Nation's Top Horsemen Rail Against Demolition of California's Prized Hollywood Park Racetrack

    LOS ANGELES, CA, June 02, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- While Sacramento politicians are waging a furious battle over the state's escalating $24 billion budget deficit, other wars are being fought in the Golden State.  One such is the battle to stop the demolition of some of California's prized horse racing tracks, which many say would prove highly injurious to California's future.  Already gone is Bay Meadows of San Mateo, and California's lynchpin racetrack, Hollywood Park, may be demolished for redevelopment if the proposed  "Hollywood Park Tomorrow" redevelopment scheme is approved by the Inglewood City Council, unless the State Legislature steps in.

According to the research firm, Deloitt, a recent study confirmed that California's horse industry produces a total economic impact valued at approximately $7.0 billion, with an annual distribution of $2.5 billion from Thoroughbred racing alone.  These numbers do not include ancillary monies from showing, recreation, or breeding, which are their own billion dollar empires. Like the robber barons of old, many say developers are recognizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to seize some of California's greatest agricultural assets.  Not long ago, California ranked among the ten largest economies in the world.  Since California's great horse culture and farming have played a major role in the state's vast resource trove, a populist rage appears to be brewing from horsemen, racetracks, pari-mutuel concerns, owners, breeders, unions, trainers, jockeys, agents, veterinarians, and major Agricultural farms---most of whom have the same question: Why has California's legislature all but abandoned its world-class racing industry----thereby killing its "golden goose?"

On June 3, racing communities across the nation will collectively await the Inglewood City Council decision on whether to approve or deny the largest redevelopment project in its region's history.  The controversial, $2 billion "Hollywood Park Tomorrow" project, is being proposed by the equally controversial developer, Wilson, Meany, Sullivan, of San Francisco. If approved, the massive mixed-use development agreement will include entitlements to demolish  the historic, world-class racing venue. Hollywood Park now sits on 238 acres of Southern California's most pristine, and perhaps last undeveloped agricultural land---a bucolic time-capsule, teeming with wildlife. Founded in 1938 by studio mogul Jack Warner, the "Track of Lakes and Flowers" was an instant success.

As to what toll the loss of Hollywood Park will mean to California's premier racing industry, Jerome S. Moss, co-founder of A & M Records, Thoroughbred owner, breeder, and California Horse Racing Board member put it to these words:  "The loss of Hollywood Park is going to make California racing much, much weaker. Thoroughbred owners will probably leave to go to New York.  Hollywood Park's closure will leave a gigantic hole in racing in the state-----this is tantamount to having the NFL leave."

While it's common knowledge that Thoroughbred racing needs a new business model to survive, alternatives in pari-mutuel wagering to support track purses----such as Arkansas' approval of the immensely lucrative Instant Racing Machines at its Oaklawn Park track----have been consistently shot down in Sacramento for unknown reasons. While industry naysayers cry that the sport is on "life support," the 2008 Breeders Cup at Santa Anita contributed $100 million to the city of Arcadia in a matter of days, according to the San Gabriel Valley News.  This might be a consistent statistic if the sport was properly promoted, say industry sources. As to Hollywood Park's future, Moss said, "I don't think we should throw up our hands and say that's economics. I don't think they spend enough money on advertising. I don't think Hollywood Park does anything to promote the game. I think Churchill Downs did not do us a favor by selling the track to a development company with little ties to racing."
 
Moss is not alone. As to the state's lack of legislative intervention to insure that California's $2.5 billion racing industry continues, world-class trainer, John Shirreffs, offered, " I don't think there is anybody in Sacramento that realizes the scope of horse racing, and the people that it employs. Nobody in the state is nurturing racing at this particularly difficult time. We have been orphaned by the state."

Respected jockey agent, Joe Ferrer, who represents Rafael Bejarano-----one of North America's top ranked jockeys, added: "If Hollywood Park goes, there is not going to be enough stall space in the Los Angeles Area for Hollywood Park's horses. We can't run here and Santa Anita all year because the Turf course will not stand it. Del Mar is expensive, you just can't move to Del Mar for three months. I think there will be a mass exodus out of here if Hollywood Park closes," said Ferrer.  "What is the alternative?"

The proposal to demolish Hollywood Park as part of the "Hollywood Park Tomorrow'" project comes hard on the heels of the developers' August 2008 demolition of California's oldest racetrack, Bay Meadows of San Mateo----against bitter community opposition----and a lawsuit by "Friends of Bay Meadows."  Nearly a year later, the historic track that made Seabiscuit famous has been reduced to tons of razed rubble, and near-worthless scrap metal, reportedly now rusting in the very center of San Mateo. Many fear Hollywood Park will suffer the same fate, razed to rubble at the end of the fall meet, unless the Inglewood City Council stops this action by opposing the racetrack's demolition.

Doug O'Neill, renowned trainer of "Lava Man," who won the Hollywood Gold Cup for three consecutive years, echoed similar concerns: "Hollywood Park is mandatory for Southern California racing, there is so much history behind it. People will come back to racing.   It's a beautiful game with beautiful animals. We have seen tracks in other states around the country get awarded slot machines, and that's been an immense help with regard to pumping up the purses and handles for the track owners."

The state's unemployment rate from the demolished tracks is also a primary issue for both the workers and the state. While Hollywood Park employs several hundred union workers, it is also a critical hub for thousands of "back end" racing related jobs, including trainers, grooms, farriers, veterinarians, farm workers, horse transport companies, drivers, boarding facilities, and hundreds of other industry related jobs.   

While some call the proposed "Hollywood Park Tomorrow" project "progress," others call it a cautionary tale of potentially incalculable proportions.  One that will rob "The City of Champions" of its final crown jewel, a gem that currently pays the City between $1 million to nearly $1.5 million in annual tax revenue.  Since the Lakers and Kings left the Inglewood Forum for the Staple Center in 1999, their coffers cannot absorb the tab for another failed venture in Inglewood.

Perhaps State Senator Edward Vincent (former Mayor of Inglewood) said it best, "Inglewood IS Hollywood Park.  If they close Hollywood Park, I am afraid to tell you what Inglewood will become." Vincent is a world recognized racing supporter, owner, a former California legislator and passionate advocate on behalf of Thoroughbred racing. 

Investigative journalist, Suzanne Marcus-Fletcher, will be discussing the future of Hollywood Park and California racing on "The Body Politic" talk-radio show, with the sport's most venerated Hall of Fame trainer, Jack Van Berg, Thursday, June 4, at 6:00 PM PST. Visit www.blogtalkradio.com/thebodypolitic. Mr. Van Berg will be taking questions from callers nation-wide at: 646-595-2146.

To watch Suzanne Marcus-Fletcher's television broadcast package on Hollywood Park, please visit youtube: www.youtube.com/user/gailsuzanne

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