JC / Railbird

Santa Anita Archive

Meanwhile, Out West

– The new Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita is nearing completion and almost ready to test, reports Blood-Horse, and president Ron Charles is (surprise, surprise) feeling positive. “I couldn’t be more optimistic,” said Charles. “Time will tell.” Anything has to be better than the disastrous Cushion Track installation that led to several lost race days last winter when the surface couldn’t drain following heavy rain, a situation for which Santa Anita is suing Cushion Track and affiliates for at least $8.4 million in damages. The defendants filed motions earlier this week seeking dismissal of the lawsuit for a variety of legal reasons:

Reading that adds some credence to NYRA president Charlie Hayward’s concerns about the thinly-capitalized start-up companies currently selling synthetics, expressed during last month’s forum on all weather surfaces …
– Magnificience worked four furlongs in :46.40 at Del Mar on Wednesday in preparation for the G2 Rancho Bernardo, in which the 4-year-old filly will attempt to redeem her first career loss, suffered in June when she finished second in the A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood. “We got killed with that start,” said assistant trainer Karen Headley. “Hopefully, she comes back.” Sunday will be a big day for the Headleys, win or lose, as the barn is also starting Surf Cat in the Pacific Classic and Arson Squad in the Pat O’Brien. “We’re going into this with high hopes,” said Headley, “[but] by 6 o’clock that night some could be shot down” (Daily Bulletin).
– “The rumor is true,” the NTRA has created a marketing task force comprising a dozen “superfans” and horseplayers (including me) and given us the assignment of developing a plan “to market the sport to a new generation of fans“; a few of the task force members will be going to Vegas to present at the NTRA Marketing Summit next month. Discussion has so far been lively and many ideas have been thrown out to the group, but more are welcome, from everyone. [8/22 Update: There’s a particularly interesting comment thread over on Green but Game, including takeout, racetrack attendance, and fun things to do with technology.]

Posted in Santa Anita on August 21, 2008

Sticking With Synthethic

Although Santa Anita president Ron Charles was careful to say no decision had been made to renovate the track’s synthetic surface or install dirt in time for the Breeders’ Cup, owner Frank Stronach strongly hinted the track would keep its synthetic surface for now after meeting with trainers and owners on Sunday, reports the LA Times:

So, I guess Pyro won’t be running out west this fall.
Addendum: Thanks to fellow blogger David for mentioning Stronach’s Sunday HRTV interview in which he spoke as a breeder and seemed to be leaning towards a new dirt track. More about those comments on View From the Quarter Pole.

Posted in Santa Anita on April 21, 2008

Saturday, Fleetheart

Update: Or, Fleetheart might make her 5-year-old debut at Santa Anita on Sunday in the Honest Lady Stakes, a race that comes up considerably tougher with Coco Belle, Unspoken Word, and Salvatica among the entries.
Take note, Fleetheart fans: The mare will make her 5-year-old debut on Saturday in the Bay Meadows Distaff Sprint, her first start since finishing eighth in the Osunitas Handicap last August. That race — won by Kris’ Sis, who finished third by 1 1/4-length in the G2 Buena Vista handicap on Sunday — was Fleetheart’s first defeat, a loss excused by a muscle injury that kept her out of training through the fall. On Saturday, she’ll face six other starters, with A. V. Flynn — equally lightly-raced, fast, and drawn to Fleetheart’s inside — looking like her main competition.

Posted in Santa Anita on February 19, 2008

SA Cancels, Gets ’09 BC

Santa Anita president Ron Charles had “expected that a limited number of horses” would be able to work over the repaired Cushion Track surface this morning, but a peek at the workout webcam shows a busy scene on the inner training track and a main track that looks far from renovated. Racing has been canceled for Friday and will resume on Saturday (with a pick six carryover of $181,514) over a surface treated with Pro-Ride polymers, which should cure the track of its disastrous drainage problems and boost the cushion to a 7 1/2-inch depth, meaning an end to the freakishly fast fractions posted earlier in the meet.
Despite Santa Anita’s troubles, and the odd timing for such an announcement, Breeders’ Cup officials on Thursday declared Santa Anita the site of the 2009 Cup, making it the first track to host consecutive runnings of the event and granting much credibility to synthetic surfaces, even those that don’t perform as advertised. Although weather, marketing, and the savings of keeping temporary seating in place are being cited as possible reasons for the decision, it seems likely that the Breeders’ Cup just didn’t have many options, what with Gulfstream’s crowd-hostile renovations, the ongoing franchise drama in New York, and Churchill execs’ churlish complaints about inadequate Cup revenues (“Churchill makes what it would on a regular Saturday — or a little more, track President Steve Sexton has said“). Given all that, Santa Anita probably looked like the only workable choice, even with 11 days lost to an uncertain surface.
According to the BC president, though, that wasn’t the case at all. “Los Angeles is the second-largest media market … and we’re trying to expand into a broader sports and entertainment event,” said Avioli. “An added benefit is that L.A. is the entertainment capital of the world. In addition, we have a wonderful television window when we’re on the West Coast, and we work very well with Oak Tree” (Blood-Horse). Ah, so the decision was about TV coverage. That’s a positive spin on a decision that throws the industry’s problems into harsh relief.

Posted in Santa Anita on February 8, 2008