OAK TREE AT HOLLYWOOD PARK IN 2010? BELIEVE IT
In a blistering attack on Frank Stronach and MI Developments, the company that acquired ownership of Santa Anita Park through the bankruptcy of a second Stronach-controlled company, Magna Entertainment, Southern California racing journalist Art Wilson says Stronach should sell Santa Anita to someone who cares more about the sport that, in Wilson’s words, is a "sinking ship" in California.
Relying on industry sources, Wilson said there is a 95% probability the Oak Tree Racing Association will conduct its 2010 meeting at Hollywood Park because MI Developments will play hard ball during any lease negotiations with the non-profit racing association. The approach by MI Developments has likely cost Santa Anita/Oak Tree the opportunity to become the permanent host site of the Breeders’ Cup, Wilson writes.
Read the article here.
Then come back to the Paulick Report and let us know what you think.
Tags: Art Wilson, Breeders' Cup, Frank Stronach, Hollywood Park, Magna, mi developments, oak tree, oak tree racing association, Paulick Report, stronach
May 30th, 2010 at 10:54 am
It is obvious that the City of Arcadia, the CHRB and the State of California are all conspiring against Mr. Stronach and all of the Magna corporations to conduct business in a free enterprise nature. Let Stronach run his track 365 days a year in the way that he wants and see if his vision allows his track to flourish.
May 30th, 2010 at 10:57 am
California racing is as dysfunctional as anywhere else in the Country.
Frank Stronach is supposed to be a Leader but has done anything but lead. Months ago when he came out here he was supposed to bring some certaintly to the future of California racing and instead he brought more uncertainty to the state. Frank may have his rights under the bancruptcy laws but he’s excercising his rights in a disturbing way.
The CHRB is hardly an innocent party in this soap opera either.
May 30th, 2010 at 11:08 am
I really don’t understand why Oak Tree would get the “dates”. They are Santa Anita dates. Oak Tree is a dated abortion that should be buried forever.
Here is my hope-Frank says take a hike and runs Santa Anita during the so called “Oak Tree” dates at Hollywood Park.
I guarantee everyone here that regardless of the CHRB assignment of dates, Santa Anita WILL RUN FROM SEPT.29-OCT 31ST.
Take it to the bank.
May 30th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I would think the Oak Tree dates belong to the Oak Tree Racing Association and not Santa Anita Park. This would be similar to the arrangement that Tropical Park has with Calder Race Course. Tropical Park “owns” the dates and runs the dates at Calder even though they no longer operate a race track. And Ace, why the animosity towards Oak Tree?
May 30th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
No animosity towards Oak Tree, they are nothing, just like Tropical Park is nothing.
The race tracks “own” those dates, not the “associations”, and if you think the CHRB can stop Frank from running, you are wrong. In fact, I will now predict that Frank will stop Oak Tree from running at Hollywood Park.
The CHRB is a farce. The only thing that will be accomplished is what Frank wants, and that is open racing dates, not assigned by governmet, but by agreement with the players concerned.
This is the death knell for the CHRB and the other BS associations.
Long live Del Mar and Santa Anita.
And I do have animosity towards Oak Tree because of their arrogance in giving TVG an exclusive while using Santa Anita/HRTV/MEC property.
May 30th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
If Stronach decides to run Santa Anita during a Hollywood Park Oak Tree meet, he will be deciding to go the John Brunetti Hialeah route. Stronach should ask Brunetti how well that worked out.
May 30th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
There are similarities. But Santa Anita will end up with the dates, unlike Hialeah, who ended up almost run out of Florida.
Look-yesterday (these are rough numbers), Hollywood Park, a doomed track, outhandled Monmouth $12 million to $10.5, had half as many people, 1/3 the purses, ran on artificial versus dirt-that meet is a goldmine and should be Frank’s-put the boot to Hollywood Park, they deserve nothing form the horsemen and bettors.
May 30th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
The CHRB has already said the dates belong to the oak tree association. Santa Anita does NOT own the dates.Frank is out of his mind again,as usual.I think he needs to go lay on a couch somewhere and talk to someone.Ace,take a pill and relax,it’s only a news story and a situation you have absolutely no control over.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Don’t need a pill, thanks, and the CHRB can say what they want, lets watch and see who runs lol.
May 30th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Ace: You obviously are not a student of how racing works in California. It is the association that is granted the authority to hold a race meeting based upon an application that requires CHRB approval. Stronach cannot run races without CHRB officials and licensed people as owners, trainers, jockeys and the like. I cannot imagine any trainer, owner or jockey risking his/her California license by participating in a non-licensed event. Besides, Stronach would not have access to the computers needed to run the pari-mutuel wagering because that too is part of the CHRB-licensed infrastructure. On top of that, payback would be a bitch come December.
May 30th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Let me say once again-
Stronach will sue to prevent Hollywood Park to host Oak Tree.
There will never be another Oak Tree meet again.
Its over for them.
Over.
May 30th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
The man seems even more self-destructive than usual recently. Gives up “control” of the auto-parts company for mucho cash; makes a self-dealing backdoor deal to hold onto Maryland, forces out the CEO at Santa Anita, then sabotages Oak Tree, with the result that he throws away the five-year Breeders Cup deal that was his for the taking. What’s next?
May 30th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Estate planning
self dealing-no explanation needed
“forces out”-did not, Ron Charles left because of the Oak Tree betrayal (and a million other things)
Oak Tree deserves nothing from Santa Anita
and “throwing away the breeders cup” couldn’t be farther from the truth, Oak Tree had the Breeder’s Cup, but now it will be his.
Lets give credit where its due-Frank has the hammer, and the nails, and the drill, and is going to make some holes. He is a criminal genius.
May 31st, 2010 at 7:23 am
A boycott of Adena Springs’ stallions and sales horses might remind Frank of what the free market is capable of doing.
May 31st, 2010 at 8:17 am
Yeah that makes sense Watcher. Lets boycitt the best stallions in North America. That would accomplish zip.You MORON. Why the bashing of Frank? Jack Leibau is the tryant here. He tore down Bay Meadows, and is going to do the same to Hollywood. MID owns the fall meet days. Not Oak Tree. Oak Tree had a management contract under license. The Breeders Cup is on the middle of this deal I guarantee. They want Santa Anita as the on going venue and Frank will not let that get away.
May 31st, 2010 at 9:12 am
Just so no one who knows me is confused, I am not Jake who made comment #15. The other Jake drank the kool aid or Frank’s Energy Drink or something. Frank Stronach once was a good businessman but is now a crazy old man with a big ego and a sad legacy ahead of him.
May 31st, 2010 at 10:59 am
“Best stallions in America.” Jake, are you Frank’s publicity agent? I say hit the man where it hurts, just like he has to everyone in the racing business.
May 31st, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Unfortunately, no one will ever boycott a successful stallion. If they would, Ernie “the Horse Torturer” Paragallo’s Unbridled Song would be first.
June 1st, 2010 at 9:26 am
Ace, how true! Unbridled Song would be the first on the list. Besides the fact he has been known to throw some unsound horses. Still breeders breed mares to him.
Stronach never used the proper components for a synthetic track. He gives the process a bad name even though dirt, speed favoring track lovers hate them anyway. He is more into his fancy restaurants, shopping plazas and slots. Look what happened to Gulfstream Park. He can never host a BC again. I say…open up Hialeah. Now that is a beautiful track and the history of the track is surpassed by none. Too bad no one else sees it in their crystal ball.
June 1st, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Breeders Cup AND Oak Tree at HOLLYWOOD PARK!!
The perfect venue for both!!
June 1st, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Racing should be a free enterprise environment and that is not what exists in CA today. If CHRB wants to exist in some administrative fne, but owners should be able to exercise their rights to hold meets when they want for however long they want. A little less intervention and maybe this industry can start to head in the right direction. Take-out splits need to be readjusted for increases in ops overhead and reduced handle. The erosion starts at the venue level and is circular. The system is broken and needs radical change. Change is painful but healthy when needed. Its needed now.