<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SANTA ANITA
REALTY ENTERPRISES, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>     0000314661
<NAME>    SANTA ANITA REALTY ENTERPRISES, INC.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996 
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                      12,921,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  233,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                 (143,000)
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                      60,702,000
<DEPRECIATION>                            (30,164,000)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              61,753,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                     20,407,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                 21,718,000
<COMMON>                                     1,159,000
<OTHER-SE>                                   7,516,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                61,753,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            19,184,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,434,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            12,748,000
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           2,670,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,332,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          1,332,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                              (11,036,000)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.97)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0.0