how Santa Anita has fallen...

[GMB@BP]

This isnt just a problem for Santa Anita but a problem everywhere, its exacerbated at Santa Anita because there is no feeder tracks to ship a decent horse who can compete. The top horses at each class level are pretty hard knocking so its not like you win a alw race at turf paradise and say lets go to santa anita for more money in a nw2x, u gonna get crushed. In comparison that can happen say going from say Fairgrounds to Churchill, or Oaklawn to Gulfstream.

its bad for racing when any major area is down, its not a competition.

[EMD4ME]

I have a stupid question, forgive me.


There are literally over a dozen racetracks from Florida up to Penn.

Why are there so few tracks in such a cavernous western cowboy state like California?

[SuperPickle]

The land is too valuable to race horses on and there are no slots like back east.

[FakeNameChanged]

This industry, or sport has been in serious decline for over 10 years. Tipping point in reverse. Soon we'll all be competing with Nitro.

[ronsmac]

Originally Posted by Track Phantom

Racing is suffering from a lack of horses everywhere. The only track really worth following right now is Oaklawn. Full fields, interesting races and not dominated by just a few chemically savvy trainers.

I agree with everything except the comment about the trainers.

[Track Phantom]

Originally Posted by ronsmac

I agree with everything except the comment about the trainers.

Are you saying there are trainers dominating? I know a few win more than others but it's not like Aqueduct, where the race is already decided once there is significant money on a Rudy Rodriguez horse, regardless of its form. Pass.

[ReplayRandall]

Originally Posted by Track Phantom

Where the race is already decided once there is significant money on a Rudy Rodriguez horse, regardless of its form. Pass.

TP, if you really believed this to be true, why wouldn't you be betting RR's horses when the big money shows up, instead of passing??....Don't you like winning money with no handicapping required?

[MonmouthParkJoe]

I enjoyed being at Santa Anita for the breeders but if you hold that card anywhere I would love it. I was thinking of making a trip to Santa Anita but with so few races I may make the trek to Oaklawn for the first time now.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by MonmouthParkJoe

I enjoyed being at Santa Anita for the breeders but if you hold that card anywhere I would love it. I was thinking of making a trip to Santa Anita but with so few races I may make the trek to Oaklawn for the first time now.

Bear in mind, as a live racing experience, Santa Anita is amazing. The horse shortage causes many problems, but Santa Anita is still one of the most beautiful horse racing facilities in America. It just may not be the best track to bet.

[ultracapper]

Originally Posted by cj

It hasn't been that long. Eight race cards weren't the norm probably 15 years ago, and they raced on Wednesdays too. The only eight race cards I remember back then were Friday night Hollywood cards.

I started playing Socal regularly in 2000, and not only has the 8 race card been introduced since that time, but the 4 day race week at SA and Hol, and the 5 day race week at Delmar. When I started, it was Wed through Sun, and they ran Mondays at Delmar.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by SuperPickle

The land is too valuable to race horses on and there are no slots like back east.

The property in the area the tracks that were closed and the area developed (Hollywood Park, Bay Meadows) is worth north of $1 million an acre.

[ultracapper]

Longacres was shocking, Bay Meadows unbelievable, Hollywood Park apocalyptic. The fact that a track like Hollywood Park, with all its history and whatnot, closing with what seemed like nary a whimper from the general population nor the state government, is indicative of the health of this industry. Say what you will about the racing there the last 10 years of its existence, Hollywood Park was a horse racing standard barer. You can not discuss the history of the American horse racing experience, post-depression era, and not have Hollywood Park front and center.

[Nitro]

Originally Posted by Whosonfirst

This industry, or sport has been in serious decline for over 10 years. Tipping point in reverse. Soon we'll all be competing with Nitro.

There’s no time like the present! Hong Kong racing is alive and doing extremely well.
What amazes me is that not a single racing jurisdiction in the States recognizes this and takes any action on their own behalf and for their betting patrons. There are so many positive aspects of the HK program that can be replicated.
For me personally, I find it such a refreshing change from what takes place at our local tracks. Just take a look at all the threads/posts on the PA forums that relate to one complaint after another and you’ll understand what I mean.

[Jeff P]

Originally Posted by Nitro

There’s no time like the present! Hong Kong racing is alive and doing extremely well.
What amazes me is that not a single racing jurisdiction in the States recognizes this and takes any action on their own behalf and for their betting patrons. There are so many positive aspects of the HK program that can be replicated. For me personally, I find it such a refreshing change from what takes place at our local tracks. Just take a look at all the threads/posts on the PA forums that relate to one complaint after another and you’ll understand what I mean.

The bolded part of the above quote is 100% spot on!


-jp

.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by ultracapper

Longacres was shocking, Bay Meadows unbelievable, Hollywood Park apocalyptic. The fact that a track like Hollywood Park, with all its history and whatnot, closing with what seemed like nary a whimper from the general population nor the state government, is indicative of the health of this industry. Say what you will about the racing there the last 10 years of its existence, Hollywood Park was a horse racing standard barer. You can not discuss the history of the American horse racing experience, post-depression era, and not have Hollywood Park front and center.

Its worth noting among all this pessimism that, as far as anyone can tell, Santa Anita makes a profit (which means it is doing a lot better than a lot of other American racetracks) and the track can still draw a big crowd for a big raceday (unlike many tracks, including Aqueduct).

Hollywood Park closed not simply because the land was more valuable than the racetrack use, but because it stopped being profitable. The land was more valuable than the racetrack use when RD Hubbard ran the track too, but the track was profitable and it wasn't going to be closed. Churchill and the Bay Meadows people ran the track into the ground.

So long as Santa Anita doesn't start bleeding Stronach money, it's not in danger of closing. The day to day racing isn't going to be nearly as strong as it was in its heyday, but there will still be big race days like the Santa Anita Derby and the Breeders' Cup that will draw big crowds and feature top horses.