Calder gives horsemen ultimatum

[Kelly Kip]

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s ... ultimatum/

[madelyn]

It is so typical of the Churchill Downs mentality - horsemen be damned.

I think future slot legislation should be tied to racing days and field sizes...

[ratherrapid]

definitely racing days. no days, no slots. the NTRA will be right on this.

[TJ]

This is getting good.....Calder started something they may not be able to finish....now Gulfstream Park put in for year round racing. That would be the best thing that could ever happen to Florida racing. TJ
http://www.drf.com/news/gulfstream-appl ... und-racing

[bdw0617]

is that a good or bad thing? I really don't know all the politics along with this. Are you guys pro gulfstream or anti calder or whatever?

personally i would prefer year round racing at gulfstream, I don't care for calder from a handicapping standpoint.

[TJ]

is that a good or bad thing? I really don't know all the politics along with this. Are you guys pro gulfstream or anti calder or whatever?

personally i would prefer year round racing at gulfstream, I don't care for calder from a handicapping standpoint.

Hi bdw,
Calder has held back quality racing in Florida for a long time. Low purses and a lack of care or respect for the horseman or their horses. If they call you to enter your horses you better comply if you want to keep your stalls. Their racing product through the summer is of poor quality and small fields and now they want to race 3 days a week year round.
Will this change if they open Gulfstream year round, possibly especially if Calder tries to compete with them. Competition will be good for the horseman.....they will have to do something to bring the Calder trainer's to Gulfstream. Palm Meadows, which is a costly training center (run by GP) to move into as you must put up stall expenses for all the horses you have up front for the meet. It's easily done with the big outfits but makes it tough on the small guys....much of that money is returned as you race....but usually not all of it and plus GP and Palm Meadows hold your money till the meet is over, before squaring up. All ready with this competition between these two tracks, Palm Meadows has offered free stall's to any one willing to leave Calder and come to Palm Meadows after the Fasig Tipton sales which are being held here. This is just the beginning, competition between these tracks will have to help the horseman.....but one never really knows for sure. In my opinion, Gulfstream Park....even being run by Stronach will be a good thing for year round racing in Florida. TJ

[bdw0617]

but wouldn't competition ruin both tracks? It's not like the horse population is going to be the same in July as it is in February when everyone goes back up north. You split the horses left between both tracks, and it's not enough for either to run more than 3 days week if that.

[TJ]

but wouldn't competition ruin both tracks? It's not like the horse population is going to be the same in July as it is in February when everyone goes back up north. You split the horses left between both tracks, and it's not enough for either to run more than 3 days week if that.

Hi bdw,
The trouble with Florida is that there are 3 tracks very close to one another, Gulfstream Park, Calder and Hialeah who is also interested in getting TB dates year round so they can keep their casino's open. The location alone is a problem being so close together, but the fact they are owned by three organizations that turns it into survival of the fittest. They will have to make some type of compromise between themselves or someone will end up going under, and well they should.....one track is all this area can handle. The track management realizes they are better off with less racing (less upkeep and expense paid to employee's) and more casino's (less employee's and less upkeep). This will turn into a power struggle and I've yet to see Stronach lose one of these head to head battles.....heck he pushed Oak Tree out of Santa Anita and they may end up ending the Oak Tree meeting all together after this final season at Hollywood. Calder all ready showed the horseman they are their pawns to be used as bargaining chips without the consent of the horseman who need to earn a living and look forward to running at GP because the purses are better. This battle has nothing to do with the horseman, yet Calder took it upon themselve to force the horseman into their battle with Gulfstream, very unfair to say the least. Bottom line is they are trying to get away with less and less live racing so they can keep the casino's as their major money maker (much less expense then running the race track 5 or 6 days a week).....if this continues racing will fade away to token racing and the track's owner's will get what they really want....less racing and more casino's. How can horseman earn a living racing 3 days a week like Calder wants to do?? I would like to see this escalate into a full blown war and let the strong survive......but in order to win they will have to make it worthwhile for the trainers and owner's and the track that offer's the most will get their support. TJ

[bdw0617]

they already decided to give the oak tree dates this year to santa anita instead. was reported by bloodhorse a few weeks ago.

[TJ]

they already decided to give the oak tree dates this year to santa anita instead. was reported by bloodhorse a few weeks ago.

Hi bdw,
Scroll to the bottom of this article concerning Oak tree and Santa Anita racing date decision by the CHRB. This is as of last week's meeting. TJ
http://www.drf.com/news/california-hors ... one-levels