Examiner's Schwab assails Bay Meadows 'Development' Co.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Most likely the economy had a bunch to do with the development issues.. Hopefully those are short term.. I love racing not malls but I certainly get that 5 horse fields on prime real estate isnt a good business model and so should you. Perhap if you took a stance that begged for fewer tracks and fewer dates racing could start to build a strong foundation.Then racing might have a chance to thrive. Instead you focus on rubble from a track that hadn't had a successful meet in years, save Art Sherman and Russell Baze's prospective.

You have a galling predilection for putting words into my mouth. I'm not focusing on the rubble. I brought the piece to people's attention because the Hollywood Park situation involving the same management group is in its' critical stages. Like Bay Meadows, Hollywood doesn't need to be razed.

The scenario in California is complex because of the tremendous infighting that has gone on with the CTBA and TOC, et al. As I've said before, I appreciate the positives fewer racing dates and venues could afford the game. You seem to love throwing the rocks but have no viable plan to implement.

Oh... and I doubt you realize that your approach to things would have resulted in the abandonment of racing at Saratoga in the '60's when the meet was a money loser and viewed as a drain on resources by almost everyone involved in New York racing. At which point the track would most likely have been sold to developers and leveled for 'progress' since the track lost money and hadn't run a successful meet in years. Whoops...

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

You have a galling predilection for putting words into my mouth. I'm not focusing on the rubble. I brought the piece to people's attention because the Hollywood Park situation involving the same management group is in its' critical stages. Like Bay Meadows, Hollywood doesn't need to be razed.

The scenario in California is complex because of the tremendous infighting that has gone on with the CTBA and TOC, et al. As I've said before, I appreciate the positives fewer racing dates and venues could afford the game. You seem to love throwing the rocks but have no viable plan to implement.

Oh... and I doubt you realize that your approach to things would have resulted in the abandonment of racing at Saratoga in the '60's when the meet was a money loser and viewed as a drain on resources by almost everyone involved in New York racing. At which point the track would most likely have been sold to developers and leveled for 'progress' since the track lost money and hadn't run a successful meet in years. Whoops...

You clearly spoke out on the subject yesterday. You voiced your strong distain for the track coming down and the subsequent mess. Never did you suggest the Bay Meadows meet was horrendous and that failure to promote and develop a quality business model and product was the SOLE reason for its demise. Your depiction that you were simply bringing the article to your audience attention is funny. It sounded like your blood pressure was through the roof..lol

Closing Hollywood could have a beneficial effect on the complicated mess in Ca. It cant hurt..As for not having a plan..I think meets need to consolidate period. If friggin Turfway can't stand on its own merit CLOSE IT same for Ellis.. The owners horseman and horses will find there way to another track. That should help make the fields larger and more appealing to the people who bet and fund this game. And then once it consolidates it can become healthy for all.


As for the crystal ball monday morning QB'ing about SPA. Are you suggesting that it wasnt a prudent idea to abandon it in the 60's because you knew it was going to be what it is today, or are you suggesting circumstance and perhaps the special attention that the Whitneys and others gave it drove it to it's pinnacle. Maybe we can get Ms and Ms Whitney to talk up Turfway...lol

Ahem....there, their, they're

It's killing me. My blood pressure is rising from reading this thread.

[Kasept]

I brought up the Schwab piece on air for the same reason: it is directly tied to possible eventualities in Inglewood. And I maintain that an open Bay Meadows beats what you have there right now...

Hollywood Park has been a constant in its' environs for 7+ decades and a vitally important economic bastion to the Inglewood community. I won't go on because you'll simply insert a throwaway punchline about Inglewood here without any real interest or comprehension of what its' destruction will bring to the area.

As for Saratoga, it was forward-thinking Averill Harriman that ensured the perpetuation of the Race Course, not the dribblecup doyen. Not acknowledging the parallels between your consolidation plan and the potential steamrolling of Saratoga in the mid-60's wraps up this interesting conversation for now. I have some work to do before the show...