There seems to be a strong consenting agreement among horsemen that the One Mile and One Eighth configuration of Gulfstream is not conducive to the kind of Derby/Oaks Preparation one would like. There really is no middle ground from the one turn nearly sprint like races to marathon type events such as on Donn Day. And while no one is complaining about the kindness of the surface as compared to the old one, people are shipping to Tampa with major Derby Contenders. Something almost unthinkable years ago.
Is it possible Frank Stonach will admit he is a complete egotistical idiot sometime soon and blow the entire Gulfstream Project up and start over.
Or am I just dreaming........
dreaming, my friend...but I like \'ol Frank\'s ideas...and am anxious to give GP the benefit of the doubt until it opens for \"real\".
btw - I take back what i previously posted about the OPX analysis...
Let Saratoga and Hempstead be warned.
Stronach will not just destroy your Track, he will destroy your Town.
Just ask Hallendale.
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of Frank Stronach. He hasn\'t torn down the hillside turf course for condo\'s...yet! And the elevator towers to Frontrunners (he does come up with great restaurants as someone said earlier) and matrix boards in the walking ring have not only ruined the setting but made it more condensed and more difficult to see the horses.
However, this is not the first time that GP has gotten it wrong when it comes to racetrack innovations. I lived in So. Florida from 1989-1995 and witnessed firsthand 1) the \"new\" turf course chute (at the cost of $500,000) that had to be closed down within weeks of the meet\'s opening (and ultimately re-built)because there was no way to manuever the first turn for 1/2 the field; 2) the \"new\" (now former) walking ring where the railing completely blocked the view of the body of the horse from the shoulders to the top of the hind legs; 3)the concerts next to the paddock that caused at least one horse to kill itself and others to injure themselves in a frenzy from the rock bands; and 4) the Paddock Bar that was famous not only for jockey agent fights and torn shirts, but also drunks hurling glasses and people out towards the walking ring which at least once resulted in the cancellation of the last race.
If Stronach is finally taking advice from the locals (like Doug Donn who refused to show the national telecast of the Florida Derby in So. Florida for 25 years because it might adversely affect the attendance...and when it was finally broadcast there, next year\'s attendance went through the roof!), he could merely be the victim of perennial bad advice.
Personally, I don\'t believe that is the case. When the GP website first put up the plans for the new clubhouse, it included floorplans. Those were removed at some point - I don\'t know when. But it was obvious from the start that this was a casino.
The ramp that the horses have to go up from the saddling tunnel to the walking ring for the brief appearance is where I thought he would have the circular driveway for valet parking once the machines were in. From what I hear, that may be why there is no more seating in the sun around the walking ring, nor are they saddled there.
I never believed he would rebuild GP after seeing the setup at Palm Meadows. And if the slots prove more profitable, perhaps the racing will be relocated there. But in the meantime, who is going to pay to come to Florida to sit inside an airconditioned (as opposed to heated) facility and watch the races on TV?
Frank would have been better off if he had asked the Tourist Industry for advice on his designs rather than the local track officials.
>I never believed he would rebuild GP after seeing the setup at Palm Meadows. >And if the slots prove more profitable, perhaps the racing will be relocated >there. But in the meantime, who is going to pay to come to Florida to sit >inside an airconditioned (as opposed to heated) facility and watch the races on >TV?
Deb maybe that has been part of the plan the entire time. Screw Gulfstream up so badly that no wants to go or run there anymore. Fans hate it, Derby dreaming trainers hate it, so what is the alternative........
Move everything to Palm Meadows, that\'ll work, Right..........
Only thing that needs to go at Gulf is a poorly configured track and a barn area that is easily converted into Condos and a Hotel. The Off-Track Casino/Wagering Facility with a dance club and one star restaurant is already in place. Take that Hard Rock........I\'ve got horse betting too.
i would love to be in an area that has air conditioning now. its cold here. the time i spend outside the track is outside. so i for one like the idea.
I will add one point-- I\'m going to go on record and say there will eventually be a lawsuit concerning the saddling area, which is the width of a Manhattan alley. I was in there with a relatively small field Saturday, and it was way too tight-- they walk the horse around in a very tight circle, and if a horse acts up or gets loose, there is no place to go.
People bring kids in there.
Jerry,
You saw it, this may be the only only paddock in America where the Valet Parking Attendant and the Tatoo Checker stand next to each other.