A trainer gives instructions to a jockey before a race.

Doug O'Neill instructs Rafael Bejarano before Del Mar race 7, Aug. 28, 2010.

A lead pony rests between races.

Outrider Jesus Camacho gives water to his pony between races.

Earlybirds stake their claim to rail-front property during morning workouts, hours before first post.

Tower of teamwork - a groom, trainer, hotwalker, and valet tend to horse and jockey after a race.

Brooke's Fantasy, Hollywood Park Race 3, June 13, 2010.

Lead ponies relax on the track while waiting to pick up horses for the post parade.

The track vet watches horses in the post parade and gate load.

Shadow roll.

A used tongue tie litters the ground near the track.

Outrider Jesus Camacho catches a loose horse that dumped its rider at the start.

Chimu, Santa Anita race 7, Mar. 14, 2010. Camacho was honored this day as the employee of the week, and had to go out and earn it!

Handicapper Tom Quigley tweets his paddock observations during the races.

Dance to My Tune after the Santa Margarita Invitational (Gr. 1).

Ponying

Horseshoe inspector/farrier Victor Tovar performs a last-minute shoe repair before a race.

General Dan, Santa Anita race 1, Feb. 28, 2010.

Jockey Alonso Quinonez watches as his horse, General Dan, gets a last-minute shoe repair during the post parade before a race.

Santa Anita race 1, Feb. 28, 2010.

A jockey valet lays out materials as he prepares to saddle a horse at a walk.

Taking pictures with Zenyatta. Probably IS an everyday thing!

Outside John Shirreffs' Hollywood Park barn, Jan. 17, 2010.

Starting gate.

Assistant starters grab an obstinate horse's ear to load it into the starting gate.

For turf course workouts, riders switch mounts at the gap instead of going back to the barn.

Rafael Bejarano gets on Elusive Galaxy after working Ferneley at Santa Anita, Oct. 24, 2009.

Jockeys sign autographs as they return to the jockeys' room after a race.

Kieren Fallon after the 2009 Yellow Ribbon.

Horses receive their bridle number plates at the receiving barn before a race.

Mine That Bird before the 2009 Goodwood.

Camera man.

Horses go to the track for the post parade.

2009 Cal. Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.

The starting gate is rolled onto the turf course on boards to protect the grass.

Hangin' out at the gap during morning workouts.

The Seabiscuit Tour stops through the receiving barn.

Trainer John Shirreffs prefers to watch the winners' circle photo rather than be in it.

After Life Is Sweet won the 2009 G1 Santa Margarita.

Starting gate load.

Sayit - Santa Anita race 2, March 14, 2009.

Earmuffs, common on Paddy Gallagher horses.

Magical Fantasy before the 2009 G1 Santa Margarita.

Some horses have to be saddled in or behind the saddling box.

Hooh Why before the 2009 G1 Santa Anita Oaks.

The line to the receiving barn before a race.

2009 G3 Sham Stakes

Kickin' back between races.

Leg up.

Cigarette, program, and the Form.

Chatting with a bartender.

Horses are walked in circles on the track while they wait to return to the testing barn.

Into Mischief and Georgie Boy after the 2008 G1 Malibu.

"One out"

Yummy.

Jockeys report back to trainers (and sometimes owners) on their ride after a race.

Rafael Bejarano explains his 6th-place finish on Azul Leon in the 2008 G1 Norfolk Stakes. Doug O'Neill and Joseph Lacombe (Sr. or Jr.?) listen as the winner Street Hero parades in the background.

Grooms hand off their horse to an outrider before the horses go onto the track for the post parade.

Saucey Evening before winning the 2008 Cal. Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Post-race interview.

Jerry Fanning and Joe Talamo after winning the Ralph M. Hinds Hcp. at Fairplex. The panda bear silks are Lathrop G. Hoffman's.

Though braids may look nice, they aren't very practical. Riders undo them to get a better grip on the mane for the start.

Hurry Up Austin is escorted back to the frontside after breaking through the gate and being a late scratch.

Hollywood Park race 4, June 7, 2008.

Horses cross over to the turf for a race after warming up on the main track.

Tutta Bella and Passified before the 2008 Redondo Beach S.

The gallop out after a race.

Warming up.

Reggie pulls a wagon everyday at Santa Anita to take the patrol judges to their stands.

The track chaplain says a prayer for the assistant starters before they go to do their dangerous job.

Assistant starters load horses into the starting gate.

A horse returns after he "grabbed a quarter" (see blood and bent shoe).

Success Fee after running last in the 2008 G3 Sham S.

Workers move the rail for a downhill turf race at Santa Anita.

Claimed horses are marked after the race with a red tag. (update of an older photo)

Mike Mitchell-trainee South African Baby had nine claims in for her, and Peter Miller won the shake.

Non-stick spray is used to keep the synthetic track from sticking to the horses' hooves.

Dawn After Dawn before winning the G2 La Canada.

An lead pony rider describes Santa Anita to C.C. Lopez on his first time at the track (I think).

The horse is Gottcha Gold before the 2008 Sunshine Millions Classic.

The Goodyear Blimp hovers above on big days.

Common barn sights - a bath stall, hotwalking horse, hanging bridles, and tack on a sawhorse.

Jockey Clinton Potts gives his horse Judge Gallivan a pat after a win.

Paddock and racing patrol judge Ken Goldberg walkie-talkie's his observations after the field passes by.

Corey Nakatani stands up from a sitting position to a riding position just out of the gate.