BloodHorse: Los Alamitos Proceeds With Expansion Project

[Andymays]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... z2JhKZ7Awj

Los Alamitos Race Course officials were planning to meet Feb. 1 with the city of Cypress, Calif., to begin discussing expansion of the Orange County facility to accommodate Thoroughbred racing and training.

The Quarter Horse track, if it can get approval from the city and the backing of the state's racing industry, is presenting itself as an alternative site once Betfair Hollywood Park is shuttered. The plan calls for expanding the current circumference of the Los Alamitos track from five-eighths of a mile to seven-eighths and 190 feet, construction of an additional 700 horse stalls, and improvements to certain sections of the grandstand.

Los Alamitos became the focus of expansion plans with a recent decision by Fairplex Park in Los Angeles County to withdraw from consideration as a potential alternative to Hollywood, which is uncertain to continue racing after 2013.

"We may not be the prettiest girl around, but we may be the only one," joked Brad McKinzie, longtime consultant and executive for Los Alamitos.

McKinzie said the project would cost $12 million and would be funded privately. He said the new stalls at the plant would be in addition to 300 that already exist for limited low-level Thoroughbred racing that is currently being conducted there, as well as 1,100 more that are reserved for Quarter Horses.

[Southieboy]

If this goes through, the handle at Los Al will be the equivalent of what it currently is at Fairplex, though they might be able to muster up more on-track business than HOL. Hollywood Park, like Santa Anita and Del Mar is a brand name that many horseplayers associate with top racing. That is not the case with Los Al. Another issue is the takeout. You would be betting in to exotic pools that have 24 and 25 percent takeout rates, just like the fairs.

And does anyone really believe this will only cost 12 million?

[Beatthevig69]

I agree strongly with the branding premis,I also think the best choice would be to send them all to Golden gate fields and build a strong regional California industry again,but we know that aint goona happen. The logical choice is to extend the Santa Anita meet based on the branding premis and the fact that you need to be close to metro LA for obvious reasons. I don't know what those guys are smoking at Los al but to think that you would turn Hollywood Park into Los Alimitos is a lovety pipe dream.

[So.cal.fan]

The problem is, So. Cal must have another place to stable and train horses besides, Santa Anita, that will not work.
If, and it's an IF of course, Hollywood closes down completely, they simply have to have another place to train year round.
This is why Los Al is doing this.

[Beatthevig69]

The problem is, So. Cal must have another place to stable and train horses besides, Santa Anita, that will not work.
If, and it's an IF of course, Hollywood closes down completely, they simply have to have another place to train year round.
This is why Los Al is doing this.

Well if it was just used as a training facility to house the animals locally I agree with the project but running them there foooooooooooorrrrrrrrrget it! I wouldn't mind the sulkys coming back to los al we need harness racing back in so cal.

[Aardvark6]

Why would this even be considered? Los Al to be expanded, but there will be no turf course. Why even bother? The only thing I could see happening would be Del Mar gaining more dates in the fall, or late winter/early spring. I imagine it would only be 4 days a week, but at least it would be at an existing facility that has name recognition, and more importantly, a turf course. One other thing--Los Al's grandstand seats 15,000? Admittedly, I have never been there, but it sure doesn't look that big on TV. I would think that 15,000 in that grandstand would be AWFULLY cozy with one another. I don't pretend to know a great deal about the sport, but I do enjoy watching it, and have been known to place a wager or two. I personally just don't see how Los Alamitos could help the sport in So Cal in the long run without having a turf course. Just my opinion.