Absolutely. I see a pile of rubble at the corner of Prairie and Century and then Inglewood’s not going to know what hit it.
At one point, the site was going to be developed as a Fedex or UPS distribution hub. That made some sense given how close LAX is. But the whole notion of Inglewood as a destination magnet for shopping–that’s just dreamin’.
TVG last Friday posed this interesting question:
Would Jerry & Anne Moss, who were there and had the runner (Panda in the 8th race), stay after the races at Hollywood Park to watch the popular entertainment which just happened to be that night a cover band of The Police? 
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4093516]
Equidaily pointed out this potential black-eye to California racing.
Union-Tribune May 14, 2009 “Governor wants to sell Del Mar Fairgrounds”[/QUOTE]
Most people dismissed the notion of being able to sell Del Mar but it looks like CA will get creative to ultimately get money for it:
Union-Tribune June 23, 2009 “State weighs separate sale of Del Mar racetrack”
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s real estate managers said Tuesday that the state is willing to split the property and sell the money-making horse racetrack separately.
Originally, the governor proposed to put the entire 400-acre coastal property on the market as a package as part of a massive sell-off of state landmarks to raise future cash.
“If there isn’t an entity interested in buying the whole thing, we’ll consider that,” said Fred Aguiar, secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency.
Michael Alpert, a Del Mar fairgrounds director, said a track-only transaction would be just as complicated and controversial.
“I don’t see how it would work,” Alpert said, noting that the horse racing season is only several weeks long. The fair leases or uses the property, including the infield and parking lot, the rest of the year.
“I’m not sure they understand the complications,” he said.
The idea came up after a “due diligence” report found that the race track is profitable and could be more attractive on the open market standing alone, Aguiar said.
Imagine that - a profitable race track … and of course why not try to resell it to someone else at such an overwhelming price that the foolish buyer drowns in debt but not before they have to jack-up prices, push away horsemen and fans; then the buyer will seek Chapter 11 a few years down the road. Why that’s just a brilliant plan! Been there, seen that, read the book, saw the novel, watched the tv edited version too.
What ever happened to entities being satisfied with steady returns year over year vs. getting a one-time score, lump sum which only in the end kills the golden goose?
Worst Governor ever. Get him out of there!
In the words of Mel Blanc - “That’s all, folks!” 
NBC-LA July 8 “Hollywood Park Redevelopment Happening”
The Inglewood City Council Wednesday night voted to clear the way for redevelopment of fabled Hollywood Park racetrack. The city is now fully behind the project.
The council approved nine items that make necessary changes in existing law to enable the Hollywood Park redevelopment project to proceed. Council members voted the same way on all nine items – four in favor with one abstention.
So with that the 70th running - and presumably the final - of the Hollywood Gold Cup this Saturday will end an era!
This $700,000 race, which has been won by the likes of Seabiscuit, Affirmed, Native Diver and Lava Man – the latter pair three times each – will be run at a mile and a quarter and will be the eighth race on an 11-race program at venerable Hollywood Park.
They’re fools to do this …
so sad, so maddening, so mistaken. How many pockets got lined on this deal…
maybe the “group” will suffer financial misfortunes before the wrecking ball gets there… know it’s unlikely.
what does this do to the whole Southern California racing scene, including stabling…
It’s definitely year to year at this point but I understand they don’t have the financing in place and there is no capital in the market for a $2 billion project right now. (That’s part of the reason Bay Meadows is rubble right now. The financial markets almost collapsed between demo and construction and they can’t get lending.)
[QUOTE=Pronzini;4223274]
It’s definitely year to year at this point but I understand they don’t have the financing in place and there is no capital in the market for a $2 billion project right now.[/QUOTE]
The sick thing is that stimulus money I suppose will be found and justified for such a project. Construction jobs (despite low occupancy rates as it is and a glut of retail space out there) are what the politicos salivate over. I wouldn’t be shocked to see yet another Bay Meadows action as soon as the last meet ends in '09: rip the place up quickly so it cannot be used as a track and then let it sit idle.
Again: GGF and Santa Anita are under threat by developers and held by a bankrupt owner and Del Mar, already just a boutique meet, is being offered up for sale by the State of California. About the only place to benefit from this might be Turf Paradise in Arizona!
There is some talk of a fall meet at Del Mar to help with the dates and so on. Then there is the Fairplex for stabling. If we are able to be stabled on the sale side then the Fairplex is quite nice and far more coveniently located. I personally would cross my fingers in hopes of training at DM year round. That would be lovely
And here we are waiting on TJ
To join the original thread on the topic
[QUOTE=Blinkers On;4227603]
To join the original thread on the topic[/QUOTE]
I think we just need a more jazzy title to the thread.
You have to give TJ props for the marketing: “The End Is Near” does provide plenty of juicy suggestions that spurns interest. Maybe we should re-name call this thread “Found: Chantal nudes from Hollywood Park”
Watch the thread hits get racked up!
LOL! Do it!!! It would have this thread and this site a rockin!
It almost makes one laugh until you cry … Paulick Report - California budget woes and racing refunds
So as it would appear (to boil this down) horses that shipped in from out of CA for the Breeders Cup last year got a slap in the face with an unexpected 7% witholding tax on their purse money [if they won any]; they were told they could file to recover it but when those refunds were finally shipped out the out of state owners got that funny monopoly money - a la the IOU from California.
And people wonder why the BC for 2009 at Santa Anita will perhaps hit an all time low. Welcome to California
You have got to love Paulick!
Sadly, I have had experience with the City of Inglewood regarding economic develop opportunities in the past. Suffice to say that the City Council would not recognize a gold nugget if they broke their ankle stepping on one.
Just another in a long list of disasterous decisions by the city.
What is disturbing is that I have heard that there are NO PROVISIONS in the development plans to re-inter the remains of Native Diver or any other horses buried at the track. I have also heard that the fate of such items as the Swaps Statue and the Hollywood Gold Cup Wall are also uncertain.
I was chatting with a friend a week ago and he said the same as Drysdale. The last nail is apparently not in Hollywood’s coffin yet. Management is planning to continue to run for a few more years at the very least. I found that interesting. Hooray for the economy being in the dump.
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