Churchill pondering purchasing Gulfstream park

[bdw0617]

http://paulmoranattheraces.blogspot.com ... tream.html


Good things can come from this if it does happen. First of all, the least Magna has to do with Horse Racing (Execpt for HRTV of course) the better. Get a horse racing company running the race track.

Also, am I the only one who finds it wierd that Calder Race course gets a what..8 month meet every year? I would like to see Gulfstream get some extra dates, perferably around Julyish. wouldn't be bad for racing I wouldn't think

[Barbaro06]

Ugh, racing in July...in Florida???

[bdw0617]

Ugh, racing in July...in Florida???

well shoot it's at Calder which is right around Miami, year round.. why not?

[FOS]

hi bdw0617

Churchill pondering purchasing Gulfstream park ...

Good things can come from this if it does happen. ...

How do you figure that?

Churchill already owns Calder Race Course (maybe a 15-20 minute ride from Gulfstream Park). With that in mind, I might suggest that if Churchill does for/to Gulfstream Park, what it's already done for/to Calder...the future of Florida horseracing will be even more at risk (or in jeopardy, if you will), than it is already.

Respectfully

[bdw0617]

hi bdw0617

Churchill pondering purchasing Gulfstream park ...

Good things can come from this if it does happen. ...

How do you figure that?

Churchill already owns Calder Race Course (maybe a 15-20 minute ride from Gulfstream Park). With that in mind, I might suggest that if Churchill does for/to Gulfstream Park, what it's already done for/to Calder...the future of Florida horseracing will be even more at risk (or in jeopardy, if you will), than it is already.

Respectfully

Hi FOS

I see where you are going. Florida has issues. I will give you that. but, ANYTHING is better than Stronach. he has managed to turn one of the most premier tracks in the country into a bleeding casino in less than a decade. they can't get any BC's because he turned the grandstand into a 900 Seat area. he has made horse players second class citizens.

I've been to all of CDI's tracks at one point in time, and all of them are first class operations. I think the problem moreso is similar to Maryland where the state just does not have a coherent "plan of action".

I used to live in Sarasota/Siesta Keys so I am very, very familar with the area, although I'm more familar wtih Tampa Bay downs, which is the best track in florida

[chicago78]

What Stronach has done to Gulfstream Park is an absolute crime. It used to have a wonderful paddock and a good grandstand, where people could sit outside and watch the races during the best 3 months of the year in florida, January thru March. Now, the place is practically all indoors, and caters totally to the slot parlor, not to the racing. I would think Churchill would have to sell Calder in order to buy Gulfstream to avoid a monopoly, which they would likely agree to. Gulfstream has the better location, better dates, better legislation regarding slots, and the better overall racing. They could improve it a ton by reverting back to the old grandstand and paddock. The dates should remain the same as they currently are.

[FOS]

hi bdw0617

...ANYTHING is better than Stronach.

If your answer is Churchill, I might challenge that.

Appears to me that Churchill has all but thrown Calder Race Course under the bus, and it wouldn't surprise me if they ultimately did the same to Gulfstream Park (if they buy the place).

Respectfully

[FOS]

hi chicago78

What Stronach has done to Gulfstream Park is an absolute crime. It used to have a wonderful paddock and a good grandstand, where people could sit outside and watch the races during the best 3 months of the year in florida, January thru March. Now, the place is practically all indoors, and caters totally to the slot parlor, not to the racing.

Yes Gulfstream Park WAS fantastic...and Hialeah Park WAS spectacular.

Florida racing, to my way of thinking, should be great year 'round...it's not though. Racing at Hialeah is a thing of the past...and Gulfstream Park is barely recognizable (as compared to what it WAS). That said...

...I've seen what Churchill has done for/to racing at Calder, and it's not pretty.

Best

Respectfully

[bdw0617]

Hi FOS


the big problem in Florida is not ownership, it's the racing itself. It has a piss poor state bred program, although they have some of the most reconized horses in the country, they "flagship workhorse" track was put out of business and now Florida Racing 9 months a year is Mountineer Racing in the day time, execpt West Virginia actaully has a state bred program


Calder has done resonably as expected, giving no slots and sub par racing year round.

I don't think Churhcilll will give up Calder,I think somehow some way

Hialeah Park is going to come back. that state is too big for this type of track action

[Rokeby Forever]

NO STATE supports its breeders like Florida - Calder runs a terrific program for two year olds in that state, and if Calder ever falls by the wayside, so will the breeding industry in that state.

Stronach is the only horseman in the Magna organization. When he kicks the bucket, the investors are going to want their money back. How can that happen? Property sales! I wouldn't be surprised if the Magna tracks all have "For Sale" signs outside of them once Stronach's voice is no longer around to be heard...it's a scary situation.

It's too bad that Stronach didn't get to build Dixon Downs in/near Sacramento. If if were like Gulfstream, I'd love to play slots that pay off more than they take in. LOL!