Sad times for the great race place.

[Al Gobbi]

at this point I’m not sure anything is going to save CA racing from its inevitable demise

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by AndyC

So now we have 2 major league tracks with Santa Anita and Del Mar, a AA track in Golden Gate and all the rest A league tracks. Your assumption is that by running 1 track at a time all of the tracks would become major league tracks. If they don't then you would see a mass exodus of good horses to places where there is an abundance of races with higher purses.



Golden Gate is 384 miles from Santa Anita. Trainers and workers would have to commit to moving their households each year to accommodate such a schedule. Those with a family life need not apply.



Of course, it could be done, but I don't think CA racing would flourish if it was done.

FYI, from the 1930's to the 1960's that's how they did it- WITHOUT interstate highways or jet planes, and Hall of Fame horses did run at the NorCal tracks.

[davew]

Something I have not seen mentioned in this thread is the current customer base and entertainment alternatives. Professional sports, casinos, lotteries and poker rooms all have an effect on track attendance and on-track handle. A declining spiral with less handle and fewer races with increasing costs for everyone involved.

More effort needs to be placed on removing state and local restrictions of ADWs. A more cooperative agreement between Stronach, Churchill and independent tracks for licensing their feed. Some places could use some help with their broadcast quality going out over the feed.

Santa Anita is almost a dinosaur. A facility that has multimillions tied up in buildings and real estate. I wish them luck in a consolidating and declining industry. It has been 35 years since I have been there. Santa Anita and Arlington Park after the fire were the most beautiful tracks I have been to from a limited data set.

[HorsemenHeist]

Within the next couple years, Golden Gate will probably shut down anyway, so we will get 1 circuit in CA faster than you may think.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

FYI, from the 1930's to the 1960's that's how they did it- WITHOUT interstate highways or jet planes, and Hall of Fame horses did run at the NorCal tracks.

They had few options back then. You are delusional to think that shipping horses to GG will be preferable to shipping out of California.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by AndyC

They had few options back then. You are delusional to think that shipping horses to GG will be preferable to shipping out of California.

It's at the point where Santa Anita and Del Mar would have to add 15K to 50K to the purses of various races to compete. That's not gonna happen. And Ca Racing has passed the point of no return

[The_Turf_Monster]

The money is there for larger purses to make the product attractive for owners and bettors, but that butts heads with the trainers that want to collect 12 months of day rates. It’s no different than in Illinois, just on a bigger scale. The trainers won out in Illinois, the nicest facility in the country shut its doors, and they now run 7 race cards of state bred donkeys and mules at hawthorne and fairmount while the trainers continue to collect the day rates. There’s CA’s future if you want to continue to run 11 months a year when you could be running 6 and letting that simulcast money build to fuel purses

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

It's ridiculous that California doesn't collapse down to one circuit. We could easily do it and that was what we used to have 55 years ago.

Your assumption that if you move the circuit to norcal the trainers and jockeys will just follow the calendar to norcal....that is a bad assumption considering the norcal circuit is weaker than the socal circuit in terms of money and prestige. They will simply leave to race out of state at places like Oaklawn, Kentucky, New York or Florida. The demise of racing in California has a lot to do with state politics not to mention horse racing is no longer seen as a major industry in the state.

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

FYI, from the 1930's to the 1960's that's how they did it- WITHOUT interstate highways or jet planes, and Hall of Fame horses did run at the NorCal tracks.

California was very different back in those days. What worked 60-90 years ago isn't going to work now.

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by HorsemenHeist

Within the next couple years, Golden Gate will probably shut down anyway, so we will get 1 circuit in CA faster than you may think.

That is a pretty likely scenario considering how much real estate is going for in the Bay Area.

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by AndyC

So now we have 2 major league tracks with Santa Anita and Del Mar, a AA track in Golden Gate and all the rest A league tracks. Your assumption is that by running 1 track at a time all of the tracks would become major league tracks. If they don't then you would see a mass exodus of good horses to places where there is an abundance of races with higher purses.



Golden Gate is 384 miles from Santa Anita. Trainers and workers would have to commit to moving their households each year to accommodate such a schedule. Those with a family life need not apply.



Of course, it could be done, but I don't think CA racing would flourish if it was done.

Logistically it would be such a huge headache that they would simply move out of state to race in a far friendlier environment. This already happens when Santa Anita or Del Mar isn't racing you see jockeys racing at out of state tracks rather than Norcal.

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by davew

Something I have not seen mentioned in this thread is the current customer base and entertainment alternatives. Professional sports, casinos, lotteries and poker rooms all have an effect on track attendance and on-track handle. A declining spiral with less handle and fewer races with increasing costs for everyone involved.

More effort needs to be placed on removing state and local restrictions of ADWs. A more cooperative agreement between Stronach, Churchill and independent tracks for licensing their feed. Some places could use some help with their broadcast quality going out over the feed.

Santa Anita is almost a dinosaur. A facility that has multimillions tied up in buildings and real estate. I wish them luck in a consolidating and declining industry. It has been 35 years since I have been there. Santa Anita and Arlington Park after the fire were the most beautiful tracks I have been to from a limited data set.

Many of Santa Anita's problems are showing up at Del Mar so we know its not just a track specific problem. Smaller fields, reduction of race days, smaller purses etc. The horse racing industry in the state is not healthy.

[Elkchester Road]

Originally Posted by horsefan2019

Many of Santa Anita's problems are showing up at Del Mar so we know its not just a track specific problem. Smaller fields, reduction of race days, smaller purses etc. The horse racing industry in the state is not healthy.

Just a matter of time. It isn't Politically expedient to be a supporter of Horse Racing in California. That fact alone is reason enough to eventually (key word) end Racing there. The bad economics seem to make it a Slam Dunk...sooner than anybody wants.

As a young person I was in awe of the History (and Numbers...attendance and handle) of California Racing. This is sad for me to see.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by AndyC

They had few options back then. You are delusional to think that shipping horses to GG will be preferable to shipping out of California.

That's not true. There were plenty of racetracks open in that era and different circuits.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by horsefan2019

Your assumption that if you move the circuit to norcal the trainers and jockeys will just follow the calendar to norcal....that is a bad assumption considering the norcal circuit is weaker than the socal circuit in terms of money and prestige. They will simply leave to race out of state at places like Oaklawn, Kentucky, New York or Florida. The demise of racing in California has a lot to do with state politics not to mention horse racing is no longer seen as a major industry in the state.

The historical experience contradicts you on this.