Calder, Gulfstream are about to do battle
Jun 23, 2013 14:33:37 GMT -5
Post by racinggal on Jun 23, 2013 14:33:37 GMT -5
This seems unfair. Can't the FL racing commission intervene? Would it make sense for Calder to install lights and race nights? If Gulfstream raises it's purses, and Calder won't allow Calder based horses to race there, who benefits? No one!
I think this is a Stronach power play so I hope fans support Calder!
Calder, Gulfstream are about to do battle
By Carlos E. Medina
There is a war brewing in South Florida horse racing, with Gulfstream Park poised to race head-to-head with Calder Race Course, the perennial summer racing venue.
On July 1, Gulfstream begins its plan for year-round racing. The Frank Stronach-owned track has traditionally raced during the winter and spring and Calder had raced during the summer and fall.
Despite months of talks between the two tracks, no deal has emerged and could set the stage for a withering fight, which could hurt the tracks and horsemen alike.
“If you would have asked me a month ago, I would have remained cautiously optimistic that a deal would have been reached. I think now it’s inevitable,” said Lonny Powell, president and CEO of the Ocala-based Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
While the tracks’ management would not comment on the situation, Calder has maintained Gulfstream is infringing on its dates, although dates are not regulated by the state. The state approved both tracks for year-round racing earlier this year.
Calder has further set a policy that would not allow horses stabled at its track to return if they are shipped to Gulfstream to race. Gulfstream would maintain open access to horses stabled at its facility.
“Limiting access is going to hurt the horsemen and it will hurt (the race tracks). (Calder) feels it’s the only card they have left,” said David Fawkes, a Calder-based trainer.
But both Fawkes and Powell feel if it’s done correctly, everyone could benefit from year-round racing at both tracks.
“The best case we can hope for from the FTBOA’s perspective and the horsemen’s perspective, if they are both going to operate at the same time, is that they work a deal out with each other where they at least try to cooperate on a racing week where they are not running their dates on top of each other,” Powell said. “We don’t want to see a bloodbath down there.”
Fawkes feels if that kind of a deal is made, South Florida could potentially become a horse racing powerhouse.
“McDonald’s and Burger King have stayed across from each other for years and both have done well. Today I have McDonald’s and tomorrow I’ll have Burger King. It could work the same with the tracks. It would give fans more racing options,” he said, referring to Calder and Gulfstream being separated by eight miles.
But barring a cooperative deal, the competition could be brutal.
“Gulfstream has wanted to expand their season for some time. Mr. Stronach has always wanted to expand his live racing because of the shopping mall they have at the facility. He may be more willing to subsidize purses,” Powell said.
If that happens, more trainers and owners may be willing to move horses to Gulfstream, which could leave Calder with smaller fields.
“We have not taken a position of supporting one track over another,” Powell said. “We want both to do well for the benefit of the industry. The competition is so intense, I think there’s going to be a sense of disruption. We don’t want to see that happen, but it seems headed that way,” Powell said.
The Ocala Star Banner
I think this is a Stronach power play so I hope fans support Calder!
Calder, Gulfstream are about to do battle
By Carlos E. Medina
There is a war brewing in South Florida horse racing, with Gulfstream Park poised to race head-to-head with Calder Race Course, the perennial summer racing venue.
On July 1, Gulfstream begins its plan for year-round racing. The Frank Stronach-owned track has traditionally raced during the winter and spring and Calder had raced during the summer and fall.
Despite months of talks between the two tracks, no deal has emerged and could set the stage for a withering fight, which could hurt the tracks and horsemen alike.
“If you would have asked me a month ago, I would have remained cautiously optimistic that a deal would have been reached. I think now it’s inevitable,” said Lonny Powell, president and CEO of the Ocala-based Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
While the tracks’ management would not comment on the situation, Calder has maintained Gulfstream is infringing on its dates, although dates are not regulated by the state. The state approved both tracks for year-round racing earlier this year.
Calder has further set a policy that would not allow horses stabled at its track to return if they are shipped to Gulfstream to race. Gulfstream would maintain open access to horses stabled at its facility.
“Limiting access is going to hurt the horsemen and it will hurt (the race tracks). (Calder) feels it’s the only card they have left,” said David Fawkes, a Calder-based trainer.
But both Fawkes and Powell feel if it’s done correctly, everyone could benefit from year-round racing at both tracks.
“The best case we can hope for from the FTBOA’s perspective and the horsemen’s perspective, if they are both going to operate at the same time, is that they work a deal out with each other where they at least try to cooperate on a racing week where they are not running their dates on top of each other,” Powell said. “We don’t want to see a bloodbath down there.”
Fawkes feels if that kind of a deal is made, South Florida could potentially become a horse racing powerhouse.
“McDonald’s and Burger King have stayed across from each other for years and both have done well. Today I have McDonald’s and tomorrow I’ll have Burger King. It could work the same with the tracks. It would give fans more racing options,” he said, referring to Calder and Gulfstream being separated by eight miles.
But barring a cooperative deal, the competition could be brutal.
“Gulfstream has wanted to expand their season for some time. Mr. Stronach has always wanted to expand his live racing because of the shopping mall they have at the facility. He may be more willing to subsidize purses,” Powell said.
If that happens, more trainers and owners may be willing to move horses to Gulfstream, which could leave Calder with smaller fields.
“We have not taken a position of supporting one track over another,” Powell said. “We want both to do well for the benefit of the industry. The competition is so intense, I think there’s going to be a sense of disruption. We don’t want to see that happen, but it seems headed that way,” Powell said.
The Ocala Star Banner
