Happy Halloween from Clockers' Corner Santa Anita

Rosie Ybarra the zombie

Things are looking pretty spooky at Clockers’ Corner these chilly mornings. Thanks to server Rosie Ybarra – the well-known maven of Clockers’ Corner who serves up yummy concoctions to trainers, riders, owners and race fans every morning – there is no shortage of Halloween spirit at the iconic Santa Anita breakfast spot.

Ybarra traditionally decorates her food service window and much of the surrounding area to celebrate the holiday. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and jockeys and trainers often join in the fun with their own spooky costumes. Enjoy the photos!

Animated pirate statue and a skeleton reading the Racing Form

Bob Baffert having fun with the pirate

Is that a giant rat?

Wednesday Morning Breeders' Cup Action at Santa Anita

To be at Clockers' Corner, Santa Anita, in the mornings leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Championship races is the ultimate experience for a horse racing fan. There the best racehorses in the world come out onto the track for their morning exercise -- one great equine athlete after another in a seemingly endless parade. Easily identified by their purple and white Breeders' Cup saddle cloths inscribed with their names, racing's superstars are followed almost frantically by eager photographers and film crews.


People watching is just as exciting, as the world's leading riders and trainers rub elbows with the throngs of race fans. Clockers' Corner is the perfect spot to gather, providing an unparalleled view of the horses with a backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. Visitors can also enjoy unequaled morning fare -- from coffee and donuts (freshly made in the Santa Anita kitchen) to delicious full breakfasts (my favorite is the breakfast burrito!). Enjoy a glimpse of the early morning action from Clockers' Corner!

Happy Birthday Rosie!

There was a very special celebration for everyone's favorite lady at Clockers' Corner, Santa Anita, this morning. Rosie Ybarra is known as the face of Clockers' Corner to the trainers, riders, owners, track employees and other regulars at the morning workouts, where she has been serving up coffee, breakfast and warm smiles for as long as I can remember!

Rosie always knows when a trainer or jockey has a birthday, and makes sure there's a cake to be shared by all. It was only fitting to see she had already received a couple of bouquets early this morning when I stopped by -- one of them with money leaves.

Happy Birthday, Rosie -- and many more!

Clockers Corner Buzzing Over Ginormous 3-Day Carryover at Santa Anita!

That's right, this is bigger than massive -- more than $1.2 million. There was a lot of handicapping going on out at Clockers' Corner this morning. And what a beautiful day to be sitting out there having coffee, perhaps a delicious breakfast, just anticipating the excitement of the afternoon of racing. Southern California weather has taken a spring-like turn, with temperatures this afternoon expected to be in the high 70's with mild Santa Ana winds. So, get out your pencils and start 'capping! Best of luck to all.

Winter Comes to Clockers' Corner

How do you know it's winter in Southern California? When Julio Canani's winter fur hat appears, of course!

This morning at Clockers' Corner, I asked Canani if I could take a picture of him in the hat that has become a winter icon on cold mornings at Santa Anita. Although the day dawned with a pretty good chill in the air -- in the 40's (brrrrrr!) -- the temperature was up to 64 degrees by 8:30 a.m. While the rest of the country is dealing with REAL winter weather (including New Orleans, Louisiana, where Fairgrounds canceled its racing program today because of a rare snowstorm), we cling to whatever indicators we can find of the change of seasons.

Although he may look like he's from the Great White North in his fur hat, Canani is a native of Peru who came to the United States in 1963 and took out his trainer's license in 1968. He has trained numerous stakes winners, including Amorama, Blackdoun, Hyperbaric, Silic, Ladies Din, Tranquility Lake, and Tuzla. He is 6th leading trainer at the current Hollywood Park meet, through 12/10/08.

Chatting with Jerry McMahon at Clockers' Corner

Wednesday morning I met Jerry McMahon at Clockers' Corner, Santa Anita, where he is a frequent visitor. McMahon recently announced his resignation as president and general manager of Barretts Equine Ltd., the Pomona, California Thoroughbred auction company he founded in 1989 with Fred Sahadi and former Fairplex Park CEO Ralph Hinds.

It was not surprising to find McMahon at Clockers' Corner. "Clockers' Corner to me represents the focal point of our industry in Southern California," he said. "In some of the other states with breeding and racing centers, like in Lexington, KY, Ocala, FL, and Saratoga, NY, they have more structured social functions, dinners, and so on," McMahon explained. "Clockers' Corner is where all that happens here in Southern California, in terms of social networking and business networking."

Places like Clockers' Corner -- where ordinary fans mingle with racing's elite trainers, riders, owners, and industry representatives like McMahon -- are truly unique and special. And Santa Anita's Clockers' Corner is one of the best kept secrets in horseracing. It's a place where families can come on Saturday and Sunday mornings for a delicious trackside breakfast, or just donuts and coffee, and watch the horses training against the backdrop of the beautiful San Gabriel mountains.

"Clockers' Corner is, to my way of thinking, the single best marketing tool that we have for our sport in Southern California," McMahon agreed, "particularly in terms of what families can enjoy."

Speaking about his recent announcement, McMahon said, "I have had a really great 20-year run with Barretts, and I just felt that I needed freshening up, by looking for a new opportunity, hopefully within the business. The response I've gotten to the announcement has been really supportive. People have been expressing appreciation for the work I've done and wishing me the best. It has been really great."

Buzz at Clockers Corner