Why can't So Cal racing interests build a new track?

[Stillriledup]

Lots of talk about racing the Hollywood dates at Los Al or Fairplex or even lengthening the meets at SA or DMR, but why no talk of actually building a new track somewhere? If Jeff Gural can build a new harness track for harness racing with no slot machines, why can't someone build a nice new track in So Cal to take the place of Hollywood?

I'm sure there's a reason, i just havent heard it.

[racingfan378]

Too many Indian casinos now in California, that's what took the money away from Arizona racing and now it's the Golden State's turn

No one in their right mind would build a racetrack in the current condition of racing in that state. There is no land for it and it would have to be built wayyyyy out there

[VastinMT]

No land.
No money.
No customers.

[JustRalph]

I would be willing to bet the State woud want a huge cut

[highnote]

Tiajuana?

[plainolebill]

At one time CDI mentioned building a replacement for Hol out in the desert - South Orange/North SD county I think. Just BS wrapped around dumping the track.

[wiffleball whizz]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Lots of talk about racing the Hollywood dates at Los Al or Fairplex or even lengthening the meets at SA or DMR, but why no talk of actually building a new track somewhere? If Jeff Gural can build a new harness track for harness racing with no slot machines, why can't someone build a nice new track in So Cal to take the place of Hollywood?

I'm sure there's a reason, i just havent heard it.

Jeff gural is building the new meadowlands grandstand for the future casino in the next 1000 days.....Jeff isn't stupid he knows a harness only facility will bury him with a dead sport....he's in this for casinos...

Chris christies stubborn stance on casinos only being in ac is as dumb as anything gets.....my father lives 25 min north of Monmouth....Everybofy north and west of there that money crosses state lines into pa and NYC....

At what point does he think that ac will make a comeback...it won't ac is deader then a russel baze horse thats 8/5ml sitting at 7/1 as they are loading up...that horse have winning.......how does he not see ac is a dead besides saturdayscthe city is a morgue

Jeff is waiting for casinos and thats the only reason the new grandstand is being built

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Lots of talk about racing the Hollywood dates at Los Al or Fairplex or even lengthening the meets at SA or DMR, but why no talk of actually building a new track somewhere? If Jeff Gural can build a new harness track for harness racing with no slot machines, why can't someone build a nice new track in So Cal to take the place of Hollywood?

I'm sure there's a reason, i just havent heard it.

Do you have any idea what land costs in southern California? Who would put out that kind of money when tracks across the country that don't have casinos are either struggling to stay even or losing money? The idea of building a new racetrack is like saying, "Hey, we have a money-losing business. Let's find the most expensive land we can and build another one there."

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by VastinMT

No land.
No money.
No customers.

Why spends millions on something nobody would use. If it was such a good business, they would not be tearing down the old one. The card club stays. That tells you about all you need to know.

[badcompany]

Originally Posted by VastinMT

No land.
No money.
No customers.

Now, that's just nitpicking, isn't it?

[badcompany]

Originally Posted by wiffleball whizz

Jeff gural is building the new meadowlands grandstand for the future casino in the next 1000 days.....Jeff isn't stupid he knows a harness only facility will bury him with a dead sport....he's in this for casinos...

Chris christies stubborn stance on casinos only being in ac is as dumb as anything gets.....my father lives 25 min north of Monmouth....Everybofy north and west of there that money crosses state lines into pa and NYC....

At what point does he think that ac will make a comeback...it won't ac is deader then a russel baze horse thats 8/5ml sitting at 7/1 as they are loading up...that horse have winning.......how does he not see ac is a dead besides saturdayscthe city is a morgue

Jeff is waiting for casinos and thats the only reason the new grandstand is being built

The ironic part is that entire casino slots machine model is a obsolete, as we all have slot machines in our hands (see below), and government intervention is the only thing that will keep the old model alive.

[therussmeister]

Originally Posted by badcompany

The ironic part is that entire casino slots machine model is a obsolete, as we all have slot machines in our hands (see below), and government intervention is the only thing that will keep the old model alive.

But government intervention is not obsolete.

[pondman]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Lots of talk about racing the Hollywood dates at Los Al or Fairplex or even lengthening the meets at SA or DMR, but why no talk of actually building a new track somewhere? If Jeff Gural can build a new harness track for harness racing with no slot machines, why can't someone build a nice new track in So Cal to take the place of Hollywood?

I'm sure there's a reason, i just havent heard it.

If it were profitable Hollywood park wouldn't be ending. All racing in California is on the verge of bankruptcy. Who would take a chance?

[burnsy]

Originally Posted by pondman

If it were profitable Hollywood park wouldn't be ending. All racing in California is on the verge of bankruptcy. Who would take a chance?

I don't know about bankrupt but its not well. Short fields, bad racing, not enough people care......before anyone thinks i'm saying racing is dying....whenever you are critical....thats what the cheerleaders on tv cry...then they point at derby numbers or something. A strong business runs well at MOST times. People just don't understand when a market is saturated..Its ridiculous to think that theres enough gambling base or horses to keep these tracks going...like horse racing tries to do. Theres already too many tracks, look at the fiasco in Florida...Calder and Gulfstream...its a joke. This is country where reality is out the window, if you face it, somehow you are the nut.......racing isn't dying but less tracks sure could help. For all the cheerleaders, i want to see a business plan where more (or the same #) tracks is going to be better. If they were thinking they would run an organized circuit like all major sports, with different levels. Its hilarious tracks running every 3 minutes with some post times actually in cync... . Hockey and baseball run lower levels in smaller cities...the economics of horse racing is set up like cannibalism...which is only good when business is booming, if you say it is, you are lying to yourself. The same thing will happen with the casinos, more is better.......some of them are already bitching too....

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by castaway01

Do you have any idea what land costs in southern California? Who would put out that kind of money when tracks across the country that don't have casinos are either struggling to stay even or losing money? The idea of building a new racetrack is like saying, "Hey, we have a money-losing business. Let's find the most expensive land we can and build another one there."

Im sure they might be able to find some land in So Cal that's on a par with the land in the Meadowlands area. The track won't be a money losing business if they do it the right way. Its hard to lose money as a bookie who's taking 20% off the top of every on track dollar. They just need a smaller, upscale, up to date building with a nice food courts, restaurant and the like and find a way to pack that place on a daily basis.

I'm not going to disagree with you that its hard, running any kind of business and making it profitable is a tough task for sure, but where there's a will there's a way......so far, no will though.