Final week, the proprietor of Southern California’s Santa Anita Racetrack threatened to shut the well-known venue if the state Horse Racing Board (CHRB) voted to grant racing dates for a gathering in Northern California.
The Stronach Group threatened to “repurpose” Santa Anita, above, except horse racing stays out of Northern California. However was the corporate being severe? (Picture: Thoroughbred Every day Information)
On Friday, the CHRB went forward and authorised the dates anyway.
It was a “gorgeous rebuke” to Santa Anita’s proprietor, the Stronach Group, in line with the Los Angeles Instances, which first reported on the story.
North vs. South
Within the letter dated March 19, Craig Fravel, govt vice-chairman of 1/ST Racing & Gaming, instructed the CHRB in no unsure phrases that their determination would have severe repercussions on racing in California.
An evaluation of different makes use of for Santa Anita and San Luis Rey will likely be undertaken briefly order [if racing is allocated to the north],” Fravel wrote. “The present monetary mannequin and required capital expense make no sense and the consolidation of operations as mentioned final 12 months and on the January Board assembly is the one different that has been offered.”
The letter was worded so strongly as a result of a invoice working its manner by means of the state legislature would divert simulcast cash from Northern California to Southern California within the occasion there isn’t any racing within the North.
The Stronach Group intends to contribute to the paucity of racing in Northern California by closing down its Bay Space racetrack, Golden Gate Fields, in June.
It’s not clear whether or not Stronach was severe about closing down Santa Anita, or was using some strategic brinksmanship. Both manner, the technique blew up in its face.
Landslide Determination
A vote that was on no account assured to go in opposition to its pursuits – to grant racing dates for a 10-week assembly on the Alameda County Truthful in Pleasanton this fall – in the end turned a unanimous determination in favor of Northern California.
It appears the CHRB isn’t to be threatened, as its six board members let Fravel know throughout Friday’s assembly.
Commissioner Thomas Hudnut complained Fravel was unfairly attempting to arrange the CHRB as “determinant for [Santa Anita] to exit of enterprise.”
“As a result of in the event you exit of enterprise, it’s due to mismanagement, not due to this board,” he emphasised, as reported by the Los Angeles Instances.
Commissioner Damascus Castellanos mentioned the letter “bothered him” and was “not cool.”
“Now now we have the north in opposition to the south, and I acquired lots of calls,” Castellanos mentioned. “I’m not upset due to the calls. I’m upset as a result of I don’t do nicely with bullies … The underside line is we have to work collectively. We have to work out learn how to maintain racing in California. Not simply Northern, not simply Southern, however in California.”
