Eddie Logan was a fixture at Santa Anita for 75 years (Benoit Photo)

Eddie Logan, Santa Anita's iconic shoeshine attendant since opening day, December 25, 1934, and a former boxer and baseball player, passed away at his home in Monrovia, California, early Saturday morning at the age of 98. Born in 1910, he would have been 99 on May 20.

A self-described "footman," Logan was a shining ray of optimism and good humor throughout his nearly 75-year reign at Santa Anita. Blessed with sparkling eyes and quick wit, Logan greeted all of his customers with a customary smile and a work ethic truly borne of another era.

"Eddie was here from the start," Santa Anita President Ron Charles said. "I know this may sound predictable, but truly, Santa Anita will never be the same without him. He was an inspiration to all of us and I personally feel that my life has been enriched by having known him all these years.

"Eddie loved racing and the people in it. He was indeed a window to our past and although he lived a very long and healthy life, we just wish we could have had a lot more time with him. I think all of us will cherish our memories of Eddie and what he meant to Santa Anita."

Logan, who appeared in the Santa Anita winner's circle to present the trophy for the Eddie Logan S. on December 27, never recovered from the effects of a seizure and stroke he suffered on January 3.

Eddie Logan was a favorite of everyone who attended the races (Benoit Photo)

Logan would often lecture horsemen about the care of their boots and shoes and the perils the stable area presented for leather. "This leather's got four things working against it on the backside," Logan would say. "Salt, brace, alkali and urine," were invariably cited as the primary culprits.

Logan, who serviced jockeys such as Eddie Arcaro and John Longden to Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay and Chris McCarron, is as much a part of the fabric of Santa Anita as any Hall of Fame horseman.

"Over the years, Eddie became a great friend," Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said. "Our friendship was partly due to the admiration I had for him -- to be operating his shoeshine stand as he did for all these years was remarkable.

"He had that great sense of humor and he'd make you laugh. He'd talk about his days with the Kansas City Monarchs and he was just so full of life. He said his dad always told him, 'Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open, and you'll learn something.' I hope Santa Anita maintains his shoe shine stand forever, he was one of a kind."