Experience the beauty of the LA Arboretum’s stunning scenery as you run like a thoroughbred in the Derby Day 5K this April in Arcadia. After the race, keep the excitement going with an epic post-race party, thrilling horse races, and two complimentary, ice-cold beers for those 21 and over! All …
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Experience the beauty of the LA Arboretum’s stunning scenery as you run like a thoroughbred in the Derby Day 5K this April in Arcadia. After the race, keep the excitement going with an epic post-race party, thrilling horse races, and two complimentary, ice-cold beers for those 21 and over! All participants receive a finisher’s medal, shirt, admission to Santa Anita Park’s annual Derby Day horse races, and more!
Event highlights include:
- Scenic course: Experience the beauty of nature as you run or walk the 5K through the picturesque Los Angeles Arboretum, surrounded by lush greenery and stunning botanical gardens, before reaching the grand finale – crossing the finish line on the iconic Santa Anita Race track.
- Kids’ Races: Little ones can join the excitement with two thrilling options—a 6-furlong race for a longer challenge (ages 7-12) and a quick Homestretch yard dash (ages 6 and under), both exclusively on the legendary horse track.
- Post-Event Entertainment: After your race, soak up the excitement at our post-event expo, where you’ll find music, food, free beer to race participants over 21, and the annual Spring Carnival.
- Free Admission to Derby Day Horse Races: As a Derby Day 5K participant, you’ll receive complimentary admission and parking to the annual Derby Day horse races. Don’t miss the chance to witness these magnificent creatures in action.
- Medals, Shirts, and Timing: Every participant will receive a well-deserved finisher medal, a stylish event shirt, and precise timing to track your performance.
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Great course! Family Friendly
The Santa Anita Derby Day 5K is a festive, family-friendly experience set against the stunning backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. Runners start near Gate 3, wind through the beautiful … MORE
The Santa Anita Derby Day 5K is a festive, family-friendly experience set against the stunning backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. Runners start near Gate 3, wind through the beautiful Los Angeles County Arboretum (keep an eye out for peacocks!), and finish on the historic Santa Anita Race Track. The event kicks off at 8:00 AM with staggered wave starts, and walkers with strollers are welcome in the final waves. Post-race perks include live music, food, a beer garden (21+), and free racetrack admission for the afternoon’s races, including the Santa Anita Derby.
It was a good run with great scenery.
It was a great race, the only problem is that if you want to avoid the walkers you have to get in the 11:00 min mile corral even if you … MORE
It was a great race, the only problem is that if you want to avoid the walkers you have to get in the 11:00 min mile corral even if you want to run slower.
Beautiful course and great atmosphere
Run this course, it’s easy to PR, the weather conditions are ideal to run, it’s open to all folks and is organized really well. The expo is good and you … MORE
Run this course, it’s easy to PR, the weather conditions are ideal to run, it’s open to all folks and is organized really well. The expo is good and you great beers after !!
We stayed back after for the races, which is also another great activity to add to your day!
Scenic and no-stress event
Driving up to Arcadia early on a Saturday morning is a breeze and the sun rising over the palm trees as you wait for everything to start is just lovely. … MORE
Driving up to Arcadia early on a Saturday morning is a breeze and the sun rising over the palm trees as you wait for everything to start is just lovely.
*Because the race track has a huge parking lot, getting in and parked was easy. Nothing was hard to find or figure out, picking up the bib and t-shirt the morning of the race was simple. We arrived early as is suggested on the site, so there were no lines for anything, including the porta-potties; we sat in the car until about 7:30 and then I ambled over to the start area.
You even get the start of the race bugle call by the official bugler for Santa Anita races.
*They know what they are doing with the corrals here; they are marked clearly with large signs showing pace: 8:00, 8:30, etc and each section is roped. The race started right on time, and since I placed myself in the #2 (8:30) corral, I was through the actual starting gate at 8:01. Even with the corrals and the (very funny) announcer urging walkers to the back, there were a few walkers in the first quarter mile, but the course is so wide, it didn’t hold anyone up.
*The course is relatively flat; there are some rollers but they are short and spaced apart. Running through the arboretum was so pleasant; it was my first time there. There were peacocks on the grounds along with all the flora.
*Coming back into the parking lot, into a tunnel, out of the tunnel, around the outside of the track and then on the track is what makes up the final mile. There is a good spot for your support team to see you before you get on the track and they can cross the infield to see you at the finish, too.
*Be aware the track is a clay/soil mixture, so while not as tough as running through deep beach sand, it will affect your pace. I was at 8:20 avg pace until that track which is about the last .3 of the race. I ended up at 8:30 pace; that’s a big slow down in only .3 miles. Even so, I was happy with my time and got 3rd out of 272 in my AG . I didn’t stay for the 3rd place medal; we had to be somewhere and they weren’t doing awards until 10. I was happy to have my finisher’s medal and the bragging rights of 3rd place. The “extra” medal would just have gone into a box.
*The regular, cotton t-shirts are nice design and there was a choice of unisex or a women’s v-neck. The medal has a bottle opener; a cool feature that I’ve seen on many of my medals, but since they just go in a box….
*Anyway, to quote my #1 race supporter “this seemed to be a much more relaxed atmosphere than most of the races I have been to with you”. It was!
*The finish line takes you onto the infield after getting bananas, apples, and a bottled protein water of some sort. There is a live band (they were great and that was our agreed to meeting spot), a beer garden and several vendor booths set up. We didn’t hang around, but there is also a carnival and you can stay all day for the races. A kids race takes place in the infield, and it is late enough you could run the 5k and still take your kids to their race.
I recommend this race for a nice morning in the foothills. We are planning to run it next year (both of us). I’m not sure how the logistics would be if we hadn’t arrived early but everyone was smiling. I give this race 2 thumbs up!
WOW! WOW! WOW!
Fast scenic run that runs around then into Santa Anita race track. Flawless race organization from start to finish! Great medal and post race expo. Possibly the best 5K in … MORE
Fast scenic run that runs around then into Santa Anita race track. Flawless race organization from start to finish! Great medal and post race expo. Possibly the best 5K in California. Don’t miss it next year!
The premier 5k in Southern California
the race starts in the parking lot of Santa Anita race track. the runners go through a real starting gate and head out to the Arboretum where you run through … MORE
the race starts in the parking lot of Santa Anita race track. the runners go through a real starting gate and head out to the Arboretum where you run through the beautiful gardens and see the peacocks between miles 1 and 2. The last mile is inside the grounds of Santa Anita Race Track and the race finishes on the homestretch of the track. great post race expo and beer garden. this race entry also includes day-of entry into the track for the Santa Anita Derby and a ticket to come back for free at a future day. Just an outstanding event start-to-finish
It's fun! I'd run it again.
I enjoyed this race. It was an easy and pretty course. I was annoyed I wore my good shoes because they got dirty on the race track. I also liked … MORE
I enjoyed this race. It was an easy and pretty course. I was annoyed I wore my good shoes because they got dirty on the race track. I also liked that they paced the start line and the strollers and walkers were after the runners.
Fun race
The highlights of this race is being able to run through the garden and finish on the race track. This years weather made the track a bit tougher to run … MORE
The highlights of this race is being able to run through the garden and finish on the race track. This years weather made the track a bit tougher to run in though since it got muddy.
The most scenic 5k in Los Angeles
The Santa Anita Derby Day 5k is now in its 22nd year and for good reason--the course is spectacular. It starts with runners going through a starting gate and ends … MORE
The Santa Anita Derby Day 5k is now in its 22nd year and for good reason–the course is spectacular. It starts with runners going through a starting gate and ends on the homestretch of the inner racetrack at Santa Anita. Between the start and the finish you go through the Botanical Gardens which are breathtaking. Race production and expo at top-notch. Volunteers are plentiful and there to serve. Parking was a snap to get into and out of the racetrack. Highly recommended for all!
This is my favorite annual run
Good people, good causes, great scenery, and great after race fun. I just completed my 8th time running this race, and will continue to run it as long as I … MORE
Good people, good causes, great scenery, and great after race fun. I just completed my 8th time running this race, and will continue to run it as long as I can
Mostly good, but...
Santa Anita Derby 5K would be a great first race for a new runner. But the course was clogged with slower participants who seeded themselves in faster corrals than they … MORE
Santa Anita Derby 5K would be a great first race for a new runner. But the course was clogged with slower participants who seeded themselves in faster corrals than they should have. The course was also slowed by a lot of picture taking, and as it wound through the arboretum, a Canada Goose! As other reviewers have reported the course is gorgeous and production great. The finisher medals look like Boston finisher knock-offs and they have an integrated bottle opener!
Just Do It
Very nice medal. Post race beer garden- yeah! Up to 2 beers. Very nice technical shirt. Very pretty scenery. Very do-able course- good for beginners as well as seasoned racers. … MORE
Very nice medal. Post race beer garden- yeah! Up to 2 beers. Very nice technical shirt. Very pretty scenery. Very do-able course- good for beginners as well as seasoned racers. Pretty nice little expo after the race.
This was a GREAT race!
I will definitely do it again and again! A fast easy course with excellent organization. Absolutely NO problems. Loved everything about it. MORE
I will definitely do it again and again! A fast easy course with excellent organization. Absolutely NO problems. Loved everything about it.
This is a good one!!
The course is scenic, production very organized, and great swag. I like the shirt and metal. The expo offers a lot of give a ways from vendors. I'll sign up … MORE
The course is scenic, production very organized, and great swag. I like the shirt and metal. The expo offers a lot of give a ways from vendors. I’ll sign up again next year.
Can't beat the scenery and the finish
This is one of the most scenic 5k courses in Southern California--even the streets are beautiful. About 1 mile of the course is through the Arboritium and the finish is … MORE
This is one of the most scenic 5k courses in Southern California–even the streets are beautiful. About 1 mile of the course is through the Arboritium and the finish is on the track at Santa Anita Race track. Great medal for finishers along with free entry to the races the day of the event and free passes to come back another day. Event shirts are ‘heather’ and exceptional. Can’t beat the race production–wave starts for the 5k kept the course relatively open despite the 6000+ runners. The post race expo had a free beer garden, plenty of exhibitors giving out free products and a really really good band. Highly recommnend this event to anyone looking for a great 5k run
Tour of Santa Anita Race Track
this run has it all--start through a starting gate used for the horse races, a scenic course through the adjacent botanical gardens and a finish on the race track. fast … MORE
this run has it all–start through a starting gate used for the horse races, a scenic course through the adjacent botanical gardens and a finish on the race track. fast course except for the racecourse part. one of the best post-race expos on the infield. you also get a ticket to the races that can be used during the remainder of the horse racing meet. highly recommended