Its not looking good for Golden Gate

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 7:44 am

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... z1S30o8V4Z

down to 3 days a week. says it all hinges on poker.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 6:14 pm

Just checked with one of my GGF buddies and they have not been told anything officially but have heard rumors. The August schedule is set for three days a week but those are CARF meet days. Whether the three days will bleed into their regular meet that begins in October is unknown. I think horse inventory is the bottom line.

dondogs · Postby **dondogs** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:46 am

Enjoy it while it lasts:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nation ... ceeds.aspx

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/peopl ... roup-plan/

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 3:08 pm

Wish a private historic society would stepin and buy.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Fri Jul 15, 2011 9:08 pm

Well the cat is finally out of the bag. I was told by reliable sources about Lawrence Rad Lab interest about 6 weeks ago. To be honest I would like to see this go through as long as there is a Track relocation guarantee. GGF is a horrible place to conduct racing. It is very cold and the traffic is an absolute disaster. I only go to GGF when I run a horse. With real estate so depressed in the Bay Area this would be an ideal time to acquire a new property with better climate and highway access. There are several areas in the east bay that would be ideal. The current GGF property would be a perfect fit for Lawrence Radlab with it's close proximity to UC Berkeley and other Radlab interests. Let's do it..

docjocoy · Postby **docjocoy** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:57 am

zinn21 wrote:Well the cat is finally out of the bag. I was told by reliable sources about Lawrence Rad Lab interest about 6 weeks ago. To be honest I would like to see this go through as long as there is a Track relocation guarantee. GGF is a horrible place to conduct racing. It is very cold and the traffic is an absolute disaster. I only go to GGF when I run a horse. With real estate so depressed in the Bay Area this would be an ideal time to acquire a new property with better climate and highway access. There are several areas in the east bay that would be ideal. The current GGF property would be a perfect fit for Lawrence Radlab with it's close proximity to UC Berkeley and other Radlab interests. Let's do it..

I also had heard about this, which is why I asked about it in a previous thread last month. The relocation of the track is obviously key to horsemen, and there are certainly no guarantees. And it would not surprise me at all for them to shut GG and THEN look for a relocation space, not the other way around. It's not like Bay Meadows is a thriving mall/supermarket/ housing development or lovely space. The precedent is there for "get rid of horses now, search for new racing spot later."
It is troubling, to say the least.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:56 am

I bet they move it to Santa Rosa.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:46 am

i would like santa rosa very much. but what they really need to do is consolidate with socal because neither circuit has enough horses

Marsalon · Postby **Marsalon** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:24 am

It's too bad Dixon Downs didn't become a reality. That location was superb. Dixon would have served huge population centers and had excellent access.

Pleasanton wouldn't be a bad deal for Bay Area racing. I've always enjoyed going there from both a player and an owners standpoint. I just wonder if they can make everything fit on that one little track, there's doesn't appear to be any extra room.

As for GGF, I can't really say I'll miss that horrible left turn to the track after exiting Gilman St.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 12:06 pm

Santa Rosa is the logical contender as they have one of the best turf courses.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:01 pm

zinn21 wrote:Well the cat is finally out of the bag. I was told by reliable sources about Lawrence Rad Lab interest about 6 weeks ago. To be honest I would like to see this go through as long as there is a Track relocation guarantee. GGF is a horrible place to conduct racing. It is very cold and the traffic is an absolute disaster. I only go to GGF when I run a horse. With real estate so depressed in the Bay Area this would be an ideal time to acquire a new property with better climate and highway access. There are several areas in the east bay that would be ideal. The current GGF property would be a perfect fit for Lawrence Radlab with it's close proximity to UC Berkeley and other Radlab interests. Let's do it..

How is the weather bad. It's not melting hot for most of the year, but it is a great place to live and work!! It's NOT a horrible place to conduct racing? How do you figure?? It's a perfect location, with an amazing view with a moderate climate. Jeepers. Traffic isn't a disaster unless you don't know how to drive in it. Same can be said for SA or DM, at Hol you just need to know how not to get shot by a local gang banger. Man, pick your poison or bias or whatever, but have valid reasons behind it!

docjocoy · Postby **docjocoy** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:24 pm

Tucumcari wrote:
zinn21 wrote:Well the cat is finally out of the bag. I was told by reliable sources about Lawrence Rad Lab interest about 6 weeks ago. To be honest I would like to see this go through as long as there is a Track relocation guarantee. GGF is a horrible place to conduct racing. It is very cold and the traffic is an absolute disaster. I only go to GGF when I run a horse. With real estate so depressed in the Bay Area this would be an ideal time to acquire a new property with better climate and highway access. There are several areas in the east bay that would be ideal. The current GGF property would be a perfect fit for Lawrence Radlab with it's close proximity to UC Berkeley and other Radlab interests. Let's do it..

How is the weather bad. It's not melting hot for most of the year, but it is a great place to live and work!! It's NOT a horrible place to conduct racing? How do you figure?? It's a perfect location, with an amazing view with a moderate climate. Jeepers. Traffic isn't a disaster unless you don't know how to drive in it. Same can be said for SA or DM, at Hol you just need to know how not to get shot by a local gang banger. Man, pick your poison or bias or whatever, but have valid reasons behind it!

Seriously. It's always been the perfect location especially for the horses.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:15 pm

Referring to turf as best in CA

Marsalon · Postby **Marsalon** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:03 pm

ireneinwa wrote:Santa Rosa is the logical contender as they have one of the best turf courses.

From a horsemen's standpoint, Santa Rosa is outstanding. The dirt and the turf offer safe surfaces on which to race, perhaps the best in the state.

There are two big problems with Santa Rosa from the bettors' standpoint. First, the distance to the track for those who still actually like to attend is too far away. Santa Rosa is close to no where and the roads there are windy and slow, but scenic. Secondly, the grandstand faces west forcing patrons to stare into the sun. What were the designers thinking?

The traffic situation in the GGF area is appalling. The clogged 880 freeway is a parking lot when the last race ends and on Fridays you might as well sleep over in a stall with the horses. The 580 to 880 merge coming to the track is a public abortion. The Gilman lefty needs a traffic light so badly its almost criminal. And the 880 to 580 merge heading home forces five lane changes in less than 2 miles in bumper to bumper stop and go. I'll take Pleasanton any day.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:10 pm

Pleasanton has a turf course?
Highway from San Frans not windy.