Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, August 25, 2018

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

2019 BREEDERS’ CUP RETURNS TO 

SANTA ANITA PARK AND DRAYDEN VAN DYKE 
SETS RECORD AT DEL MAR

FIRST CONTRACT FOR FOOTHILL GOLD LINE 
LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION IS COMPLETED UNDER 
BUDGET AND AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AN EARLY 
SUCCESS FOR MEASURE M AND SB1 FUNDING


Monrovia, CA – Today, the Foothill Gold Line Construction 
Authority (Construction Authority) announced 
completion of the $2.6 million Utility Relocation design-
bid-build contract, awarded to W.A. Rasic Construction 
Company, Inc. (Rasic) in September 2017. Over the last 11 
months, Rasic crews successfully relocated and/or protected 
a dozen strategically-located sewer and water lines that 
cross the railroad corridor where the Foothill Gold Line is 
being built. Today’s announcement marks the successful 
completion of the first of three contracts to be awarded over 
the life of the $1.5 billion, six-station Foothill Gold Line light 
rail extension from Glendora to Montclair. The project will 
add new Metro Gold Line stations in the cities of Glendora, 
San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair.

 “The utility work went very smoothly and was completed 
two months ahead of schedule,” stated Construction 
Authority CEO, Habib F. Balian. “We were very pleased 
with Rasic’s work, which helps pave the way for the main 
design-build contractor to begin work as soon as they are 
ready.”

Procurement for the Alignment design-build contract 
began in November 2017 and will include all work on the 
12.3-mile light rail extension with the exception of parking. 
Proposals are due on September 12, and the Construction 
Authority anticipates awarding the contract later this 
year. Major construction is expected to begin in early 
2020 and consist of two construction phrases. First, the 
Alignment contractor will rebuild and relocate the freight 
and Metrolink systems that currently operate in the middle 
of the rail corridor. Once the relocation is done, crews will 
build the light rail system. Completion is expected in 2026.

 “This is an early success for the project and for our 
funding partners,” added Balian. “Getting this work done 
ahead of the main design-build team being hired reduces 
risk for the four shortlisted bidding teams and hopefully 
reduces their final bid prices and keeps the project within 
our current estimates.” 

 The Foothill Gold Line light rail project is being 
funded by local county sales tax measures and the State of 
California. The portion of the project within Los Angeles 
County (Glendora to Claremont) is being mostly funded 
by LA Metro’s Measure M, with just under $100 million in 
Measure R funding designated for the project. The portion 
from Claremont to Montclair is being funded by San 
Bernardino County’s Measure I. In April 2018, the project 
received nearly $300 million from the State of California’s 
Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, a grant program 
funded by SB1 and the State’s Cap and Trade Auction. State 
funds will be used to fill the estimated funding gap needed 
to complete the project in both counties.

About the Foothill Gold Line - The Foothill Gold Line 
Construction Authority is an independent transportation 
planning and construction agency created in 1998 by the 
California State Legislature to plan, design and build the 
Metro Gold Line light rail system from Union Station to 
Montclair. The agency completed the first segment from 
Union Station to Pasadena in 2003 and the Pasadena to 
Azusa segment in 2015; both on time and under budget. 
The agency began work on the Foothill Gold Line from 
Glendora to Montclair in 2003. The Glendora to Montclair 
project was environmentally cleared under CEQA in March 
2013 and completed advanced conceptual engineering in 
2016. The project was the first Measure M-funded project 
to break ground.

Drayden Van Dyke and Gary Stevens at Clocker's Corner, Santa Anita Park

By Joan Schmidt

WOW! What a week this has been for racing fans! 
First last Friday, the Media was invited to Santa Anita’s 
Chandelier Room, for a special announcement-
the Breeders’ Cup is returning to Santa Anita, next 
year, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. In 2016, the Breeders’ Cup 
established a two-day attendance record of 118,484 
at Santa Anita, the only track who hosted it, three 
consecutive years. (2012-2014)

 It was a pleasure to meet Craig Fravel, Breeders’ 
Cup President and CEO, who said, “We look 
forward to another outstanding Breeders Cup World 
Championships at Santa Anita…one of the world’s 
greatest racing venues.” Tim Ritvo, CEO, The Stonach 
Group told us, “We are thrilled to have the Breeders 
Cup back here at Santa Anita for a record 10th time in 
2019.”

 With the San Gabriel Mountains as a backdrop, 
Santa Anita has one of the most beautiful racing 
venues. Previously, over $35 million has been 
invested towards improved premium seating areas, 
racing surfaces and enhanced wagering product. 
Additionally, the Park plans to invest $5 million to 
add new premium seating, and renovations to the 
4th and 5th floor restaurants prior to the Breeders’ 
Cup.

 Also attending were Mayor Sho Tay, Mayor Pro Tem 
April Verlato and Council Member Roger Chandler, 
who has been a racing fan for years, and told us that he 
was at the 1986 event-first time Breeders’ Cup was at 
Santa Anita!

 On Sunday, August 19, the unthinkable happened 
at Del Mar. Twenty-three year old Drayden Van Dyke 
won SEVEN of the 10 races on the program. Not 
the first time a jockey won 7. Drayden tied Victor’s 
record of 7 wins on Sept, 4, 2006!) They included 
NeighborhoodBully, Quebec, Triple Shot, Tantara, 
Catapult, Policy, and Ohio. Drayden was in 8 races that 
day. Besides the seven wins, he came in 2nd in Race 6 
on Allaboutaction. 

 A few years ago, I saw a young seventeen-year-
old apprentice at the annual Jockeys VS Holy Angels 
Benefit game; what an outstanding basketball player 
he was! One morning at Clockers, I told Drayden I 
didn’t realize he had two great talents-racing horses 
and playing basketball! Drayden’s father had passed 
away, but he won the Eclipse Apprentice Award and 
everyone was so happy for him.

 As of August 23, 2018, Drayden leads the Jockeys 
with 29 wins; Flavien Pratt is close behind with 26, 
Tyler Baze and Apprentice Heriberto Figueroa are tied 
with 19 wins and Assael Espinosa has 17.

 The Pacific Stakes were BEYOND exciting and 
Accelerate really showed his great talent. A media 
email revealed that Accelerate had surpassed Justify 
in weekly standings. Congrats to Jockey Joel Rosario, 
John Sadler and all connections. At Santa Anita, racing 
expert Linda always praised Rosario’s abilities.

 Victor Espinosa is in Rehab at Scripts in Orange 
County. On Saturday between races, they televised 
an interview with Victor. We saw him workout and 
he explained the accident and how grateful he was 
to be alive. Victor is truly one of the kindest, most 
compassionate people I know. When he speaks of 
young cancer patients, he gets misty-eyed. We wish 
Victor a complete, speedy recovery.

 Important upcoming dates: Del Mar racing ends on 
Labor Day; Los Alamitos opens on Sept.6. (Racing is 
Thursdays-Sundays, Closing Day-September 23.)

 The GREAT RACE PLACE opens on September 
27- November 4. Racing is Thurs.-Sun. except Thurs., 
Oct. 11. Columbus Day, Oct. 8 will feature racing.

 See you at the Races!


NEWCOMERS AND FRIENDS OF SAN GABRIEL 
VALLEY INVITES LOCAL RESIDENTS TO 

SEPTEMBER EVENT

August 22, 2018 – San Gabriel Valley, California. Are you interested in meeting new people, making new 
friends, exploring well-known landmarks, and enjoying new activities? Newcomers and Friends of San 
Gabriel Valley, a social club, invites local women to attend their September general meeting. 

 On September 5, at 10:00 am, Newcomers and Friends of SGV’s “meet-and-greet” 
coffee will be held in Jordan Hall at Church of the Good Shepherd, 400 West Duarte 
Road, in Arcadia. FREE tickets are available from Eventbrite, www.eventbrite.com/e/
womens-social-club-meet-and-greet-coffee-and-meeting-in-san-gabriel-valley-tickets-49409815087

 This general meeting is a great way to meet the members of Newcomers and Friends and learn about 
the club’s wide variety of daytime, weekday, fun activities. Anyone interested in joining is welcome to 
attend.

 Additional Newcomers and Friends’ mostly-daytime, weekday activities include a Book Club, Bridge, 
Crafters, Day Trips, Games (Bunco, Rummikub, etc.), Golf, Hiking, Happy Hour, Lunch Bunch, Mah 
Jongg, Movies, Pinochle, and Wine Tasting.

 This group currently has 130 members of various ages and backgrounds and has existed since 1965. 

To learn more about Newcomers and Friends of San Gabriel Valley, contact them via email at 
sgvnewcomers@gmail.com or visit them online at www.sgvnewcomers.com

Jan Greteman626.975.4033Jan@JanGreteman.comJanGreteman.com#01943630Judy Webb-Martin626.688.2273Judy.Webb-Martin@podley.com#00541631 
Katie Orth626.688.0418 
KatieO@podley.com#00942500 
Let Us Make Our Town, Your Town.
Kersting Court30 N. Baldwin AvenueSierra Madre 91024THE WEBB-MARTIN GROUP
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