Status of Hollywood Park?
 

Going forward after this meet, does anyone have any ideas what the CHRB has in store for Hollywood Park? For what I understood this was supposed to be the final year, but I believe nothing was was in stone. Just curious if anyone had some insight on the situation.

The development company that owns the land isn't moving forward because of the "Great Recession." They tore down Bay Meadows and the land is still sitting empty; they can't get loans to procede. (Actually, it isn't empty, it's full of debris, and a dead loss for the city in terms of taxes coming in.) If the city council of Inglewood is smart (not always a given), they will make the company prove it has all the financing in order before they issue a single permit.

The city of Lexington has a city-block sized hole in the middle of its downtown, because the powers-that-be let the Webb Bros. tear down a bunch of 100-yr-old buildings before said company had more than promises. Turns out the guy who 'promised' funding died without signing anything, heirs felt no obligation, the Webbs had no cash to go forward, and there it sits, no businesses generating employment or taxes for the city. Since the Webbs were shamed into planting some grass on it, it is not so scar-like, and during the WEG, it made a nice auxiliary town square. Whoopee.

Maybe they'll build a single story pharmacy or Auto Zone made of cinder blocks and glass . That's 21st century construction .

Going under

there's no talk i've heard of bmdc moving forward with redevelopment.

it's the silver lining of a horrible economy. the downside is this:

http://www.savehollywoodpark.com/

There's an insisive, well thought out, salient, investigative, imformative, well presented report:tro:

Well done. Great job:tro:

If possible feel free to educate us on HP 2011/2012.. While I doubt there is any who absolutely knows an undecided future clearly your thoughts could have some insight into the situation.

BTW in all fairness a lot of folks came down hard on you for what they deemed "subjective" Rosario calls when you were his agent, for those still thinking they were flavored go and listen to the call a few days ago when Rosario won 4 in row..It was especially over the top (with reason)!

The Dominican Daaaaaaaaandeeeeeee



:rolleyes:
:tro:

sounds alot like n.j.

Much easier to call races when there are only 4 horses in the field Vicktor

Hollywood Park has already announced they are commited to racing through 2011. Beyond that it's not my place to comment.

As for my calls. When I became an agent I agreed that I would make no calls that might cause patrons to complain I was favoring the jockey I work for. I have adhered to that.

Part of my job is to promote Hollywood Park and as such when a jockey has a great or "newsworthy" day I will try to rally behind that exciting accomplishment. I've made calls such as " Remember the Talamo" " Cinco de Bejarano" and the " Domincan Dandy" these are designed to generate interest and honor the hot rider.

Are they over the top? Certainly some would say yes. I don't think so but that's my way. It's served me well for 28 years in this business. I'm not likely to change that anytime soon.

I am a huge fan of our sport. Especially jockeys who IMO don't get the recognition they deserve.

I try to conduct myself in a professional manner at all times.

Actually Skott that's not true. I hate calling 4 horse fields. My rythem is thrown off. I invariably try to say too much. Never a good thing for me.

Give me 14 going 7 furs any day. That way I can just "call" the race. Report what I see happening and be done with it.

Just curious. What the heck does this post have to do with my response to your " GOING UNDER" comment?

Not your fault you call races out there.

:wf:wf:wf

Fault? You mean honor and privlidge right?

Sharp post.

4 horse fields I watched the other day and one of the horses threw the jock at the start. Down to 3. Stevie Wonder could call those races Vic

A very sensitive comment that I'm sure anyone who's blind or knows someone who's lost their sight would appreciate.

Sharp post!

Thx for the 2011 update.

I was one of those people.

Hey it was my opinion, I agreed with others who shared the same opionion.

I'm not going to kiss up to anyone and I'm not going to keep my mouth shut if I don't feel like it.

That said, I totally disagree with you here.

The night Rosario won (actually it was) 5 (wasn't it?)? I was really impressed with the race call. I thought Vic showed a lot of class and professionalism.

I guess I'm not that good of a person cause, if it had been me, I would have had a hard time doing the same.

You are that good of a person, don't sell yourself short.:)

:D

Thank you!

huh? what are you talking about?

Happy Thanksgiving and I look forward to your posts .

:)

Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

Hey if anyone is going on Sunday have a great time.

The Hollywood Derby was the first race I ever went to. It'll always be one of my favorites.

Just sayin...

Okay, carry on. :D

Which rendition?

Citrus Kid wins....

This one!!!!!

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=4-CLzG...eature=related

I like Sebastian Flyte but need to see who else goes...

In the spirit of the thread I'd like to wish you all a go f...err Happy Thanksgiving!! :)

This year could be the worst triplet of Del Mar, Oak Tree, and Hollywood Derbies I've ever seen.

Funny that nothing can be said of a day but to criticize a race caller.....Awesome!!!! Personel jealousy supercedes Doug O'Neil calling Ray Paulick in the middle of the night to revel in the fact that Kristin Mullhall had a horse pull up lame or that the track at S.A isnt done yet and they are inviting horses to train on it Dec. 7th. As for HP, really who cares, the cushion track has lost all cushion and is breaking horses down like the old track. Its a powder sand surface with rubber chunks in it and does not act at all like a "Cushion". The good note is that speed holds for the gamblers.

Yep.

I always used to really enjoy the Hollywood Derby, among those three.

So, I guess synthetics weren't the answer then for horses getting hurt.

I understand your heart is in the right place and you care deeply for the animals that run to thrill us. What track is safe? What surface in your opinion should horses run on? Every single trainer I have ever spoken to suggests that syn/rubber surfaces are no safer then dirt.. Every single one has said that the soft tissue injuries are at least as harmful as dirt. I see horses falling cornering on turf, I have seen horses take bad steps in paddocks while bearly in a cantor, I have seen them break legs kicking the friggin PADDED stall, or crack there heads trying to get at something. Frankly, the game is what it is BRUTAL. Horses run hurt, they run medicated not to hurt, they run and get cups of dirt down there throat etc. It isn't a pretty sport and someone with your vast experience should know as such and have moved past it while always understanding to maintain a certain level of responsiblity to the horse.

I very much was in favor of Rubber tracks. I believed what was said about how much safer it was. i believed if the horses wherent hurt they would race more, fields would be fuller with healthier horses.It was all a lie and that is the crux of the issue NOT that gamblers like speed.. Gamblers like to gamble.

if Poly or Tapeta, cushion, pro ride or any other these marketing miracles would have proven themselves dont you think people would be lining up to applaud ANY of them? They failed to provide a safer surface for racing.They failed to require less maintenance and lastly they failed to enhance horse health..

The rubber surfaces are best suited as an alternate surface for training in very cold places.. Perhaps NYRA will install rubber on the Belmont training track so that when it is 0 degrees on a Feb morning horses can still work on a surface that isnt frozen.

Vic: Your calls are fantastic....keep up the great work....your excitement comes right through as it's suppose to and reminds me of why I love racing so much.
Talk about over analyzing...are you promoting someone????.....give me a break.
You always call it as you see it which is all anyone can ask.
When someone wins 4 races or rides a special race they deserve to get a great call!!!!!

Freddy, that is easily the best, and most coherent post I've ever read from you.

Well said!

Although I don't bet Hollywood as much as the east coast tracks, I also appreciate Vic's calls. More importantly, I appreciate the people who post on here that are involved in some way shape or form in the industry. So whether its Andy, Chuck, Steve, Vic, etc. offering their insights into the game it certainly adds more appeal to this forum. Furthermore it's fine to disagree with them, but to treat any of them with disrespect is uncalled for.

Esp. when they dont function like a synthetic surface anymore.