That sly "OLD FOX"

[karlskorner]

This is purely an observation, but sitting at GP yesterday afernoon and looking around I agree with some posters that it is not the most convenient or user friendly of race tracks available, but it is adaptable and not that much out of line.

But thinking about Mr. Stronach as a person who looks to the future, after all you don't get off the boat in your youth and become a billionaire several times over, I started to think what does he really have in mind ?

The land that GP sits on is probably the most valuable on the east coast of Florida. The overall plans that I have seen in the building dept. of Hallendale calls for much more that just a racetrack. There are 100's of conds planned, shopping center, entertainment center and who knows what else.

The building of Palm Meadows training track in Palm Beach county by Mr. Stronach really wan't necessary, as there are several training tracks in the area. Although Palm Meadows is probably the finest training track in the country at this time, BUT, with very little effort in can be turned into a legimate race track in a short time.

GP is in solid with "slots" and for those who have visited GP, how much trouble would it be to just have "siumulcasting" at GP to cover the laws passed, move racing to Palm Meadows, expand the "slots" into various areas of the building, SELL OR BUILD on the land the track and barn areas now occupy, convert the new dorms into condos and turn the site into one grand casino with Class 3 slots, thats where the "real" money is.

Not in Mr. Stronach's life time, after all he is 75, but certainly for his daughters future, the future of Magna and the future of racing. I may have sat in the sun to long yesterday working on my tan, but it is a thought.

[linrom1]

This is purely an observation, but sitting at GP yesterday afernoon and looking around I agree with some posters that it is not the most convenient or user friendly of race tracks available, but it is adaptable and not that much out of line.

But thinking about Mr. Stronach as a person who looks to the future, after all you don't get off the boat in your youth and become a billionaire several times over, I started to think what does he really have in mind ?

The land that GP sits on is probably the most valuable on the east coast of Florida. The overall plans that I have seen in the building dept. of Hallendale calls for much more that just a racetrack. There are 100's of conds planned, shopping center, entertainment center and who knows what else.

The building of Palm Meadows training track in Palm Beach county by Mr. Stronach really wan't necessary, as there are several training tracks in the area. Although Palm Meadows is probably the finest training track in the country at this time, BUT, with very little effort in can be turned into a legimate race track in a short time.

GP is in solid with "slots" and for those who have visited GP, how much trouble would it be to just have "siumulcasting" at GP to cover the laws passed, move racing to Palm Meadows, expand the "slots" into various areas of the building, SELL OR BUILD on the land the track and barn areas now occupy, convert the new dorms into condos and turn the site into one grand casino with Class 3 slots, thats where the "real" money is.

Not in Mr. Stronach's life time, after all he is 75, but certainly for his daughters future, the future of Magna and the future of racing. I may have sat in the sun to long yesterday working on my tan, but it is a thought.

Sure. If I was one of those Broward condo commando's that used to frequent Gulfstream and stuffed absentee ballots to approve slots and then have Stronach prevent me from attending the racetrack, I would demand a repeal. I can't believe that those geniuses in Broward voted to approve Casinos in their county in the first place. Pretty soon they are going to find themselves with urban blight and crime infested neighborhoods and a racetrack that they can't attend because of lack of any seating that elderly require and prices so high as to drive them away on purpose. But what you expect from a community that can't even figure out a voting machine. US Supreme Court appointed GW Bush as the President because voters in Broward couldn't punch holes. So thanks to Broward voters we got GW Bush and no racetrack. ;)

[jma]

Karl,

I certainly know your feelings about Stronach by now, but really, how "sly" is Stronach to know that casinos make money? There are literally hundreds of other companies, individuals, tribes, organizations, and political parties that have made billions of dollars off of casinos in the past 20 years---and they didn't have to lose hundreds of millions of dollars with poor racetrack investments like "sly" Frank did first. Remember, he made his money with auto parts, not racetrack management. He's been a total financial failure running racetracks, but this has been explained a lot of times already.

As far as the scenario of closing the track and just running the casino, Stronach's critics have said for years that that was his long-term plan. We'll see what happens. Certainly when Stronach dies, whoever comes along next will likely move to shut out the horses altogether, unless they're needed by law to run the slot machines.

Do enjoy the nice weather at Gulfstream though. As long as you like it, that's really all that matters. Enjoy the sunshine and take it easy.

Jerry

[ELA]

Conceptually, this was a "thought of" so to speak. There had been talk of a short meet at Palm Meadows or something along those lines. As far as your idea for the future, and racing ending up at Palm Meadows -- I wouldn't say "no". Who knows how all of that plays out.

The only flaw is that the "remainder" of the land they own (next to Palm Meadows), I think, was sold last year. The deal fell through and it may be back on the market. I am not sure of the details though. Also, the new CEO just announced that they are considering selling Palm Meadows. Of course it's nothing more than talk at this stage.

A very interesting topic regardless.

Eric

[Greyfox]

Sure. Pretty soon they are going to find themselves with urban blight and crime infested neighborhoods ... ;)

linrom1
I'd like to see any evidence that you have casinos, slots, vlts, attract urban blight and crime.

[BIG RED]

karl, said it right.

There is other motives to move on. PM is in the plans?

[Kelso]

Slots at tracks in FL, CA, DE, PA, WV ... and, I guess, elsewhere (NY?). Are the machines tied by law to continued, on-site, live racing in all of these states? I've assumed ... always dangerous ... them to be, and hope they are. Would someone kindly enlighten me on the general rules in the states with track slots?

Thank you.

[JustRalph]

[/i]

linrom1
I'd like to see any evidence that you have casinos, slots, vlts, attract urban blight and crime.

the usual Liberal Bullshit.........he is a parrot

[BIG49010]

If you think he is so smart, buy the stock of MEC, I believe it is at an all time low!:ThmbDown:

[Greyfox]

If you think he is so smart, buy the stock of MEC, I believe it is at an all time low!:ThmbDown:

You may not care for the man's disposition, but he is very, very smart.
Telling us to buy the stock now is unwittingly bright on your part. Buy low and sell high has always been a good idea. MEC's shares will go up. This company is well positioned to put a gun to the head of many state Governors and their industries.

[karlskorner]

Buy low and sell high has always been the first rule of the stock market. Reminds me of my Xerox days until I got out of the market completely when I finally realized that the market was controlled by a few and the consequences suffered by many. A rule I still live by today, when you reached your goal, or your way ahead, get out, go home.

[linrom1]

[/i]

linrom1
I'd like to see any evidence that you have casinos, slots, vlts, attract urban blight and crime.

They found that crime didn't budge when a casino began operating -- at least at first. Crime began to rise after the first year, slowly at first and then more quickly, until it had far surpassed what it would have been if the casino had never opened. By the fifth year of operation, robberies were up 136 percent; aggravated assaults, 91 percent; auto theft, 78 percent; burglary, 50 percent; larceny, 38 percent; and rape, 21 percent. Controlling for other factors, 8.6 percent of property crimes and 12.6 percent of violent crimes were attributed to casinos, he said.

This is exactly what happened in New Orleans. I lived there before they built the casinos. The result was predictable. It became a war-zone.

What's more, Mustard said, crime rates didn't rise in neighboring counties while they soared in casino counties -- evidence that casinos create crime locally and don't merely attract it from somewhere else

Note: Voters in the Miami-Dade county didn't approve the slot amendment. In Broward, it was passed by transient types due to one-sided absentee voting. My guess is that it's the Miami-Dade crowd that goes to the Casinos while traditional racing patrons only gaze from the distance at the ugly monstrosity that Stronach built--yeah he designed it himself.

My own prediction is that it will be safer in downtown Miami than in the affluent areas surrounding Stronach slot palace. I doubt that the Police Department of the City of Hallandale will be able to handle the onslaught of crime.

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051001912.html)

[karlskorner]

The worst crime I have seen or heard of so far is 2 gentlemen having a sword fight with their canes.

[Greyfox]

My own prediction is that it will be safer in downtown Miami than in the affluent areas surrounding Stronach slot palace. I doubt that the Police Department of the City of Hallandale will be able to handle the onslaught of crime.


:lol: I hope that your predictions for horses are better than that prognostication.

[cj]

The worst crime I have seen or heard of so far is 2 gentlemen having a sword fight with their canes.

Did you win? :)

[JustRalph]

Did you win? :) :lol: :lol: