Santa Anita has adjusted the description of distances of some turf sprints after consulting with Equibase on the gap between the starting gate and the start of the timing system.

Racing secretary Steve Lym said on Saturday that turf races run at 5 1-2 furlongs at normal rail settings have not had a significant run-up before the timing mechanism started. Races at that distance began last winter. Beginning Saturday, such races will be listed at a distance of about 5 1-2 furlongs.

When temporary turf rails are set 10 or 20 feet from the normal position, there is a sufficient run-up for races at 5 1-2 furlongs, Lym said.

Typically, there is a brief run-up from the gate to a beam that trips the timer. For turf races at a mile from a normal rail setting, there is a run-up of 107 feet, while a race at 1 1-8 miles has a run-up of 18 feet.

Lym said the races at 5 1-2 furlongs with a normal rail setting have been about "30 to 40" feet short.

"The consensus was to call it an about distance," Lym said.

The policy did not affect the four turf sprints at 5 1-2 furlongs on Friday when turf rails were set 10 feet from the permanent position.

Saturday, there are two turf sprints at 5 1-2 furlongs, which will be recognized at about distances.