Belmont Park getting lights?!

[Secondbest]

Originally Posted by EMD4ME

If they have a brain, they'd tie themselves to the NFL somehow. Show the feature race at halftime, have the NFL fans in attendance text their pick to a #. Give those winners a free day at the races (parking, admission, program and $10 of food).

That's just 1 idea. Some would call me nuts but there's so many ways to market without maybe even spending $500,000

The NFL would charge them a ton a affiliate with them. They even charged the Air Force for those flyovers at games. Never underestimate the greed of the nfl

[anotherCAfan]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

FWIW, I used to love Hollywood Park's Friday nights, especially in the early summer.

I worked a few of the larger Friday nights in the final years of Hollywood Park.

Nothing better than enjoying the ocean breeze -- sometimes with a jacket -- after roasting in the San Fernando Valley and/or San Gabriel Valley all day.

As for Belmont, I hope they try this. I also hope they could land another Breeders' Cup.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by anotherCAfan

I worked a few of the larger Friday nights in the final years of Hollywood Park.

Nothing better than enjoying the ocean breeze -- sometimes with a jacket -- after roasting in the San Fernando Valley and/or San Gabriel Valley all day.

As for Belmont, I hope they try this. I also hope they could land another Breeders' Cup.

Yup, you got it.

I was lucky enough to work pretty close by for a few years so I could get to HOL about 6pm and sit way down by the casino and have a cigar while going through the form. Whoever was in charge of the background music on the PA system had really good taste and that with the sun going down and a beer and food from one of the food trucks was really awesome.

[Redboard]

If that's going to get more people to the track, then I'm all for lights. However, if they hold the Belmont Stakes card at night, that would suck.

[hracingplyr]

Part of the deal is that Belmont and Yonkers cannot go off at the same time. I guess it's a step in the right direction. Figure they could start at 6 and be done by 11.

Bob

[therussmeister]

Originally Posted by EMD4ME

If they have a brain, they'd tie themselves to the NFL somehow. Show the feature race at halftime, have the NFL fans in attendance text their pick to a #. Give those winners a free day at the races (parking, admission, program and $10 of food).

That's just 1 idea. Some would call me nuts but there's so many ways to market without maybe even spending $500,000

$10 of food. What would that be, two cups of coffee?

[dilanesp]

One underrated aspect of lights is that it just gives a track some flexibility. For instance, Churchill will let a card spill over into the evening if there's a big race. This used to create big problems (such as at the 1988 BC Classic, which I attended and which was run in almost complete darkness). Way back when Santa Anita drew bigger crowds than it does now, they would let races lag behind post time to get some more betting, which meant the last race on a weekend might be run in twilight.

With lights, though, this isn't a problem. For instance, in addition to the Friday nights, many a race at the Hollywood Park fall meeting was run after dark with the lights on.

So even if Belmont doesn't have an actual night card, the lights can still be useful.

[SuperPickle]

Not to poop on the excitement but I wonder if they'll light the inner turf. I doubt there's a way to do the Widner give the limited space in between the courses to put lights. Also lighting both courses would be terribly impractical.

If it's just dirt it's kind of let down.

[AltonKelsey]

Lights placed high up on the infield?

[EMD4ME]

How does woodbine do it? They have 3 courses... dirt, outer turf and inside for harness.

[HorsemenHeist]

The turf course is not lit for night racing tho.... I'd think that if Belmont install lights they'd be on all 3 courses though

Unless they tear down Aqu and end up building a grandstand on the training track....

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by SuperPickle

Not to poop on the excitement but I wonder if they'll light the inner turf. I doubt there's a way to do the Widner give the limited space in between the courses to put lights. Also lighting both courses would be terribly impractical.

If it's just dirt it's kind of let down.

Have you seen Churchill's lights? Do you know about 19th Century urban arc lighting? As long as you build high bright lights you can light up everything.