Stronach reneges on SA surface change..

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I think trainers are hopeful that a quality, brand new dirt track would be safe.

Hope is not a very good business plan.

[2Hot4TV]

My guess is that Frank is positioning himself to cash in on the land that the track sits on.

Looks like Frank sells in 5 years and retires to his breeding and racing stable on a small scale.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

My guess is that Frank is positioning himself to cash in on the land that the track sits on.

Looks like Frank sells in 5 years and retires to his breeding and racing stable on a small scale.

You actually think Stronach needs the potential revenue from the sale of Santa Anita to 'retire'?

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by Kasept

You actually think Stronach needs the potential revenue from the sale of Santa Anita to 'retire'?

not unless bernie m got ahold of him..

steve why would he not..change it ....in hopes of future bc,s

[dellinger63]

net worth $661 million (US)

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

not unless bernie m got ahold of him..

steve why would he not..change it ....in hopes of future bc,s

they dont need to change it for the BC... obviously. look where they ran it the past two years.

[tector]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

they dont need to change it for the BC... obviously. look where they ran it the past two years.

The BC is not ever going back to SA without changes--you think they are going let their event risk a rainout, all for a surface which has proven a disaster for attracting top domestic talent?

The last two years were a horrible fluke which just about everybody regrets.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by tector

The BC is not ever going back to SA without changes--you think they are going let their event risk a rainout, all for a surface which has proven a disaster for attracting top domestic talent?

The last two years were a horrible fluke which just about everybody regrets.

never say never with NTRA they havent proven to be anything but suspect

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by tector

The BC is not ever going back to SA without changes--you think they are going let their event risk a rainout, all for a surface which has proven a disaster for attracting top domestic talent?

The last two years were a horrible fluke which just about everybody regrets.

I've heard they're thinking on this is actually the opposite. They like having a synthetic surface for the BC because it attracts more of the top European horses. I guess they're more interested in top European talent than top domestic talent.

I personally don't like having a synthetic track for the BC.

[tector]

Originally Posted by Kasept

You actually think Stronach needs the potential revenue from the sale of Santa Anita to 'retire'?

Rich people never "need" more money.

That fact fact rarely deters them from seeking it, however.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

You actually think Stronach needs the potential revenue from the sale of Santa Anita to 'retire'?

Is Frank a Canuck if so there Social Security scale pales in comparsion to the States. I figure frank would be entitled to max benefit of like 1900 a month if he was a US citizen. Poor guy

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by Kasept

You actually think Stronach needs the potential revenue from the sale of Santa Anita to 'retire'?

Doesnt really matter what I think, but maybe.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

Doesnt really matter what I think, but maybe.

Frank Stronach's rather enormous personal fortune is unencumbered by the MEC situation.

[Kasept]

Horsemen dismayed by Stronach's stance
By Steve Andersen

http://www.drf.com/news/article/111176.html

ARCADIA, Calif. - Comments by Santa Anita chairman Frank Stronach that he intends to retain the track's troubled synthetic surface were met with disappointment Wednesday by some horsemen who would like the track to return to a dirt surface.

Darrell Vienna, the Southern California vice president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, said his organization wants the existing Pro-Ride surface replaced in the near future. "The CTT has taken an official position for a return to dirt and anti-synthetic in general," Vienna said Wednesday. "What we all want is the safest surface we can get, whether it's synthetic or dirt. At this point, our members want a new natural dirt surface. The synthetic track has failed us in too many regards." Vienna said the CTT wants to "uncouple" Stronach's wish for deregulation in racing with the issue of racing surfaces, adding, "I don't want to minimize his concern for deregulation."

"The whole thing with the track surface was a surprise," said owner Arnold Zetcher, a member of the Thoroughbred Owners of California's board of directors. Zetcher said he is most concerned with safety, regardless of the type of surface used at Santa Anita. "After the Breeders' Cup, the sentiment was to stay" with synthetics, Zetcher said. "Then, the sentiment went to dirt. It shouldn't be about sentiments, it should be what's best for horses."

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Frank Stronach's rather enormous personal fortune is unencumbered by the MEC situation.

You figure he is still super sizing the value

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by freddymo

You figure he is still super sizing the value

Did you hear Jerry Jamgotchian's take on Stronach's possible gambit in regards to the deregulation? Was very interesting. He called in response to Davidowitz' suggestion that Stronach is a serial failure running racetracks and should sell out. Jamgotchian, who has been three steps ahead predicting every misstep by California racing, thinks Stronach is shrewdly planning to expand Santa Anita's race date domain.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

Hope is not a very good business plan.

why not, it's such a success in politics!!

[tector]

There's that old saying:

If it's not broke, then don't fix it.

But the corollary is also true:

IF IT'S BROKE, FIX THE F**KING THING!

It's broke, Frank.

(Yeah, I know...so is he).

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

Hope is not a very good business plan.

Any type of new track is a better business plan than a track that closes every time it rains.

I personally would prefer a dirt track. I agree with Honu that the old dirt tracks here were terrible but I think a brand new dirt track would be just as safe as a brand new synthetic track.