By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2018) — An executive from The Stronach Group said the organization is moving closer to breaking ground on a new stabling area on the north side of Santa Anita Park..
“We intend to build approximately 800 stalls in the north parking lot—that’s the parking lot on the other side of the grandstand. When you look out over the track, you see it,” Scott Daruty of The Stronach Group said during a California Horse Racing Board meeting Aug. 23 at Del Mar. “The approval process is proceeding very well with the City of Arcadia. We’ve had a number of meetings with them, and they’re very cooperative—actually enthusiastic—about the project.
“At this point we expect to have approvals in the next couple of months, which will allow us to start construction and have it done here—obviously we’re targeting the end of 2019, but it might be January 2020 by the time they’re available.”
The addition of stables at Santa Anita was the first step laid out by The Stronach Group chief operating officer Tim Ritvo in January for substantial changes to the Southern California racetrack, and Daruty expanded upon the reasoning to add stall space.
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“We all know that the Los Alamitos facility has been publicly declared to be in redevelopment,” Daruty said. “When exactly that happens none of us know, but we do want to start planning for the future, which is why we’re moving forward with stalls that we, the industry, control.”
Dr. Ed Allred, the owner of Los Alamitos Race Course, did not attend the CHRB meeting at Del Mar, but got word of Daruty’s comments and disagreed with the premise that the racetrack property at Los Alamitos would be developed as anything other than a racetrack. Allred owns a substantial portion of the land surrounding Los Alamitos, which he has tagged for development.
“Development isn’t going to happen in the stabling area and it won’t happen,” Allred said. “We put millions into the mile track (added in 2014) and the stables. We’re ready and willing to proceed (with stabling and racing).”
Allred, 82, expanded on his thoughts later in a prepared statement distributed to the media. In 2016 Allred pledged at least 10 more years of racing at the Cypress, Calif., track, which has eight weeks of daytime Thoroughbred racing to go along with its year-round nighttime meet of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. Allred also said Santa Anita gave a two-year notice to “terminate the stabling of Thoroughbred horses at Los Alamitos.” Los Alamitos is paid to provide 800 stalls for the main Thoroughbred circuit in Southern California.
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“There are no intentions for Los Alamitos Race Course to be developed and this venue will remain a racetrack.” Allred said in the statement. “There could be some development on the land surrounding Los Alamitos Race Course, but this in no way will impact the year-round racing operation. My passion is for horse racing to be held at Los Alamitos Race Course and this will always be true. The track will remain open for stabling Thoroughbreds so long as we are needed.
“Santa Anita on Feb. 1 … gave the required two-year notice to terminate the stabling of Thoroughbred horses at Los Alamitos. This was done at the option of Santa Anita. Los Alamitos spent millions of dollars on a rush basis to enlarge the racetrack and provide stabling. Again, the agreement is being terminated by Santa Anita and not Los Alamitos Race Course.”