Fabulous Forum sold: Say goodbye to Hollywood?

by Ray Paulick | 06.26.2012 | 10:00pm

Plans by Madison Square Garden Co. – new owners of the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. – to pump $50 million into resurrecting the former home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kings into a world-class music venue could be the final nail in the coffin for horse racing at adjacent Betfair Hollywood Park racetrack.

Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts told the Los Angeles Times the renovation project for the one-time “fabulous” Forum will bring development plans for Hollywood Park Tomorrow out of mothballs. Hollywood Park Tomorrow is a $2-billion real estate project with plans for 3,000 residential units, retail stores, theaters, restaurants, a hotel and casino. Inglewood’s mayor told the Times the Hollywood Park Tomorrow project, which will end live racing at the “track of the lakes and flowers,” could begin as early as next year. It’s been on hold for several years during the economic downturn.

Hollywood Park is owned by the Bay Meadows Land Co., which previously bought Bay Meadows racetrack nearly San Francisco and demolished it in 2008 with plans for development. That land still sits largely vacant. Hollywood Park’s owners have made no secret of their intention to close the track and develop the Inglewood racetrack property.

What that means for the short- and long-term horse racing calendar in Southern California is anyone’s guess. Frank Stronach wants to expand Santa Anita Park’s racing dates, and Del Mar also can be expected to apply for additional dates if and when Hollywood Park closes. But the California Horse Racing Board, which sets the racing calendar, has so far avoided making any commitment or decisions about what will happen when Hollywood Park meets the inevitable wrecking ball.

Hollywood Park hosted the first Breeders’ Cup in 1984 and currently holds two live race meetings in the spring-summer and fall-winter. The track first opened in 1938 and has been an innovator throughout its history through several ownership changes. The track was once a playground for Hollywood celebrities like Cary Grant, Mervyn LeRoy and Howard Koch and boasted average daily attendance of nearly 30,000 as recently as the early 1980s. On-track business has become anemic in recent years, and the track was renamed Betfair Hollywood Park earlier this year through a marketing agreement with the exchange wagering company.

Madison Square Garden Co., whose world-famous namesake arena in New York City hosts major sports and entertainment events, bought the Forum for $23.5 million from the Faithful Central Bible Church. The company also owns Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theater in New York, the Chicago Theater and Boston’s Wang Theater.

When the Lakers and Kings moved from the Forum to the Staples Center south of downtown Los Angeles in 1999, the city of Inglewood took a huge hit in both tax revenue and appeal. The Forum was opened in 1967.

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Gd780

I can’t quite understand how starting a year-long revamp of the Forum would want to make Wall Street money green light a massively expensive housing and retail development in such an unappealing location (crime, on the LAX flight path) at a time when there is no thirst for no new retail or housing in the area. Then again, the same folks have given up trying to make Hollywood Park work and their Bay Meadows closing does not exactly scream of vision or any kind of savvy whatsoever. What a shame.
- Triplecrownquest
  
  The Hollywood Park Tomorrow project is and will be a joke…nobody wants to live around that area for the reasons mentioned by Gd and many more. What has happened to horse racing in California is disgusting. Bay Meadows is a pile of rubble doing nothing…the same fate awaits the once amazing and important HollyWood Park. RIP California Horse Racing.
  - Alexander
    
    But Mullins and Mitchell, Sadler and Baffert (and a few vets) all got their rake–and that what really counts, isn’t it.
  - Ace
    
    You may not want to live there or anywhere in LA for that matter, but millions of people do so it will be built and ready to move into by 2017. You can backfill the dates and figure out when HP will close.
    I figured the timeframe out with my magic 8 ball.
    - Swiss305
      
      Millions of people DO NOT want to live there. Obviously, they’re reluctant to go into the area for racing or events at the Forum. Look at the recent attendance figures. The sports franchises moved out for a reason. Terrible idea to build what they intend to in that location.
- Watcher
  
  Mayor Butts would be well advised to visit Bay Meadows, which was owned by the same gang (Jack Liebau, et al) that owns Hollywood Park. He may want to check out their glowing plans for redevelopment, their promises of skyrocketing tax revenues and of everlasting peace. If he checked a little further he would find that the ruins of the old racetrack still remain. No redevelopment, no tax revenue hikes, and no peace.
  
  In fact, he would find that the politicians who bought into Liebau’s slick sales job are now out of work themselves—thanks to the voters who booted them after the developer bailed and left the property in shambles. Oh yes, and the tax revenues from the track no longer exist.
- RDV
  
  Exactly right Gd!!
  MSG bought the Forum a while back, this is not news, and we already knew they’d be putting $ millions into it…It makes more sense to report that HP will THRIVE with the neighboring Forum…(c’mon Paulick, do your homework) – ol’ Butts is clueless. Development ain’t gonna happen in our lifetime, if ever. And for the comment below that names Liebau as an owner, I think you are incorrect – he works for Bay Meadows -now-Hollywood Park Land Co.
  
  And, as commented below, if you think Stroanach owning all the race dates in CA is somehow a good idea – think again…..he will get mad at someone for something one day and then he will take his toys and go home…leaving CA racing with NO tracks. He’d sell SA and GG at the drop of a hat. Check his past performaces….
  - Gd780
    
    I knew I wasn’t hallucinating, a renovation was announced a year ago for the Forum, only this time around the city is providing the loan. This mayor is desperate, but I don’t think he has the money to loan the Hollywood Park snakes.
    
    http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2012/06/msgs_purchase_of_the.php
Gd780

I can’t quite understand how starting a year-long revamp of the Forum would want to make Wall Street money green light a massively expensive housing and retail development in such an unappealing location (crime, on the LAX flight path) at a time when there is no thirst for no new retail or housing in the area. Then again, the same folks have given up trying to make Hollywood Park work and their Bay Meadows closing does not exactly scream of vision or any kind of savvy whatsoever. What a shame.
Ace

Please put a dagger into the heart of Hollywood Park once and for all and let the racing calendar shrink to a more manageable level. How about giving the horses off for 2 months before Del Mar instead of filling the dates at other tracks?
- Ace
  
  Or running 3 days a week with huge fields?
  - May Flower
    
    Two-month breaks are much better. Racing needs to become decent, fair and anticipated.
    
    What about offering special bonuses to owners who win races with horses that are offered regular quality rest at farms and who win races with horses that are trained and raced horses off drugs? Both would promote patience, better horsemanship and would soon help fill races with competitive horses that would last longer.
- Michael J. Arndt
  
  I think you will see them add a week of down time in spring and fall, which would be good. You will see the other dates go to Santa Anita and Del Mar as the article says. I would hope they would expand Los Alamitos and end up with Los Al, five years down the road or so, getting those dates.
  - Ace
    
    Why would they spend 10′s of millions of dollars tearing doen and expanding Los Al? Only a crazy person would do it, and they are in short supply- and banks don’t loan “crazy” anymore.
    - Michael J. Arndt
      
      Hey Pegram, he just called you crazy!!
      - Ace
        
        I don’t think he was planning on using his own money-at least I hope not
- May Flower
  
  Exactly!
Ace

Please put a dagger into the heart of Hollywood Park once and for all and let the racing calendar shrink to a more manageable level. How about giving the horses off for 2 months before Del Mar instead of filling the dates at other tracks?
Ace

Or running 3 days a week with huge fields?
foghorn52

Ace–3 days a week !! Are you kidding ? That would be the smart thing to do. Improve the product with increased field size ? No way. Hollywood Park and the TOC can’t wait to run a 5 day week starting July 4. That will guarantee many more miserable 5-6 horse fields until Del Mar.
- LongTimeEconomist
  
  You’re spot on about larger fields, but three day weeks can make it difficult for the track to keep their more competent mutuel clerks, food service employees, etc. Four or five days a week with fewer races per day might be a better way to go.
  - Ace
    
    I worked in the industry for 10+ years and watched my work days diminish by over 25%. I had to leave because of it. The new economy dictates on demand inventory, and if people don’t want to work 3 days a week, there are plenty of others that will.
    - Randyp
      
      Tell that to the trainers and jockeys!
- Randyp
  
  You can negotiate the deals with all the labor unions…….three days a week should go over real well! Nobody can earn a living running just three days a week!
foghorn52

Ace–3 days a week !! Are you kidding ? That would be the smart thing to do. Improve the product with increased field size ? No way. Hollywood Park and the TOC can’t wait to run a 5 day week starting July 4. That will guarantee many more miserable 5-6 horse fields until Del Mar.
Triplecrownquest

The Hollywood Park Tomorrow project is and will be a joke…nobody wants to live around that area for the reasons mentioned by Gd and many more. What has happened to horse racing in California is disgusting. Bay Meadows is a pile of rubble doing nothing…the same fate awaits the once amazing and important HollyWood Park. RIP California Horse Racing.
Alexander

But Mullins and Mitchell, Sadler and Baffert (and a few vets) all got their rake–and that what really counts, isn’t it.
Randyp

In this economy which is only getting worse at least in California, nobody is going to be building anything in Inglewood…….for many years…….empty buildings all over the place.
Randyp

In this economy which is only getting worse at least in California, nobody is going to be building anything in Inglewood…….for many years…….empty buildings all over the place.
wallyhorse

If Hollywood does meet the wrecking ball, what I would be looking at doing is consolidating racing in Northern and Southern California into one circuit with the exception of the California fairs, which would operate on their own season and a second exception for a brief fall meet at Del Mar to run what is currently Hollywood’s Autumn Turf Festival. As I would do it:

Santa Anita: December 26 of previous year-13 days before the Kentucky Derby
Golden Gate: 10 days before the Derby-Sunday before MLB All-Star Game
Del Mar: Wednesday after MLB All-Star Game-Wednesday after Labor Day
Fairplex: Same dates as present
Santa Anita Fall Meet: Late September-day after the Breeders’ Cup
Golden Gate: Wednesday after Breeders’ Cup-third Saturday in December (meet ends on a Saturday)

Del Mar Fall: Friday before Thanksgiving-Sunday after Thanksgiving.

These would all be five-day race weeks with the exception of four-day weeks at Golden Gate once the California Fairs start and Del Mar running a seven-day, two-week meet for the Autumn Turf Festival in November. Del Mar would get Hollywood’s Autumn Turf Festival Stakes and possible a handful of other Hollywood stakes while Golden Gate would get many of Hollywood’s other stakes, including the Hollywood Gold Cup, Hollywood Starlet and Cash Call Futurity among others.

It would create hassles for some horsemen, but overall, Stronach would have control over almost all of the California dates that would be left other than Fairplex and Del Mar while Santa Anita and Golden Gate would be both able to offer much higher purses for the days there is racing with the combined circuit as there would be larger fields for whichever track is running. which would generate larger handles (plus, Stronach would gain dates in So. Cal while No. Cal would not lose as many dates as it would look since GG would be able to race a five-day week as opposed to the three-day weeks they’ve had to run at times).
- Triplecrownquest
  
  Your idea makes too much sense wally…those in charge of horse racing in California never do anything that makes sense.
  - wallyhorse
    
    This might be one time they are forced into it. If Stronach wants more dates in particular, this might be the best way to do it: He does get more dates for So. Cal, but takes out a huge chunk of the rainy season in No. Cal and gives Stronach the bulk of the non-competitive California race dates. The only times No. Cal and So. Cal would both be racing would be during the fair season in No. Cal (when Del Mar gets a fair number of shippers) and the super-brief fall meet at Del Mar that would specifically be for the Autumn Turf Festival (as the weather in No. Cal in November can be quite iffy).
    
    If Hollywood is gone, this would probably be the best way to handle that as it actually would also mark a return to the old days for the most part when racing alternated between Northern and Southern California outside of the fairs.
    - Gd780
      
      Don’t forget, Stronach hopes to raise GG. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/07/14/golden-gate-fields-to-be-razed-if-stronach-group-lab-bid-succeeds.aspx
      - Lost In The Fog
        
        You’re way behind. That’s old news. Lawrence Livermore laboratory chose a different site moths ago. GGF is no longer in the running to be the new site and therefore not an eminent candidate for the wrecking ball.
      - Swiss305
        
        Do you mean “raze?”
- Ace
  
  The chances of Del Mar’s turf course holding up to that Turf Festival are nil.
  - May Flower
    
    That once fabulous turf course is nothing but a crying shame.
  - BenKMcFadden
    
    The best surfaces at Del Mar are in the parking lot.
- Amgm1431
  
  It could work if horses get more rest time instead of circulating. I’m sure not paying the shipping costs from north to south for anything less than a stakes race. Last time I inquired about going from the northern Los Angeles to Del Mar, they wanted 420 dollars just for that ride.
wallyhorse

If Hollywood does meet the wrecking ball, what I would be looking at doing is consolidating racing in Northern and Southern California into one circuit with the exception of the California fairs, which would operate on their own season and a second exception for a brief fall meet at Del Mar to run what is currently Hollywood’s Autumn Turf Festival. As I would do it:

Santa Anita: December 26 of previous year-13 days before the Kentucky Derby
Golden Gate: 10 days before the Derby-Sunday before MLB All-Star Game
Del Mar: Wednesday after MLB All-Star Game-Wednesday after Labor Day
Fairplex: Same dates as present
Santa Anita Fall Meet: Late September-day after the Breeders’ Cup
Golden Gate: Wednesday after Breeders’ Cup-third Saturday in December (meet ends on a Saturday)

Del Mar Fall: Friday before Thanksgiving-Sunday after Thanksgiving.

These would all be five-day race weeks with the exception of four-day weeks at Golden Gate once the California Fairs start and Del Mar running a seven-day, two-week meet for the Autumn Turf Festival in November. Del Mar would get Hollywood’s Autumn Turf Festival Stakes and possible a handful of other Hollywood stakes while Golden Gate would get many of Hollywood’s other stakes, including the Hollywood Gold Cup, Hollywood Starlet and Cash Call Futurity among others.It would create hassles for some horsemen, but overall, Stronach would have control over almost all of the California dates that would be left other than Fairplex and Del Mar while Santa Anita and Golden Gate would be both able to offer much higher purses for the days there is racing with the combined circuit as there would be larger fields for whichever track is running. which would generate larger handles (plus, Stronach would gain dates in So. Cal while No. Cal would not lose as many dates as it would look since GG would be able to race a five-day week as opposed to the three-day weeks they’ve had to run at times).
Triplecrownquest

Your idea makes too much sense wally…those in charge of horse racing in California never do anything that makes sense.
Michael J. Arndt

I think you will see them add a week of down time in spring and fall, which would be good. You will see the other dates go to Santa Anita and Del Mar as the article says. I would hope they would expand Los Alamitos and end up with Los Al, five years down the road or so, getting those dates.
wallyhorse

This might be one time they are forced into it. If Stronach wants more dates in particular, this might be the best way to do it: He does get more dates for So. Cal, but takes out a huge chunk of the rainy season in No. Cal and gives Stronach the bulk of the non-competitive California race dates. The only times No. Cal and So. Cal would both be racing would be during the fair season in No. Cal (when Del Mar gets a fair number of shippers) and the super-brief fall meet at Del Mar that would specifically be for the Autumn Turf Festival (as the weather in No. Cal in November can be quite iffy).

If Hollywood is gone, this would probably be the best way to handle that as it actually would also mark a return to the old days for the most part when racing alternated between Northern and Southern California outside of the fairs.
stillriledup

This is what happens sometimes to tracks in slot-less states.
stillriledup

This is what happens sometimes to tracks in slot-less states.
Figless

Agree the Forum renovation will in no way spur development of HP, it WILL happen in some shape or form but the trigger will be a real estate recovery, not a Forum renovation. Wishful thinking by the mayor.
Figless

Agree the Forum renovation will in no way spur development of HP, it WILL happen in some shape or form but the trigger will be a real estate recovery, not a Forum renovation. Wishful thinking by the mayor.
The Cubs are in last place Ray

We can live with Del Mar and Santa Anita as the California racing sites. It would be nice to get rid of a track where bottom horses go in 1:09 for 3/4 of a mile.
- May Flower
  
  Getting rid of tracks with crappy racing is not the solution although racing must greatly reduce itself by eliminating bottom-level racing to boost safety, integrity, quality and reputation.
  
  Tracks can only exploit what’s left in the barns and hope to stay in business by balancing “the inventory” with purses and starter-fees.
  
  Getting rid of the perps who are willing to drug horses to fill poor races with poor horses and the enablers and profiteers that feed off them is the solution.
  - MA
    
    Hollywood Park is not in the bottom-level of racing. It’s a grade A track.
The Cubs are in last place Ray

We can live with Del Mar and Santa Anita as the California racing sites. It would be nice to get rid of a track where bottom horses go in 1:09 for 3/4 of a mile.
Ace

The chances of Del Mar’s turf course holding up to that Turf Festival are nil.
LongTimeEconomist

You’re spot on about larger fields, but three day weeks can make it difficult for the track to keep their more competent mutuel clerks, food service employees, etc. Four or five days a week with fewer races per day might be a better way to go.
Ace

Why would they spend 10′s of millions of dollars tearing doen and expanding Los Al? Only a crazy person would do it, and they are in short supply- and banks don’t loan “crazy” anymore.
Ace

You may not want to live there or anywhere in LA for that matter, but millions of people do so it will be built and ready to move into by 2017. You can backfill the dates and figure out when HP will close.
I figured the timeframe out with my magic 8 ball.
Illhaveanotherandanother

For better or worse companies operate on what the market is telling them. The key financial points are, whether true or not, are that the housing market has bottomed and there is a need for more rental units. According to most analysts and I don’t think they know squat, is that in a couple years the housing market will be in full recovery. If this were true, now would be the best time to begin such a development. If so, it would be a financial windfall for the owners. Quite frankly, it won’t have to be a roaring success to improve upon what’s going on at HP. The other point is, without another major player’s support, it would seem like Exchange Wagering is dead in California. Pretty sad day all around, if true.
Illhaveanotherandanother

For better or worse companies operate on what the market is telling them. The key financial points are, whether true or not, are that the housing market has bottomed and there is a need for more rental units. According to most analysts and I don’t think they know squat, is that in a couple years the housing market will be in full recovery. If this were true, now would be the best time to begin such a development. If so, it would be a financial windfall for the owners. Quite frankly, it won’t have to be a roaring success to improve upon what’s going on at HP. The other point is, without another major player’s support, it would seem like Exchange Wagering is dead in California. Pretty sad day all around, if true.
Michael J. Arndt

Hey Pegram, he just called you crazy!!
Trisha

What a shame, what about Zenyatta’s Way, Barn 55 . There is so much history there, not to mention Zenyatta and all the great hollywood greats. I just love progress, don’t you?!?!!?
Trisha

What a shame, what about Zenyatta’s Way, Barn 55 . There is so much history there, not to mention Zenyatta and all the great hollywood greats. I just love progress, don’t you?!?!!?
Trisha

Oh forgot, sports, I thought horse racing was a sport, could they not incorporate the housing around the park?
Trisha

Oh forgot, sports, I thought horse racing was a sport, could they not incorporate the housing around the park?
Amgm1431

It could work if horses get more rest time instead of circulating. I’m sure not paying the shipping costs from north to south for anything less than a stakes race. Last time I inquired about going from the northern Los Angeles to Del Mar, they wanted 420 dollars just for that ride.
ZenCy48

I can understand the plans for housing, but restaurants and retail stores? Has anyone driven around the area surrounding Hollywood? Name a restaurant, they have it. They don’t need more. Ugh.
- David
  
  Agreed, Rancho Santa Fe it’s not.
- KMC
  
  Do you live in Inglewood? Well, I do and I can tell you that people will shop. I like to go to the stores here and every time I go to Ross, target, Marshalls etc there are always people shopping and there is always a line.
ZenCy48

I can understand the plans for housing, but restaurants and retail stores? Has anyone driven around the area surrounding Hollywood? Name a restaurant, they have it. They don’t need more. Ugh.
roger

I wouldn’t bury HPark just yet……that Sports Betting Bill has passed in CA and New Jersey. In fact, NJ Governor Christie is going to force the issue with the FEDS this fall by allowing bets to be taken at their racetracks.

This is a long awaited battle between the Feds and the States where the FEDS gave preferential treatment to 3 states with sports betting. BM Land Company has waited this long for expanded gaming…..they’ll wait to see how Sports Betting turns out because of the big $$$$ involved.
roger

I wouldn’t bury HPark just yet……that Sports Betting Bill has passed in CA and New Jersey. In fact, NJ Governor Christie is going to force the issue with the FEDS this fall by allowing bets to be taken at their racetracks.

This is a long awaited battle between the Feds and the States where the FEDS gave preferential treatment to 3 states with sports betting. BM Land Company has waited this long for expanded gaming…..they’ll wait to see how Sports Betting turns out because of the big $$$$ involved.
Bluehen16

Favorite Hollywood Park Memory? Well can’t say it is a favorite memory of anything but remember pulling into the parking lot after driving through a ghetto to see guard towers in the parking lot. I was a long way from Kansas ( Oregon)
Bluehen16

Favorite Hollywood Park Memory? Well can’t say it is a favorite memory of anything but remember pulling into the parking lot after driving through a ghetto to see guard towers in the parking lot. I was a long way from Kansas ( Oregon)
David

Agreed, Rancho Santa Fe it’s not.
Ace

I worked in the industry for 10+ years and watched my work days diminish by over 25%. I had to leave because of it. The new economy dictates on demand inventory, and if people don’t want to work 3 days a week, there are plenty of others that will.
Ace

I don’t think he was planning on using his own money-at least I hope not
May Flower

That once fabulous turf course is nothing but a crying shame.
May Flower

Getting rid of tracks with crappy racing is not the solution although racing must greatly reduce itself by eliminating bottom-level racing to boost safety, integrity, quality and reputation.

Tracks can only exploit what’s left in the barns and hope to stay in business by balancing “the inventory” with purses and starter-fees.

Getting rid of the perps who are willing to drug horses to fill poor races with poor horses and the enablers and profiteers that feed off them is the solution.
Terry556

This news allows us to compare NY & CA racing.

CA – loses Hollywood racing in 2013
NY – loses Acqueduct racing in 2013
PUSH

CA – bulk of racing goes to Santa Anita
NY – bulk of racing goes to Belmont
CA wins, big

CA – Del Mar extends summer meet 7 gets a boutique fall meet
NY – Saratoga extends summer meet & gets a boutique meet (not sure when)
NY wins, barely

CA – No alternative forms of revenue besides horse racing
NY – Casino money
NY wins, big

CA – Leadership is questionable (excluding Joe Harper)
NY – Leadership is/has and always will be questionable, across the board
CA wins, barely

CA – Breeders’ Cup will come to Del Mar & Santa Anita in the future
NY – Belmont might get it once every 5 or 6 years
CA wins
Terry556

This news allows us to compare NY & CA racing.

CA – loses Hollywood racing in 2013
NY – loses Acqueduct racing in 2013
PUSH

CA – bulk of racing goes to Santa Anita
NY – bulk of racing goes to Belmont
CA wins, big

CA – Del Mar extends summer meet 7 gets a boutique fall meet
NY – Saratoga extends summer meet & gets a boutique meet (not sure when)
NY wins, barely

CA – No alternative forms of revenue besides horse racing
NY – Casino money
NY wins, big

CA – Leadership is questionable (excluding Joe Harper)
NY – Leadership is/has and always will be questionable, across the board
CA wins, barely

CA – Breeders’ Cup will come to Del Mar & Santa Anita in the future
NY – Belmont might get it once every 5 or 6 years
CA wins
May Flower

Exactly!
May Flower

Two-month breaks are much better. Racing needs to become decent, fair and anticipated.

What about offering special bonuses to owners who win races with horses that are offered regular quality rest at farms and who win races with horses that are trained and raced horses off drugs? Both would promote patience, better horsemanship and would soon help fill races with competitive horses that would last longer.
Watcher

Mayor Butts would be well advised to visit Bay Meadows, which was owned by the same gang (Jack Liebau, et al) that owns Hollywood Park. He may want to check out their glowing plans for redevelopment, their promises of skyrocketing tax revenues and of everlasting peace. If he checked a little further he would find that the ruins of the old racetrack still remain. No redevelopment, no tax revenue hikes, and no peace.

In fact, he would find that the politicians who bought into Liebau’s slick sales job are now out of work themselves—thanks to the voters who booted them after the developer bailed and left the property in shambles. Oh yes, and the tax revenues from the track no longer exist.
Gd780

Don’t forget, Stronach hopes to raise GG. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.c…
Jay

Unfortunately, Mayor Butts did not say the Hollywood Park Tomorrow project could start
“as” early as next year; he said it “would” start next year. Big difference.
Jay

Unfortunately, Mayor Butts did not say the Hollywood Park Tomorrow project could start
“as” early as next year; he said it “would” start next year. Big difference.
Bryan Langlois (ShelterDoc)

Looks like Lord Stronach will get what he has been wanting for a long time in Cali…lets see what he will be able to do with it. Hopefully it won’t be the same sell and split result he did when he first bought Pimlico and promised so many changes…
Bryan Langlois (ShelterDoc)

Looks like Lord Stronach will get what he has been wanting for a long time in Cali…lets see what he will be able to do with it. Hopefully it won’t be the same sell and split result he did when he first bought Pimlico and promised so many changes…
RDV

Exactly right Gd!!
MSG bought the Forum a while back, this is not news, and we already knew they’d be putting $ millions into it…It makes more sense to report that HP will THRIVE with the neighboring Forum…(c’mon Paulick, do your homework) – ol’ Butts is clueless. Development ain’t gonna happen in our lifetime, if ever. And for the comment below that names Liebau as an owner, I think you are incorrect – he works for Bay Meadows -now-Hollywood Park Land Co.

And, as commented below, if you think Stroanach owning all the race dates in CA is somehow a good idea – think again…..he will get mad at someone for something one day and then he will take his toys and go home…leaving CA racing with NO tracks. He’d sell SA and GG at the drop of a hat. Check his past performaces….
Gd780

I knew I wasn’t hallucinating, a renovation was announced a year ago for the Forum, only this time around the city is providing the loan. This mayor is desperate, but I don’t think he has the money to loan the Hollywood Park snakes.

http://www.laobserved.com/biz/…
MA

Hollywood Park is not in the bottom-level of racing. It’s a grade A track.
Randyp

You can negotiate the deals with all the labor unions…….three days a week should go over real well! Nobody can earn a living running just three days a week!
Randyp

Tell that to the trainers and jockeys!
http://twitter.com/pathagan Patrick Hagan

There are pockets of gated communities to the north (and east) of Hollywood Park. The Renaissance (which borders the Hollywood Park backstretch) has been around for close to 5 years with some very nice homes – and a very high foreclosure rate to boot).

People talk about high crime in the city – that is a fallacy. There have been 2 reported homicides in the city in 2012 (and both occurred miles away from Hollywood Park). Arcadia (home of Santa Anita) has had 3 homicides this year.

At any rate, Inglewood has enough housing. No one will go shop at Hollywood Park Tomorrow – there are plenty of department stores along neighboring Century Blvd and 4 malls within a 5-mile square radius of the track.

Hollywood Park is the biggest tax generator for the city and has been since the Lakers/Kings left for downtown Los Angeles 13 years ago.

Closing the track will be a major mistake.
- Swiss305
  
  Just as an aside, the specific plans for the project state that it is not a gated community and that all the parks inside are fully public parks.
http://twitter.com/pathagan Patrick Hagan

There are pockets of gated communities to the north (and east) of Hollywood Park. The Renaissance (which borders the Hollywood Park backstretch) has been around for close to 5 years with some very nice homes – and a very high foreclosure rate to boot).

People talk about high crime in the city – that is a fallacy. There have been 2 reported homicides in the city in 2012 (and both occurred miles away from Hollywood Park). Arcadia (home of Santa Anita) has had 3 homicides this year.

At any rate, Inglewood has enough housing. No one will go shop at Hollywood Park Tomorrow (there’s plenty of department stores along neighboring Century Blvd) and 4 malls within a 5-mile square radius of the track.

Hollywood Park is the biggest tax generator for the city and has been since the Lakers/Kings left for downtown Los Angeles 13 years ago.

Closing the track will be a major mistake.
Lost In The Fog

You’re way behind. That’s old news. Lawrence Livermore laboratory chose a different site moths ago. GGF is no longer in the running to be the new site and therefore not an eminent candidate for the wrecking ball.
Lost In The Fog

When Hollywood Park gets leveled (and I actually don’t think that’s going to be anytime soon) allocating their racing dates is the least of the problems. Santa Anita and Del Mar, both much more beautiful facilities, can pick up the dates. The real problem is finding enough additional stalls and training facilities.
- max
  
  what about the san luis rey downs training center? They have a great track and backside.
Lost In The Fog

When Hollywood Park gets leveled (and I actually don’t think that’s going to be anytime soon) allocating their racing dates is the least of the problems. Santa Anita and Del Mar, both much more beautiful facilities, can pick up the dates. The real problem is finding enough additional stalls and training facilities.
Ron Crookham

Santa Anita and Del Mar are great venues as far as the aesthetics are concerned, but

the reality is far different. Track surfaces at both locations are horrendous. The

backside of Santa Anita needs a complete renovation of barns and buildings. Del Mar’s

backside, is what it is, a glorified fair track. Lets look at Hollywood Park, undesirable

location? Perhaps. Aesthetically pleasing? I say yes. Great racing surfaces? Yes

again. Is the backside well maintained compared to Santa Anita and Del Mar? A big

yes. The majority of the trainers like Hollywood Park, the horses like Hollwood Park, I

know mine do. Hell, I like Hollwood Park. It’s a shame that poor management and

ownership has brought Hollywood Park to this juncture. I just wish some in racing

would remember, it’s about the Equine Athletes.
- desertrailrat
  
  Agreed, great points. You forget to mention they have the best race caller in Vic too. The Hollywood surface is not only safe, but is very fair playing unlike speed city (SA) and “brown turf” (DMR). Your last sentence is gospel, great post.
- BenKMcFadden
  
  The BEST track surface in SoCal is the Hollywood dirt training track. The second best is the Hollywood cushion track. Del Mar used the cheapest form of Poly (there are at least three levels) and everyone knows about how Stronach sabotaged the SA Pro-Ride so he could put in desired deadly dirt.
Ron Crookham

Santa Anita and Del Mar are great venues as far as the aesthetics are concerned, but

the reality is far different. Track surfaces at both locations are horrendous. The

backside of Santa Anita needs a complete renovation of barns and buildings. Del Mar’s

backside, is what it is, a glorified fair track. Lets look at Hollywood Park, undesirable

location? Perhaps. Aesthetically pleasing? I say yes. Great racing surfaces? Yes

again. Is the backside well maintained compared to Santa Anita and Del Mar? A big

yes. The majority of the trainers like Hollywood Park, the horses like Hollwood Park, I

know mine do. Hell, I like Hollwood Park. It’s a shame that poor management and

ownership has brought Hollywood Park to this juncture. I just wish some in racing

would remember, it’s about the Equine Athletes.
desertrailrat

Agreed, great points. You forget to mention they have the best race caller in Vic too. The Hollywood surface is not only safe, but is very fair playing unlike speed city (SA) and “brown turf” (DMR). Your last sentence is gospel, great post.
BenKMcFadden

The BEST track surface in SoCal is the Hollywood dirt training track. The second best is the Hollywood cushion track. Del Mar used the cheapest form of Poly (there are at least three levels) and everyone knows about how Stronach sabotaged the SA Pro-Ride so he could put in desired deadly dirt.
BenKMcFadden

The best surfaces at Del Mar are in the parking lot.
Swiss305

Millions of people DO NOT want to live there. Obviously, they’re reluctant to go into the area for racing or events at the Forum. Look at the recent attendance figures. The sports franchises moved out for a reason. Terrible idea to build what they intend to in that location.
Swiss305

Just as an aside, the specific plans for the project state that it is not a gated community and that all the parks inside are fully public parks.
Kris

HP has the best backside in the state, and where do the horses stabled there go? There aren’t many trainers willing to stable full-time at Del Mar and Santa Anita only holds so many. Fairplex is a bullring as is Los Al. This is a problem the CHRB needs to get on quickly.
Kris

HP has the best backside in the state, and where do the horses stabled there go? There aren’t many trainers willing to stable full-time at Del Mar and Santa Anita only holds so many. Fairplex is a bullring as is Los Al. This is a problem the CHRB needs to get on quickly.
Swiss305

Do you mean “raze?”
Swiss305

1) Why would revitalization of the Forum automatically mean destruction for Hollywood Park?
2) Didn’t HP sign a much-ballyhooed five-year contract with Betfair?
3) There are more people leaving the Titanic that is California than are moving here and many of those still coming are here for the generous benefits, not to buy upscale housing in Inglewood or anywhere else.
4) The City officials of Inglewood better recognize that they have a unique property which has many potential uses in addition to horse racing if they would do more to make a trip to Inglewood more desirable and safe.
5) All of our comments and salient points are probably for naught as lunatics are running the horse racing and Inglewood city government asylums.
Swiss305

1) Why would revitalization of the Forum automatically mean destruction for Hollywood Park?
2) Didn’t HP sign a much-ballyhooed five-year contract with Betfair?
3) There are more people leaving the Titanic that is California than are moving here and many of those still coming are here for the generous benefits, not to buy upscale housing in Inglewood or anywhere else.
4) The City officials of Inglewood better recognize that they have a unique property which has many potential uses in addition to horse racing if they would do more to make a trip to Inglewood more desirable and safe.
5) All of our comments and salient points are probably for naught as lunatics are running the horse racing and Inglewood city government asylums.
Bobf83

The area around Hollywood Park……is horrible. My dad started taking me there in the early 1980′s and it has and always will be….horrible.   What do they think they are going to do…build LA Live in Inglewood??? Are these people nuts???? All that is in that city is poverty and run down areas. Crime may not be that bad but it’s not a place people want to go on a regular basis.    It’s too bad because I like Hollywood Park but times change.

I live in Orange County and the golf course that closed next to Los Alamitos still sits there undeveloped many years after it closed. The facility still has a very large parking lot and a lot of land that could be developed into a full mile race-track.

The owner of that track must be planning this because this is a nice area where homes would sell so my guess is once Hollywood closes, Los Alamitos will build a larger facility.   That is the only explanation for all that prime real estate just sitting there.

It would make sense to.   Orange County needs a real track.
Bobf83

The area around Hollywood Park……is horrible. My dad started taking me there in the early 1980′s and it has and always will be….horrible.   What do they think they are going to do…build LA Live in Inglewood??? Are these people nuts???? All that is in that city is poverty and run down areas. Crime may not be that bad but it’s not a place people want to go on a regular basis.    It’s too bad because I like Hollywood Park but times change.

I live in Orange County and the golf course that closed next to Los Alamitos still sits there undeveloped many years after it closed. The facility still has a very large parking lot and a lot of land that could be developed into a full mile race-track.

The owner of that track must be planning this because this is a nice area where homes would sell so my guess is once Hollywood closes, Los Alamitos will build a larger facility.   That is the only explanation for all that prime real estate just sitting there.

It would make sense to.   Orange County needs a real track.
max

what about the san luis rey downs training center? They have a great track and backside.

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