Santa Anita ,12-26-10,Bigger purses,More horses?

[rwwupl]

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/santa-anita-to-open-dec-26-stall-applications-now-being-accepted/

Excerpt:

The 2010/2011 race meeting will be the first conducted on a dirt surface since the winter/spring of 2006/2007. Along with the implementation of a natural dirt surface, it is estimated there will be a 25 percent increase in overnight purses, making the upcoming meet even more attractive to local and out-of-state horsemen.



“With the return to natural dirt and the prospect of significantly higher purses, it makes it easier for us to attract quality barns,” said Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle. “We’re already sensing a high degree of anticipation for this meet and we’ll be at the Breeders’ Cup next week in Kentucky recruiting horsemen to come to Santa Anita this winter. We’re very optimistic.”

Director of Racing Mike Harlow echoed Hammerle’s sentiments, noting, “Anytime you’re able to significantly increase your purses across the board, it’s a good thing. Along with the fact that we’ve resolved the situation with the main track, we expect a good response from horsemen this year.”

[The_Knight_Sky]

“With the return to natural dirt and the prospect of significantly higher purses,
it makes it easier for us to attract quality barns,” said Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle.
__________________________________________


Poly-Turf was (temporarily) able to attract small strings from Pletcher - Motion - Clement. Perhaps the return to dirt racing will bring about a semblance of normalcy again.

As for the purse accounts, I wouldn't count the chicken$ http://2imgs.com/2i/i/4cc9b2e8/fa3f8b8c97c260208358e281484b5dcb/f64e94be6d.f.gif before they hatch.

[jelly]

Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle said,"Even with the 10 to 15% takeout increase,our Horseplayers will continue to play the're not that bright"



No,he didn't say it,but you know what he was thinking.

[BlueShoe]

Racing Secretary Rick Hammerle said,"Even with the 10 to 15% takeout increase,our Horseplayers will continue to play the're not that bright"



No,he didn't say it,but you know what he was thinking.
But if he did say it, Rick would be right, at least at first. But then, after a while, when the increased takeout works its destruction, the horseplayers wont play, because they will have little or nothing to play with. While the return to dirt is certainly a welcome step in the right direction, it is not going to be the sudden cure all for fixing racings problems. With the increased exotics takeout, racing is, in effect, giving with one hand and taking with the other.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Looks like someone got free trips, meals and lodging thanks to this fiasco.

After being told to "envision a beach", making trips to South America and around the U.S. the new dirt surface is coming from California's backyard.

_____________________________________

Local materials to be used in new Santa Anita track
By Steve Andersen

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Santa Anita will use sand from a Southern California quarry on its new conventional main track surface that is being installed this fall, track president George Haines said on Thursday.

The surface is scheduled to be installed in November, and the project will be completed in time for horses to begin training on the surface on Dec. 6, he said. The track’s winter-spring meeting begins on Dec. 26.

The new surface will consist of 90 percent sand, using two types of sand, and 10 percent clay, which was found in nearby Corona, Calif.

http://www.drf.com/news/local-materials-be-used-new-santa-anita-track

[Tom]

Are they fixing the drainage system, or still waiting to see if they can "find" one?