And Down the Stretch They Come ... to Have Breakfast

In the land where the buff bod rules, where “one more crunch” is the mantra of the most fit, there exists an elite group of athletes that let you sit and admire them exercise.

It’s 7:30 a.m. at Santa Anita, and a small slew of thoroughbreds have taken to the turf for their morning workout. And sipping hot coffee on a patio situated perfectly at the top of the stretch is a loyal group of racing enthusiasts who come every morning to mingle with the jockeys, owners and trainers, and while they’re at it, have a bit of breakfast. It’s called Clockers’ Corner, a breakfast eatery named after the clockers--analysts who spend their early mornings with stopwatches and notepads studying the equine elite.

During the racing season, a full breakfast menu is offered at this trackside restaurant and Bob Baffert, Gary Stevens and other personalities of the racing biz are regularly found hanging about. In the summer months the mood relaxes, the pace slows down, but Clockers’ Corner does not close. In fact, a reasonably priced continental menu is offered in the off-season every day from 7:30 to 10 a.m.

And even though the competitive 2-year-olds have moved on to Hollywood Park and Del Mar, you can still get a glimpse of some of the world’s most promising up-and-comers. Many trainers like Baffert and Paco Gonzalez maintain stables at Santa Anita in the off-season and continue to train here.

Susan Gregg Gilmore

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Clockers’ Corner, Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia. (626) 574-7223. www.santaanita.com.