Dressage-News

April 15, 2025

By KENNETH J. BRADDICK

Santa Anita Park, host of the 1984 Olympic equestrian events, was confirmed Tuesday as the venue of horse sports of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

“Santa Anita Park will be a spectacular venue for the LA28 Olympic equestrian events,” International Equestrian Federation  President Ingmar De Vos exclaimed in confirming the selection of the venue that is within the city area central to most events of LA28. The Olympics are scheduled for July 14-30, 2028.

“The FEI has very fond memories of Santa Anita, which had hosted the equestrian events at the 1984 Olympic Games. The venue is set to offer a breathtaking stage for all the Olympic equestrian competitions and the proximity to LA city will undoubtedly attract many spectators to Santa Anita. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with LA28 to deliver spectacular equestrian events at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.”

Santa Anita is in Arcadia near Pasadena, and has hosted some of the major Thoroughbred events in the United States including the Breeders Cup and has an on-course complete veterinary clinic.

The selection of Santa Anita was reported last week by dressage-news.com after Temecula in Southern California and about 100 miles/160km from Los Angeles was rejected as the Olympic site.

“I would like to thank the FEI on behalf of the IOC for the active engagement in all the discussions regarding the venue,” International Olympic Committee Sports Director Kit McConnell said. “We have created a strong partnership with the Organizing Committee and the city of Los Angeles, which enjoys the full support of the local equestrian community.”

“We have the utmost confidence in the LA28 Organizing Committee, and we anticipate exceptional equestrian sport will take place at this special legacy venue from the 1984 Olympic Games. We are also extremely pleased that the IOC has confirmed the athlete quotas across the disciplines for 2028 and they remain unchanged from 2024,” said Bill Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of US Equestrian.

The quota for equestrian is a total of 200 horse and rider combinations–60 for dressage, 65 for eventing and 75 for jumping. The eventing cross-country course is projected to include areas surround the race track.

At least 25 hotels are within easy distance of Santa Anita, a privately owned race track that is part of horse and Hollywood lore. The famous Seabiscuit won his last race at Santa Anita. In its heyday, the track attracted the most famous movie stars, some of whom were stockholders.

Santa Anita covers 320 acres/130Ha and includes a 1,100-foot/340-meter long grandstand that seats 26,000 spectators. The track infield area, which resembles a park with picnic tables and large trees, can accommodate 50,000 people. The Park has 61 barns that can house more than 2,000 horses.

The venue for the Para Equestrian events will be announced at a later date following the review and approval of the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board. Paralympics are scheduled Aug. 15-27, 2028.