The California Thoroughbred Foundation is donating the contents of the Carleton F. Burke Library— one of the most extensive collections of equine literature found anywhere—to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
“This is such a rare and specialized collection that it is a great match with an academic library,” said Foundation President Ada Gates Patton. “Officials from Cal Poly Pomona approached us about acquiring the library, with proposed expert management of books and increased public access.
“The Foundation does not have resources like those at Cal Poly. In addition, with more and more material available on the Internet, in-person use of the library decreased in recent years, followed by a two-year closure because of the pandemic. So after studying the proposal carefully, our board voted for the donation. This will benefit anyone interested in publications about horses, whether for serious study or just pleasure reading.”
The university intends to digitize research books for worldwide access, exposing the Burke Library to a far wider audience than the Foundation could offer.
“We have been privileged to own this unique collection and open it to the public, and we look forward to its professional preservation and even wider availability at Cal Poly Pomona,” said Gates Patton.
The Burke Library has been housed in the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association building in Arcadia, across the street from Santa Anita Park. One positive factor influencing the decision was that the collection will remain nearby, as Pomona is just 20 miles from Arcadia.
“The Burke Library has long been an important resource for many in the horse world,” said CTBA President Doug Burge. “The CTBA has been proud to have the library on our premises, but we understand that its care and accessibility will be greatly enhanced at Cal Poly Pomona.”
Carleton F. Burke was the first chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, director of racing at Santa Anita, and a secretary-treasurer of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He died in 1962, and the following year the library was named for him in recognition of his contributions to racing.