SANAN INDICATES BC LEANING TOWARDS PERMANENT HOST SITE
According to Tom LaMarra at the Blood-Horse, Satish Sanan discussed the possibility of a permanent host site for the Breeders’ Cup on the satellite radio show ‘At the Races with Steve Byk’.
Suggesting that Santa Anita Park will change surfaces, Sanan explained the Southern California track has everything needed to become the permanent site. However, when a caller asked if a decision had been made, he responded by saying ‘It’s not ratified yet."
Then come back to the Paulick Report and let us know what you think
Tags: At the Races with Steve Byk, blood-horse, bradford cummings, Paulick Report, santa anita, satish sanan, Southern California, steve byk, Tom LaMarra
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:40 pm
If they make Santa Anita the permanent host site, and the slots get up and running in NY, you will see the death of the Breeders’ Cup as we have come to know it.
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
What Sanan basically confirms is that rather than moving the event around, which would be best for the sport, BC officials want to permanently position the Breeders’ Cup in SoCal, because that is what’s financially best for the Breeders’ Cup.
And he has the nerve to decry the lack of cooperation on the ADW front: “[G]etting industry factions to work together and see the big picture has been a challenge.” With decisions like this one, perhaps he and other BC officials ought to look in the mirror.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
I like the Breeder’s Cup at different sites every year. We’ve been three times, Churchill, Arlington and Woodbine. The varying attractions at the different sites kept it interesting for my husband, who isn’t a big horse racing fan. He would have agreed to go one time if it was at the same site each year. And even though I am a big horse racing fan, I like the interest the different sites offer, too.
Not to mention parking it in SoCal will make it too expensive and/or too much travel time for a lot of people from the midwest and east.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
“Sanan said Santa Anita Park in Southern California meets the criteria of major media market, ability to accommodate crowds, good weather, and generating revenue through attendance and pari-mutuel handle. The only area in which it falls short is its racing surface, currently synthetic.”
Change the timing of the BC to pre September sales and then the weather will not be an issue in most locations. Churchill, Belmont, Gulfstream etc. all have good tracks, and its a whole lot cheaper than changing the racetrack (again) - which looks unlikely anyway. If the prizemoney is right the horses will still come from Europe - just look at how many horses go to Dubai, and that is neither a convenient flight or good timing in relation to the European or North American racing calendar.
It is also more interesting to rotate amongst the tracks and hopefully generate interest within the local markets, rather than putting all the eggs in one California basket.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Perhaps the dumbest thing the Breeders’ Cup could do … parsixfarms is 100% correct, and Santa Anita would be one of the worst possible choices (of the logical places to hold the event) even if it was a good idea.
The next great idea will be a 30% takeout across the board on all wagering.
PS - it’s nice he announces that he thinks Santa Anita will switch back to dirt the day after FS says he’s not doing anything with the surface until ‘free enterprise’ comes along, which will never happen in CA which is one of the most over-regulated States in the country.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Breeders’ Cup needs to get over themselves & the notion of locking in the BC at Santa Anita. I think their wish is to do something that only benefits the BC, not horseracing or the fans. I hated the BC experience in Santa Anita. Not only was it difficult to find a hotel nearby, commuting in the L.A. traffic meant that I had to travel an hour each way from my hotel to go a distance that would only take 15 to 20 minutes in Louisville.
And…what about the synthetic surface issue? What is BC going to do if Santa Anita and Stronach refuse to change surfaces? And what if it rains???? A washed out Breeders’ Cup at a track known for wash outs will be a really fun experience.
I think Sanan & Avioli are smoking something funny….. they should be better businessmen & horsemen instead of rude jackasses & try to negotiate with Churchill and other tracks to make this a fair racing experience for fans all over the U.S…..not just the celebs with whom they want to rub shoulders in L.A.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Lots of saber rattling a’goin on, huh? Mr. Evans’ job is to make or exceed earnings forecast for the company that pays him, not to appease those who would pilferage its brands. The interesting thing will be if the rest of the BCL board adopts the same cavalier approach as the one Mr. Sanan clearly enjoys. It’s obvious that without reform the game’s gradual decline will worsen. I’ll give Sanan style points for shaking things up . . . when you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:29 pm
“Sanan explained the Southern California track has everything needed to become the permanent site”
Everything except for the fans across the entire country that might want to see the event. It is absolutely unfathomable, the lack of logic. Could you imagine holding the Super Bowl in Florida every year? How about the preset advantage to the horses that race year long in this one “chosen” venue? If you want to give “shippers” a distinct disadvantage, just say so. Shocking this is even a discussion.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
You can be certain that the absolute disastous washout at Monmouth a few years back (I was there & it was miserable) changed the mindset of everyone involved with the Breeders Cup. They dont want those two wretched days to happen again and I dont blame them.
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Will somebody explain the fixation with “media markets” ?
What media is in mind? Only a few papers cover racing and it is scant coverage. Whatever TV outlet has the ‘rights’ may give BC some exposure, but other local outlets will not mention it.
The BC people are not selling soap. If they were, it is my guess there would be a lot of dirty people. Same likely to be true of any commodity BC might handle.
Avioli and crew may revel in being within sniffing distance of entertainment-world figures, but tell me - what does it do for people in the Thoroughbred business?
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Garrett its for the same reason the Eclipse Awards are held in Beverly Hills, so NTRA can get all the celebrities to show up. Ths years Eclipse AWards had such notable movie stars and actors and actresses as Bo Derek and, and , and I guess that was it. They did get Sting on videotape.
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Sanan has to be the biggest idiot in horse racing. No wonder our sport and the Breeder’s Cup is suffering….we have whackadoos like him in charge…..GEEZ
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
This is a perfect example of the blind leading the blind. Time for the BC Board members to think outside of the box. What is there like 12 Breeders Cup Races in total? Then they should spilt the races up and race them around the USA at tracks that meet specific BC criteria. Why not run three races at Belmont, three in CA, three in FL and three in Chicago. There are plenty of good jockeys to ride at all the locations and it seems like all the trainers that actually run horses BC have plenty of assistants. Time to mix it up and spread the wealth.
Does anyone know how many members on the BC Board have run horses in the BC races over the last ten years and how many have actually BC won races?
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:27 pm
SOUTH OF THE BORDER,
YOU MUST BE A SIMULCAST PERSON,SOME OF US STILL LIKE TO ATTEND THE RACES LIVE,MANY PEOPLE,INCLUDING MYSELF GO TO THE BREEDERS CUP EVERY YEAR.
I DON’T MIND SPREADING THE WEALTH BUT I DON’T THINK THAT YOUR IDEA IS THE WAY TO DO IT.IF ANY SITE DESERVES TO BE THE PERMANENT HOST IT IS CHURCHILL DOWNS.IT IS STILL THE MECCA OF HORSE RACING AND KENTUCKY IS STILL THE BREEDING CENTER OF THE WORLD.I HAVE ATTENDED THE LAST 22 BREEDERS CUPS IN A ROW AND SANTA ANITA IS NOT A VERY GOOD PLACE EVEN 2 YEARS IN A ROW.
I COULD ACCEPT A ROTATION OF BELMONT,CHURCHILL AND SANTA ANITA WITH MAYBE A SMALLER VENUE EVERY 4th YEAR.
SANTA ANITA WAS NEVER A TOP CHOICE FOR THE EUROS,THEY MUCH PREFER THE WEATHER AND THE WIDE TURF COURSES ELSEWHERE.
THE ONLY LOGICAL PERMAMNENT HOME WOULD BE CHURCHILL DOWNS,THEY DRAW THE LARGEST CROWDS AND KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THINGS PROPERLY.
ANY IDEA THAT LEAVES CHURCHILL OUT WOULD SPELL THE END OF THE BREEDERS CUP AS WE NOW KNOW IT.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I think Churchill should be named the permanent BC host, and I don’t just say that because I’m from Louisville. Well, actually, that’s exactly why I say that, so there.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I THINK THAT SOME OF YOU PEOPLE THAT ARE QUICK TO BASH SATISH ARE RUNNING YOUR MOUTHS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THE MAN..HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS THINKING ABOUT A PERMENENT SITE FOR THE BC..THERE ARE OTHERS & ALL THEY ARE DOING IS “THINKING” I HAVE KNOWN SATISH FOR OVER 11 YEARS & HE IS GOOD AS THEY COME..I KNOW ONE THING…THE BOTH OF US FAVOR DIRT OVER SYN JUNK & SO DOES “JOHN NERUD” NO CONTEST….
March 4th, 2010 at 8:22 am
Eugene,
Quit SCREAMING!
It’s difficult to read, obnoxious and makes you look like a fool.
Thank you
March 4th, 2010 at 9:04 am
In an industry whereby doing nothing means you can’t make a mistake, underlying and selfish agenda that scuttles any purposeful reform, an attitude of they’ll come anyway that infects all decision-making and “solving” to problems that don’t exist at the expense of attention to the big picture, I for one, think, more Sanas would be a good thing.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:53 am
So let’s see….a large number of owners, trainers, turf writers and fans complained about the BC at Santa Anita for two years straight. Along with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, the connections of Indian Blessing, Fabulous Strike, Macho Again, Hot Dixie Chick, Jackson Bend and Dublin all passed on attending the 2009 renewal because of the surface, which the track owner said he will not change anytime in the near future.
Wow, what a great idea to make Santa Anita the permanent site. A true genius must have come up with that one.
March 4th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Greeting, A Bathroom Santuary is a room that may have different functions depending on the culturalist context. I hope you have a day!
March 4th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
hey noname….buy a new pair of glasses & you sound like a scko plus>>>WHATS YOURS NONAME???????
March 4th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
thats another one that hides behind a user name