Los Alamitos to apply for permits for expansion plans

[Southieboy]

Los Alamitos officials will apply for permits this month with the city of Cypress, Calif., to expand the barn area and racetrack to accommodate Thoroughbred racing as early as 2014. Los Alamitos is considered the leading option to eventually replace Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., as a second Thoroughbred venue in the Los Angeles area.

Bay Meadows Land Co., which owns Hollywood Park, has stated a desire to tear down the racetrack and use the property for commercial and residential development.

Currently, Los Alamitos hosts a nationally prominent year-round Quarter Horse meeting. If the expansion goes through, Los Alamitos is expected to request two three-week meetings in the summer and fall to replace Hollywood Park’s current dates. Santa Anita is expected to gain considerably more racing dates each spring and fall.

http://www.drf.com/news/los-alamitos-ap ... sion-plans

[Theiman]

With no addition of a turf course and a smaller than a one mile track Los Al's only realistic benefit is that it will give the horseman a place to stable/train that is not horribly far from either SA or DM.
Not sure what quality dirt horses will want to run on a track smaller than a mile. Although one could point to a couple of tracks that are smaller, Charlestown being one and I believe one of the Louisana tracks might still be, I dont see many, if any, important HP races moved to LosAl.
Look for the elite stables to be at SA full time while the smaller ones, with no grass or stakes horses going to OC.

[Southieboy]

With no addition of a turf course and a smaller than a one mile track Los Al's only realistic benefit is that it will give the horseman a place to stable/train that is not horribly far from either SA or DM.
Not sure what quality dirt horses will want to run on a track smaller than a mile. Although one could point to a couple of tracks that are smaller, Charlestown being one and I believe one of the Louisana tracks might still be, I dont see many, if any, important HP races moved to LosAl.
Look for the elite stables to be at SA full time while the smaller ones, with no grass or stakes horses going to OC.

If Los Al runs the three weeks prior to DM, then look for many small fields like they always are at HP near the end of their meet. I am also curious to see what happens with Hollywood's stakes, given the decline in revenues at the tracks it makes me wonder if SA can afford to take on the bulk of the schedule or if they will just move their own current stakes around. One thing is certain, if SA expands its racing calendar their is going to have to be a break for the turf course like there is now at Golden Gate.

[Tvghrtvfan]

What is the future for the stakes on the turf at hollywood park? should golden gate get them or should santa anita and del mar split the turf stakes?

[PeteMo]

The way this will probably go is Los Al will run mid June to mid July (Del Mar and Fairplex stay as is) and then again early October until early November. With Santa Anita running a tediously long meet mid November thru early June. Absolutely impossible for me to see how this calendar is going to add any excitement to already declining CA racing. Still hoping someone will come in and buy Hollywood.

[Joel]

The way this will probably go is Los Al will run mid June to mid July (Del Mar and Fairplex stay as is) and then again early October until early November. With Santa Anita running a tediously long meet mid November thru early June.

Bingo!

That is the only schedule that makes sense.

Some of the Posters here are smoking some good love with some of the things they are proposing, especially when they are talking about extending the Del Mar meet by several weeks..

[Andymays]

I'm hoping someone throws and completes a "hail mary" so Hollywood stays open.

[Claimboxx]

I'm hoping someone throws and completes a "hail mary" so Hollywood stays open.

I am thinking that if Hollywood Park is bought, it will be more like a "ST. PAUL", not a "hail mary"...

[Hollywoodmike]

I'm hoping someone throws and completes a "hail mary" so Hollywood stays open.

Totally agree. I will be lost without HP.

[Andymays]

I'm hoping someone throws and completes a "hail mary" so Hollywood stays open.

I am thinking that if Hollywood Park is bought, it will be more like a "ST. PAUL", not a "hail mary"...

Suppose they come up with some unique stuff like my P6 suggestion and handle goes up 25%. Does that make it more profitable and therefore less likely to be sold?