upen to the public in 2016.

The sindewalk plaques, which can be read while facing the buildings, will feature information about notable horses, jockeys, owners, and trainers associated with Santa Anita Park, and will eventually line the sidewalks from the Gold Line Station south on First Avenue to Huntington Drive, and east and west on Huntington between Santa Anita and The Derby Restaurant just east of Second Avenue at 233 E. Huntington Drive.

The Derby Restaurant was owned by legendary jockey George Woolf and is still a favorite of jockeys, featuring a showcase of Santa Anita memorabilia. The Gold Line station will feature many thematic elements relating to Santa Anita.

The other 65 plaques will be installed by the City of Arcadia in small groups at a time over the next several months leading up to the official dedication ceremony on Sept. 27.

The first 67 plaques were paid for by donations of local groups, led by Santa Anita Park, and featuring honorees chosen by the Society committee. Thereafter, additional plaques will be added as nominated paid for by nominating parties with the approval of the Society committee.

— By Scott Hettrick