Fairplex to replace HP??????????
 

This has to be the biggest WTF I've ever read in racing!

http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/45929.htm

They want to put in a 7f turf course as well as expand the main track and convert it to all weather, so they can run in all types of smoggy conditions.

My response would be, why bother at all, even if HP closes?

For starters, SA is practically right down the street. Second, Pomona sucks!

I'd give Del Mar all of HP's spring/summer days.

Heck, why not get crazy and let the BC in on the nuttiness! I think maybe they can run future BC turf races at SA or DM, and run the dirt races at Los Al!

Which reminds me of the time Lukas almost ran a horse named Hennessey at Los Al.

That's the same thing that Pegram said about Los Al a year or two ago.

This is somewhat old news. As far as your "SA is right down the street" argument, isn't Aqueduct fairly close to Belmont?

Pomona may suck, but they do hold major TB sales there every year. And certainly saying Pomona sucks without referencing the fact that Hollywood Park is situated in the friendly confines of Inglewood is telling only half the story.

Giving extra dates to Del Mar is unlikely, both because of community resistance (rich snobs) and expense (its expensive to live there because of the rich snobs--a #1 "value" meal at McD's is at least $1.49 more there than in LA--might as well dine at Disneyland or LAX). Not to mention that if they did get the dates we'd get to look forward to over 3 months of racing on every handicapper's favorite surface, Polytrack.

If the land that Bay Meadows is on is worth too much to keep as a track, then just exactly how much is the land worth that Del Mar is on?

i'm not sure but one is operated by "del mar thoroughbred club" and the other by "bay meadows development corporation".

i wouldn't worry too much about del mar disappearing.

lots, but doesn't the state own that land?

Los Al is probably a better location. Move the quarter horses to Fairplex

like los al would ever want to give up their night time franchise.

but i'm with you on preferring los al for the available dates. i'd rather sit next to empty headed newport beach than meth headed 909.

Fairplex is able to make money without the horses. It will be intersting to see how long it takes the property value to go back up for Hollywood Park to sell. Its not going to happen as soon as they think.

Haven't those folks been in Pomona in the summertime?!?! Hollywood is not that far from the ocean and gets some cooling from sea breezes. Pomona is inland, in the corridor leading out to Riverside, which is darn HOT in the summertime. It would have to be night racing if Hollywood dates were run at Pomona.

As I understand it, the Del Mar Fairgrounds property is owned by the state and operated by the 22nd Agricultural District Association, and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club leases the facilities for their summer racing meet.

http://www.sdfair.com/index.php?fuseaction=about.home

Its a dry heat. It can get hot all over Southern California and it starts the first week of July and can stay that way till October. The location doesnt really matter more that 5 degrees.

If Hollywood park meets ends up in Fairplex I sure hope Vic Stauffer calls the races

Here's a current comparison -- July 2nd forecast for

Inglewood, CA:
Wednesday, Jul 2
High: 77 °F RealFeel®: 83 °F
Sunshine
http://www.accuweather.com/forecast....90301&metric=0

Pomona, CA:
Wednesday, Jul 2
High: 96 °F RealFeel®: 100 °F
Hot with abundant sunshine
http://www.accuweather.com/forecast....91766&metric=0

Arcadia, CA:
Wednesday, Jul 2
High: 90 °F RealFeel®: 95 °F
Sunny and very warm
http://www.accuweather.com/forecast....91006&metric=0

Del Mar, CA:
Wednesday, Jul 2
High: 78 °F RealFeel®: 83 °F
Areas of low clouds early, then mostly sunny
http://www.accuweather.com/forecast....92014&metric=0

Po-rock (as called by my friends in West Covina) is a shidhole. High heat, smog, traffic and all concrete. Inglewood really wasn't a bad place in comparision. At least there you could eat at Mr. Jim's ribs, back in the day.

i live in a place that is consistently 10 degrees cooler than where i work 26 freeway miles away. and i live 20 miles from the ocean communities which are usually another 10 degrees cooler then where i live.

palmtuckey and landscatter are even hotter than where i work.

i have no idea where you get your idea.

Is HP that much of an antiquated facility?

Does this mean the casino is gone too? I loved going to the old pavillion when I was a kid

churchill while they had it didn't spend the money for a coat of paint.

bay meadows development, to their credit, have spend facilities maintenance money plus what it cost for the conversion to cushion.

magna, despite their poor reputation here, have turned santa anita into a palace.

as a socal fan, you'll have to excuse the stronach dick imprint on the back of my throat. there's really no comparison how the 2 facilities have been treated since local ownership left.

I live in the hills of Glendora and if your not on the beach, Hot is Hot. As for you friends in the valley and desert no one cares how hot it is.

Try walking to your car at Hollywood after the races. Inglewood is not the place to be if you dont have insurance. :zz:

That's not really the point, the land is geared for development. I was lucky enough to contact Vic Stauffer last week and he allowed me to come up and meet him and watch him call a race. According to him, all contracts at HP are over at year's end and the situation is currently in limbo, may continue there another year or so, maybe not.

The biggest issue is stalls where SA has no where near enough spaces to support itself and neither does HP. So, with the price of land, where do you put thousands of horses?

By the way, Vic was super to allow me up to meet him and a really nice guy. It was also a thrill to watch him call a race and get to meet him

Spyder

Spyder

Got a chance to go "roofside" to watch Vic call a race too! I agree, he's really a great guy and a good sport for allowing folks to go up there.

You are right about the barn space issue, which is why Fairplex appears to be a logical choice, regardless of the summer temperatures.

I remember reading that Mike Pegram and a few others were considering expansion of Los Alamitos (had put a business plan together and were working on financing), but as the years have passed, that option has become less feasible for a number of reasons.

Why not go back to the old El Toro Air Force Base option that was floated around years ago.
Plenty of room to stable three breeds, T-Bred--Qtrs--Harness.
You could make four tracks, Dirt, Poly, Harness and turf.

It is in an easy to get to location in OC and the weather doesnt get as hot as Pomona. You could go night racing in the summer months if needed, even cross breeds on different tracks.

Probably could check through the old history books and find an Indian tribe who once lived there and can open a casino too.

That and the fact its about a 10 minute drive from my place would make it perfect.

If some one wants to spend money, at least spend it on something worth it.

I used to go to HP nearly every day my senior year of high school and during the summer meet in college, once I got home.

I never had a problem with the locals. I used to eat at a great rib place on Florence (I think it was Florence) called Mr. Jim's. I'd usually go with a couple of friends of mine and then eat outside on the street corner. I was the only white person for miles! People walking by would look at us in surprise but they often would stop and shoot the breeze with us.

Po-Rock though? ICK.

Do you know why the El Toro option was abandoned?

Pomona has its problems, but Fairplex is located above the freeway and that is better than below. Both places are not where I want to have my car break down. The last time I went to Hollywood park was when John Henry won the Sunset handicap. Inglewood is not the place to be a night anymore. Southern California has so many areas that go from upper middle class to the Hood in afew miles. Bradbury is one of the highest incomes per household in America and just down the freeway we have Baldwin Park, one of the lowest per household.

I believe it was more speculation coming from CD management when they ran and owned HP. Last I heard anything about it was in 2004.

I have been to Los Al many times and top T-Bred racing moving from HP to Los Al would be the same as moving it from the Big A to Yonkers.

Los Al is an old track and will almost need to be torn down and rebuilt, IMO.
I just dont see who will be willing to finance the costs considering the potential returns. However, regarding the El Toro Base area, if the Indians could ever find a way to claim something about the property I could see a mega resort/casino facility financed by them and a hotel group as the potential in that area is unlimited.

Still it probably is more of a dream than a reality.

hollywood scares me. they might as well call it compton downs.

Its way too close to South Central Los Angles, the "Riot capital of America". I dont care how good the chicken and ribs.

You got to be kidding...you can drive for 10 minutes and be in ALOT worse places. I use to sell in LA for years and that is not one of the bad places at all. In fact I was surprised how much it was cleaned up on my recent visit.

Spyder

People who think L.A. is tough should go spend a few days in Detroit.

L.A. is a resort next to Detroit.

couldnt agree more, i drove by Hollywood Park one day during their off season and it was fine as far as the neighborhood. I remember thinking we had tough neighborhoods here, then i went to the midwest and visited Motown, south chicago, over the rhine, all gems of america.