Hawthorne Needs To Maximize Its Turf Course

[Thomas Roulston]

At one time, Hawthorne had a 6-furlong turf course, but then pushed its far turn back, lengthening the turf course to 7 furlongs.

Why not restore the old far turn, while keeping the existing one?

Doing this will re-create old distance options on the turf - 7 furlongs, 7 1/2 furlongs, 1 3/16 miles (the Beverly D. distance), and 1 1/4 miles (the Secretariat was held at Hawthorne at that distance in 1985).

They might as well take full advantage of the fact that they are now the only game in town so to speak, with Arlington's demise.

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by Thomas Roulston

At one time, Hawthorne had a 6-furlong turf course, but then pushed its far turn back, lengthening the turf course to 7 furlongs.

Why not restore the old far turn, while keeping the existing one?

Doing this will re-create old distance options on the turf - 7 furlongs, 7 1/2 furlongs, 1 3/16 miles (the Beverly D. distance), and 1 1/4 miles (the Secretariat was held at Hawthorne at that distance in 1985).

They might as well take full advantage of the fact that they are now the only game in town so to speak, with Arlington's demise.

Thats a great idea

[Thomas Roulston]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

Thats a great idea

I wish I could say that this idea is original, but it's not: I found a couple of racetracks on Google Images in Japan that use two far turns, one closer to the finish line than the other, on their turf courses.

The Fair Grounds could do this as well: The added distances there would be 7 furlongs (plus the run to first the turn at 7 1/2 furlongs and 1 mile would become an eighth of a mile longer), 1 3/16 miles, and 1 1/4 miles.

These changes at both Hawthorne and the Fair Grounds would put them in the running for hosting a future Breeders' Cup.

And I can't figure out for the life of me why no Breeders' Cup has ever been held at Laurel.

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by Thomas Roulston

These changes at both Hawthorne and the Fair Grounds would put them in the running for hosting a future Breeders' Cup.

And I can't figure out for the life of me why no Breeders' Cup has ever been held at Laurel.

Hawthorne used to have the seating capacity and at one time the paddock was in the infield and fans were allowed out there. Don't know what the actual seating capacity will be if they ever finish the casino there.

I'll assume you have not ever been to Laurel. There is nowhere to put seating or build a larger grandstand to accommodate a Breeders' Cup crowd. Google earth it.

[olddaddy]

Originally Posted by Thomas Roulston

I wish I could say that this idea is original, but it's not: I found a couple of racetracks on Google Images in Japan that use two far turns, one closer to the finish line than the other, on their turf courses.

The Fair Grounds could do this as well: The added distances there would be 7 furlongs (plus the run to first the turn at 7 1/2 furlongs and 1 mile would become an eighth of a mile longer), 1 3/16 miles, and 1 1/4 miles.

These changes at both Hawthorne and the Fair Grounds would put them in the running for hosting a future Breeders' Cup.

And I can't figure out for the life of me why no Breeders' Cup has ever been held at Laurel.

Even if the grass course was changed and seat capacity was increased, Hawthorne would be a no go for breeders cup based on climate. Two years ago there was quite a snow storm on Halloween.

[castaway01]

The Breeders Cup has been exclusively in either California or Kentucky for 15 years. There's a reason for that.

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by castaway01

The Breeders Cup has been exclusively in either California or Kentucky for 15 years. There's a reason for that.

Hawthorne doesn't want to host it?

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by wisconsin

Hawthorne used to have the seating capacity and at one time the paddock was in the infield and fans were allowed out there. Don't know what the actual seating capacity will be if they ever finish the casino there.

I'll assume you have not ever been to Laurel. There is nowhere to put seating or build a larger grandstand to accommodate a Breeders' Cup crowd. Google earth it.

Right on Laurel, and parking would have to expanded big time

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by the little guy

Hawthorne doesn't want to host it?

Not until they get the 20-horse gate and the dome to keep the snow out.

[The_Turf_Monster]

It will be interesting to see who shows up to run on Hawthorne’s turf this year without AP’s 5 months of turf offerings. The bulk of those horses that ran on the turf at HAW in October came from AP. I don’t even know if you ship those horses back to maybe get 1 race in. There are years where HAW run on the turf into November, and there are years where you might only get a few days on turf in October.

As far as HAW hosting a BC…….or any graded stakes race again……I’ll believe it when the gates open. There hasn’t been a grandstand at HAW for a few years now. It got gutted to make way for a casino and has sat there basically as a shell since that happened. I haven’t had a reason to go over there since the fall meet ended but I will be surprised to see anything touched in April. I would pay money to read the reactions from visitors.

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by Thomas Roulston

I wish I could say that this idea is original, but it's not: I found a couple of racetracks on Google Images in Japan that use two far turns, one closer to the finish line than the other, on their turf courses.

The Fair Grounds could do this as well: The added distances there would be 7 furlongs (plus the run to first the turn at 7 1/2 furlongs and 1 mile would become an eighth of a mile longer), 1 3/16 miles, and 1 1/4 miles.

These changes at both Hawthorne and the Fair Grounds would put them in the running for hosting a future Breeders' Cup.

And I can't figure out for the life of me why no Breeders' Cup has ever been held at Laurel.

Breeders Cup LTD used to have a 'pair'...The management was more than willing to bring its showcase to any location that had the capacity, was in a larger TV market and could guarantee a large on track presence of fans.
Not any more.
BC has retreated from its heady days and cowered into the California centered entity that it is.
Only Churchill and Keeneland will host outside California events ever again.

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by The_Turf_Monster

It will be interesting to see who shows up to run on Hawthorne’s turf this year without AP’s 5 months of turf offerings. The bulk of those horses that ran on the turf at HAW in October came from AP. I don’t even know if you ship those horses back to maybe get 1 race in. There are years where HAW run on the turf into November, and there are years where you might only get a few days on turf in October.

As far as HAW hosting a BC…….or any graded stakes race again……I’ll believe it when the gates open. There hasn’t been a grandstand at HAW for a few years now. It got gutted to make way for a casino and has sat there basically as a shell since that happened. I haven’t had a reason to go over there since the fall meet ended but I will be surprised to see anything touched in April. I would pay money to read the reactions from visitors.

The first paragraph is an interesting point. I guess those horses would go to Churchill, or way east to somewhere like Delaware (not that this necessarily makes logistic sense but it seems a similar class level)?

The second paragraph, most of the places that could host a BC are currently in the loop. A lot of us (me included) aren't even aware Hawthorne doesn't have a grandstand, but if you think about it, the number of places that host 10,000 live fans for a racecard is quite low these days, which naturally limits the number of possible BC locations. And I do know that's not the "reason" why they stay in Cali and Kentucky, but it's still true. But whatever, Monmouth, Lone Star and Woodbine had their shots, NYRA doesn't want it, and there's....yeah, that's about it.

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by castaway01

NYRA doesn't want it, and there's....yeah, that's about it.

I think we are hoping to get it after Belmont is redone.

[therussmeister]

Originally Posted by The_Turf_Monster

It will be interesting to see who shows up to run on Hawthorne’s turf this year without AP’s 5 months of turf offerings. The bulk of those horses that ran on the turf at HAW in October came from AP. I don’t even know if you ship those horses back to maybe get 1 race in. There are years where HAW run on the turf into November, and there are years where you might only get a few days on turf in October.

Hawthorne is racing through June 25 and then the fall meet starts September 23. It's seems to be a pretty good matchup with Ellis Park, plus they might get some horses from Canterbury.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by the little guy

I think we are hoping to get it after Belmont is redone.

Well, it takes two to tango. One of the issues is whether the BC wants Belmont.

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.co...ms%20difficult.