Santa Anita's Beautiful Turf Club

The Chandelier Room in the Turf Club, Santa Anita Park

One of the most beautiful places on the grounds of the historic Santa Anita Racetrack is the Chandelier Room in the Turf Club. Shown in the photo above, the sumptuously appointed room features parquet floors, groupings of overstuffed chairs and sofas with antique coffee and end tables, an elegant bar, a collection of sporting art, antique chandeliers, and stunning decorative gilt palm trees.

One of the famous gilt palm trees in the Chandelier Room.

Many of the unique fixtures at Santa Anita were personally chosen by Santa Anita Racetrack founder, Dr. Charles H. "Doc" Strub, who built Santa Anita Racetrack, which first opened in December 1934. On annual visits to Europe, Doc Strub brought back art, statuary, and other items to adorn the grounds of his racetrack. The chandeliers in the Turf Club were brought from England. The golden palm trees came from Versailles in France.