Golden Gate to close?

[deathandgravity]

Not going to help Emerald Downs. They already have a horrible product and can't see many N. Cal horse moving up to Seattle with no Turf.

[ClockersCorner]

Since we can’t get casino or sports betting money for the tracks here in California I’m thinking our only chance is to have the Saudi sovereign wealth fund inject a few billion and hire Greg Norman or Phil Mickelson to run racing operations.

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by ClockersCorner

Since we can’t get casino or sports betting money for the tracks here in California I’m thinking our only chance is to have the Saudi sovereign wealth fund inject a few billion and hire Greg Norman or Phil Mickelson to run racing operations.

Sounds like the most realistic way to save California racing. Also those PETA activists won't get anywhere near those guys.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by deathandgravity

Not going to help Emerald Downs. They already have a horrible product and can't see many N. Cal horse moving up to Seattle with no Turf.

One interesting question on this is that Emerald of course was surveyed and laid out for a turf course- you can literally see the outline of the course when you attend the races there. Will this finally be the event that precipitates Emerald to install one?

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Santa Rosa has a turf course, not Sacto, and if there were enough horses to race year round at the fairs, Golden Gate wouldn't be closing.

We already have dumb Los Al meets with high takeouts and tiny fields. What we need to do is consolidate down to 1 circuit. I wish we had done it in 2014 and included GGF in the circuit but that shipped sailed at the behest of horsemen.

Northern CA doesn't deserve their own circuit? Why? Too close to LA (400 miles) or population too low (about 8 million in Bay Area)?


At the rate the industry is consolidating we will be down to one track nationally which will run mechanical horse races. Consolidation will necessarily bring fewer foals, fewer qualified workers, fewer trainers, fewer jockeys, and fewer people interested in racing.

[46zilzal]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

One interesting question on this is that Emerald of course was surveyed and laid out for a turf course- you can literally see the outline of the course when you attend the races there. Will this finally be the event that precipitates Emerald to install one?

too much rain there was, and is, the factor keeping it from reality

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by AndyC

Northern CA doesn't deserve their own circuit? Why? Too close to LA (400 miles) or population too low (about 8 million in Bay Area)?


At the rate the industry is consolidating we will be down to one track nationally which will run mechanical horse races. Consolidation will necessarily bring fewer foals, fewer qualified workers, fewer trainers, fewer jockeys, and fewer people interested in racing.

The battle is that Golden Gate needed the fairs to go away to have a chance at sticking around and the CHRB didn't go for that. Now if they continue to race up there in any meaningful way they'll likely shut down Santa Anita.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

The battle is that Golden Gate needed the fairs to go away to have a chance at sticking around and the CHRB didn't go for that. Now if they continue to race up there in any meaningful way they'll likely shut down Santa Anita.

Why?

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by AndyC

Why?

You'll have to ask them. My source is at a very high level. Nothing looks good for California Racing.

[Jeff P]

I am truly saddened by this.

Golden Gate, just like Bay Meadows before it, had long been one of my 'go to' tracks for betting.

What I'm about to write may sound harsh.

But what I'm about to write is also the truth.

Imo, nobody should be surprised by the announcement.

The dominoes began to fall back in 2010-2011 when handle at California's major thoroughbred tracks cratered in response to the takeout increase mandated by SB1072 - a bill that was vigorously lobbied for by California Horsemen, Track Management, and the California Horse Racing Board.

They never really recovered.

The time for corrective action would have been early on back in 2011 or 2012.

Instead they ignored the root cause of the problem.

Over the years the reduced handle, resulting reduction in track revenue, and resulting reduced money available for purses compounded.

They were forced to cut dates, cut employee hours, announce layoffs, cut purses, and eventually close tracks.

Imo, almost all of the wounds were self inflicted.

And here we are.


-jp
.

[PaceAdvantage]

i can't wait until AskinHaskin comes here to tell us all that the real reason is too many gimmick bets...

[ranchwest]

So right, Jeff. 40 years ago California was the premier state for racing. So many great riders and trainers. Now, my focus is more on FG, Belmont and Saratoga.

[showonly]

Isn't horse racing just gravitating to it's current level of appeal. The market is speaking. Until the powers that be can make it attractive to the newcomer and then maintain that appeal. It will continue it's trek along the likes of dog racing,boxing,and baseball. Don't feel the need to explain why it's better than those and other things because in it's current state people are saying your wrong.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

You'll have to ask them. My source is at a very high level. Nothing looks good for California Racing.

So you believe or are being told that continued No. CA. racing will mean the demise of Santa Anita? That seems completely illogical.

[Andy Asaro]

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