A Weekend at Santa Anita - Part Two (Images from January 10-12)

Rafael Bejarano guides Jet Warrior to victory in Friday's 5th race (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

Trainer John Shirreffs (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

Early Saturday morning workout for a Doug O'Neill-trained horse (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

Hall-of-Fame trainer Ron McAnally (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

(Photo ©Tom Hyland)

Jockey Tyler Baze after Saturday's 1st race (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

Photo ©Tom Hyland)

A Weekend at Santa Anita - Part One

Photo ©Tom Hyland

Being a racing fan living in Chicago in January can be a bit depressing. The wintry conditions don't allow for a local meet, so you have to watch races on the internet (or at an OTB). Or you can do what I did and get out of the cold and snow and head to Santa Anita in beautiful Arcadia, California.

Anyone who follows thoroughbred racing knows Santa Anita, so there's no need for me to write much. I'll just let my images do the talking.

Mike Smith in the paddock before Sunday's 5th race (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

Final few strides of Saturday's 7th race (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

Bob Baffert in the paddock before Saturday's 5th race (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

 Is there a more beautiful setting for a thoroughbred track? (Photo ©Tom Hyland)

A special thank you to Mike Willman and Debbie Olsen at Santa Anita for their cooperation and courtesy.