The California winter racing season starts merrily Saturday with a festive atmosphere. Holiday cheer always spills to the day after Christmas, when the toys are new and the game is still fresh.But racing is filled with both excitement and trepidation, and this winter at Santa Anita, the contradictions will be plenty.Santa Anita's outstanding opening-day card Saturday is brimming with 107 horses entered in 10 races, including two Grade 1's. The first-day entries conceal the local inventory decline, from 3,500 race-ready runners in past seasons to only about 2,500 currently.

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