New York\'s Governor Patterson has come out favoring a Magna
Entertainment/Stronach/ Gulfstream Park style multifaceted development of
Belmont Park -- Retail/Entertainment/Casino/Senior Housing etc. They might even
preserve the racetrack and stables where some of the world\'s greatest
thoroughbreds lived and raced.
Slots were approved maybe 5 or 6 years ago for Aqueduct, and large portions of
the grandstand were closed so that the Aqueduct \"Racino\" could become a reality.
Since the approval of slots, it may well be that not a single hammer has been
swung nor nail driven in anger to begin the development of the new Aqueduct,
which looks wonderfully clean and futuristic in the various artists renderings
which appear in the newspapers every few months or so.
Racing and/or wagering is a great escape for many of us, but the reality of the
current economic situation is inescapable. Businesses on a large scale are
collapsing under their own weight and shortsightedness. Can there be any
scenario under which one of the more poorly run businesses -- the sport/business
of horse racing -- can survive?
In a recent response to a post by Barry Irwin, I beningly challenged
the \"Valordictorian\" to temporarily or partially step away from his duties as
bloodstock agent/syndicator/world traveler and to take an active role in
getting Racing going in the right direction. I issued similarly benign pleas to
Steven Crist and the host of this forum to also take active roles in securing
the future of Racing, knowing full well that while all of these individuals
want Racing to be viable, it is contrary to their respective business interests
to initiate the CONTRACTION which Racing so badly needs.
Does racing need a year round Philly Park, a nearly year round Delaware Park and
a floundering year round Maryland circuit, all of which were compromised
somewhat by the opening of Colonial Downs?
Does Racing really need to breed the type of stock which is seen daily on
Aqueduct\'s inner track, at Thistledown/Beulah/River Downs,at Turfway?
Can\'t the schedule be arranged so that the quality of day to day racing at Fair
Grounds isn\'t compromised as soon as Oaklawn opens in January/February?
If your opinion is that the reduction in the number of racetracks would lead to
a reduction in handle nationally, I respectfully disagree. The nature of the
wagering beast leads me to believe that the money which is currently being
wagered at the leaky roof tracks would simply eventually end up being wagered
on the surviving facilities which would feature larger fields of quality
runners.
The most beneficial by- product of contraction in the number of racing
facilities will be the reduction of the foal crop, which will only be
detrimental to the pin-hookers and commercial breeders who have operated for
their own benefit to the detriment of Racing for many decades.
Contraction fans such as myself have a lot to look forward to in March when
Magna\'s crushing debt comes due. Anyone know of a wagering site where I can get
a head to head on whether General Motors or Magna gets to Bankruptcy Court
first?