Upscale Orange County OTB Planned

[MaryS]

http://www.ocregister.com/news/horse-37 ... sammy.html

Restaurant's horse-betting plan picks up speed in Lake Forest
Planning Commission OKs a $1 million remodel of a vacant building where Sammy’s would offer satellite wagering, possibly by Kentucky Derby day.

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAKE FOREST – Brad McKinzie can't wait to get the mint juleps flowing on the first Saturday of May.

That's when the 139th "Run for the Roses," the Kentucky Derby, kicks off. It also will be opening day for Sammy's, a restaurant that plans to offer satellite horse-race betting that day if all remodeling, landscaping and renovation of the 10,000-square-foot former Black Angus site is complete.

"Our big goal is to have fun on Derby Day," said McKinzie, one of six partners in what will be Orange County's first high-end restaurant with mini-satellite horse wagering. "We'll be tearing down and building as fast as we can."

McKinzie, a 25-year executive at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, bought the Black Angus building in 2009 with five longtime golfing buddies. He told Lake Forest planning commissioners Thursday that Lake Forest residents last year spent $1.44 million betting on horses from their living rooms.

He said Sammy's will cater to a much-underserved demographic and will be a spot where horse-racing aficionados can experience the thrill of the races on big-screen TVs amid a classy dining scene....

[Theiman]

I live the other side of the Highway from Lake Forest.
Not sure what an Upscale Restaurant will do in that area. Better off replacing the Hooters that closed down.

In that area is a giant retirement community. Expect to see a lot of old timers at the place.

I will send a trip report in about 6 months.

[Joel]

In that area is a giant retirement community. Expect to see a lot of old timers at the place.

They could turn the Laguna Niguel Chuck E. Cheese into an OTB, and you would STILL expect to see a lot of "old timers"..

[Vince P]

I live the other side of the Highway from Lake Forest.
Not sure what an Upscale Restaurant will do in that area. Better off replacing the Hooters that closed down.

In that area is a giant retirement community. Expect to see a lot of old timers at the place.

I will send a trip report in about 6 months.

Is this the same Lake Forest that Vince drove around in a million circles for hours to find?

And why was Hooters imploded? I thought the gals there were more than cooperative, no?

Vince P