Over the objections of both Santa Anita and Del Mar, the California Horse Racing Board voted 6-0 Thursday to allocate dates for a 10-week fall racing meeting in Pleasanton that would replace some of the dates to be lost when Golden Gate Fields permanently closes on June 9.
And while the objection raised by Del Mar and Santa Anita focused on the dwindling horse population in California being able to sustain a two-circuit system in California, a letter sent to the CHRB about the future of Santa Anita raised questions about thoroughbred racing in Southern California.
Craig Fravel, the executive vice chairman of 1/ST Racing — the parent company of Santa Anita and Golden Fields — wrote that if racing was not consolidated to Southern California, Santa Anita might study “alternate uses” of the track.
There has been speculation for years that Santa Anita might be sold by the controlling Stronach Group given the value of the land underneath the track, grandstands, parking lots and stable areas. Fravel’s letter also questioned the future of San Luis Rey Downs in Bonsall, which serves as a year-round training facility and is the permanent home to many horses that race during Del Mar’s two annual meetings.
In addition, there has also been speculation about the long-term future of Southern California’s third track at Los Alamitos — also given the value of the land under that facility.
The closure of Santa Anita would leave Del Mar as the only major racing facility west of Texas.
Del Mar Chief Operating Officer Josh Rubinstein spoke to his track’s and Santa Anita’s concern about the Pleasanton schedule, which would largely run opposite Del Mar’s fall meeting.
“We no longer have the horse population in California to run two full-time circuits,” said Rubinstein. “We favor one circuit, that would be Santa Anita, Del Mar, Los Alamitos and the traditional fair racing in Northern California.
“One circuit includes continuation of the programs at the county fairs.”
The state fair circuit runs from mid-June through early October.
The allocation of 26 racing dates for Pleasanton between Oct. 18 and Dec. 15 is a preliminary step. The track must still make a number of capital improvements and complete a revenue projection to show the revenue handle would be high enough to purses.
Del Mar’s premier, 33-day summer meeting will be held from July 20 to Sept. 8 this year. The fall meeting will run from Oct. 31 through Dec. 1 — and feature the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2.
“Our summer meeting looks to be really strong,” said Rubinstein. “And hosting the next two Breeders’ Cups gives us extra buzz. We are seeing interest from stables around the country. Since the announced closure of Golden Gate, we got really strong participation from northern stables. With the closure of Golden Gate, we’re having even more interest.”
Del Mar averaged close to nine horses a race each of the past two years. But there are questions about what would happen to Del Mar were Santa Anita to close.
Would the CHRB ask Del Mar to add dates, possibly in the spring? The 22nd Agricultural District would have to approve any plan around existing other events such as the San Diego County Fair and the KABOO Festival. And spring is the time when the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club annually refurbishes the turf course.
How would Del Mar operate without the horse population at Santa Anita? Del Mar could blend into a circuit to include such tracks as Oaklawn, Keeneland and Kentucky Downs. There would no longer be a year-round thoroughbred population in California.
Would there be benefits for Del Mar to Santa Anita closing? In theory, every wager made in Southern California horse racing outside of Los Alamitos would go to Del Mar — meaning purses might be raised, drawing in even more entries. Assembly Bill 1074 ed last year says if there isn’t live racing in Northern California, those wagering revenues will be redirected to the south to offset regulatory costs.
What happens if San Luis Rey Downs were to close? Del Mar has stables for 2,000 horses. Many Del Mar trainers stable and train their horses at San Luis Rey Downs, which can handle up to 500 horses, and van them to the track for races. Del Mar cannot expand its stable area, which could create a problem, although Los Alamitos is also used for stabling.
Center is a freelance writer.
