MI Development Ends Contract with Oak Tree
 

MI Developments Ends Contract with Oak Tree
By Eric Mitchell

MI Developments has ended a lease that allows the Oak Tree Racing Association to operate at Santa Anita Park several weeks after the not-for-profit racing association thought its lease had been tentatively reaffirmed.

“We just got notified today, though we heard about the decision a couple of days ago,” Sherwood Chillingworth, Oak Tree’s executive vice president, said May 14. “It was a surprise after we just had a reaffirmation of the lease.”

Chillingworth told the California Horse Racing Board at its April 15 meeting that the long-term lease at Santa Anita had been reaffirmed and was expected to run through 2016. Oak Tree, a not-for-profit association that has leased Santa Anita for fall racing since 1969, hosted the 2008 and 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. After those two successful events, Santa Anita is under consideration as permanent host site of the Breeders’ Cup.

what should we think about santa anita ending their contract with oak tree? does that give any indication about becoming a permanent site?

i don't think any track should get it on a permanent basis. but, if that's what they want, i don't see how it could be anywhere but churchill.

Spoke to several current and former Magna executives at Pimlico yesterday, and the strange MI Developments move with Oak Tree absolutely tables the unannounced BCL decision for now... At the same time, MID may only have voided the deal in advance of reopening negotiations with Oak Tree as they re-evaluate ALL of Magna Entertainment's businesses. But Oak Tree Association owns the fall dates. The BC cannot hold the Cup at Santa Anita without that access. Stronach's speculation that he can force deregulation of the California dates is strictly speculation.

MI Developments foisted a bizarre couple of days at the end of the week with the Oak Tree move and completely blindsided move to back out of TrackNet.

and it seems just weeks before, oak tree thought a new contract was in the bag. very strange. but than again, with it being magna we're discussing, maybe not so strange...no doubt it my mind this ties in with stronach deciding, and then changing his mind, on the track surface change at santa anita. i think this is all movement on his part to try to get his way with the changes he's been advocating with cali racing. frank has to think he's got a strong position, based on sanan and others talk of wanting santa anita as the permanent host. how bad do they want it? what can he get from it?

Del Mar, Hollywood reach out to Oak Tree
By Steve Andersen

Officials with Del Mar and Hollywood Park have informed the Oak Tree Racing Association that their racetracks are available for a race meeting in October if Oak Tree is unable to reach an agreement with Magna International Development on a lease at Santa Anita later this year.

Last week, MID, the parent company of Santa Anita's owner Magna Entertainment, voided its lease with Oak Tree, which hosts an annual fall meeting at Santa Anita.

MID chief executive officer Dennis Mills declined on Friday to state what terms MID wants from Oak Tree in a new lease. Officials with Oak Tree and MID are expected to discuss new lease terms in coming weeks. Oak Tree has leased Santa Anita for its annual fall meeting since 1969.

Oak Tree at Hollywood would be awesome. Oak Tree at Del Mar? Not so much.

Totally agree. It would ruin the novelty of Del Mar to race there in the summer and then again all winter.

Paul

*facepalm*

I assume Coach's facepalm statement is because the Oak Tree meet is short (October thru mid November, I believe). This has nothing to do with the Regular Santa Anita meet from late December to mid April.

I would also assume that November is still winter...

Paul

Oh my god.

..snarf!..





This certainly isn't rocket science class.

The simple point I was trying to make is that botiuque meets are successful because they are short and unique. I love Saratoga but if they raced into November I would think that would be a bad idea as well.

Del Mar is already Santa Anita to the south as far as quality of racing but it is the experience of the short meet that everyone aims for. Adding another month or more would wear thin quickly.

Paul

ron charles, president of santa anita, has resigned:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...of-santa-anita

Del Mar is not close to the quality level of Santa Anita. It's always been a hybrid meet that had some nice stakes but also catered to the smaller, displaced CA outfits with cheap races.

He's done enough