Is Hollywood going to close down after next year?

[theiman]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

http://thoroughbredtimes.com/nationa...ommitment.aspx

I read Fairplex might take over the dates. Get ready for the....Fairplex Gold Cup???

They just spent all that money for the cushion at Hollywood and now they might close it. I know it's in a bad area, but it's one of the major tracks in the country still. Shouldn't it have some sort of historic protection?!

Since racing in So Cal will need a turf course I would gather initial dates would be spread between SA and DM. This would be a major disruption in the lives of the horsemen. Its one thing to go to DM for 7 weeks during the summer, its another to race there for 4-6 months a year when your family is back in the LA area. Most horsemen rent houses during the summer or use RV rentals for the regular DM meet. The rentals, homes or RV's are not normally available the rest of the year. SA has always been high on getting the dates during the spring TC races so I could see racing extended until mid June. DM is not available from about June 10th thru July 4th, as the DM Fair, is on the fairgrounds(and on the polycrap track too). Racing at SA in the summer is probably out as it can be very hot there, 95ish every day.

I have heard that representatives from Oak Tree have approached DM officials about hosting the Oak Tree meet after next year when the BC is scheduled to be at SA.

So we could have a schedule of SA for 6 months +, day after Xmas to mid June, maybe later.
DM regular meet
Fpx regular meet
Oak Tree at DM
then HP fall meet at DM

The other tracks will have to expand to a mile dirt and add turf courses to be included into the mix.

The question for DM is who sponsors the late fall meet at DM.
I dont know if DMTC wants to get involved for what could be a money loser.

As for this quote from the Thoroughbred times article

"Cliff Goodrich, representing Fairplex Park, said the track would need to borrow $100-million to build and require 30 months to finish if Hollywood Park ceased operations."

Good luck getting that money for a track. I believe that Fairplex is on LA county grounds and the state isnt going to spend the bucks, unless they open an Indian Casino?

As for HP spending all that money on Cushion track, I am positive I read that CD paid for the track conversion as part of the deal to sell the track.