Quote:
Originally Posted by bisket
The response from 1st Racing was pretty over the top...? Maryland just essentially squeezed 1st Racing out of track ownership in favor of more state control. California could do the same thing. The other marquee track in the state, Delmar is part of the fair circuit. Does that mean the state has a lot of say on what happens there? If so, Delmar takes the winter, spring, and summer dates, and goes dark during the fall unless there's a Breeders Cup. The other state fair tracks up north take the other dates? Financially that would make morse sense. If it's a state run enterprise it would only need to support itself and cut out a profit structure. Which I think is where the game might be headed...? That could also return the purses to a level that supports the 1st class racing the state is accustomed to.
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The state has already hired somebody to consult on the future use of the Del Mar property....safe to say its probably not going to be the only horse racing track left if the rest of the circuit collapses. As somebody who has been visiting the local Socal tracks since the 80's the answer is pretty simple. People stopped going to the tracks and betting. With far less income the track doesn't have the money for purses and they cannot get the quality and number of horses they used to. The races become terrible and people don't want to bet on a bad product. Its a vicious cycle that eventually leads to the tracks closure no matter who runs it. You look at the tracks closed or maybe in the process of closing they are different owners. Bay Meadows and Hollywood Park (CDI). Pomona Fairplex (State of California). Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita (Stronach Group).
