Friday, July 9, 2010

“Horse racing betting fits San Clemente tavern, city says” plus 3 more

“Horse racing betting fits San Clemente tavern, city says” plus 3 more

Horse racing betting fits San Clemente tavern, city says

Posted: 07 Jul 2010 07:36 AM PDT

San Clemente's OC Tavern is a step closer to opening a mini-satellite off-track wagering facility aimed at giving horse-racing fans a local place to bet.

The City Council ruled on a 5-0 vote Tuesday night that satellite horse-betting is consistent with other types of entertainment offered at a bar/restaurant

That interpretation of the city code means that Michael Merrigan, who has turned the tavern at 2369 S. El Camino Real into a popular San Clemente concert venue, can open up a wagering facility if he can successfully complete one more step – ask the city to modify the tavern's conditional-use permit and rules of operation.

He already has approval from the California Horse Racing Board. At a City Council hearing Tuesday, he got support from 18 speakers – many from the industry, others local residents giving testimonials about how Merrigan operates a successful, well-run business at a location that had struggled for years before him.

"It's amazing when you add a bunch of TVs or a stage in a room what can happen," Merrigan told the City Council. "Four years ago, when we took over a location which was always going in and out of business, we knew we needed to do something more than just having live entertainment. We created a place where customers could go to watch their favorite sports teams, bands or have a great dining experience.

"We soon saw a synergy between watching sports or watching a live concert ... having satellite horse racing is just another great form of the entertainment I can offer my guests, and it will attract new customers just like how the World Cup series of soccer did, and just how it is when I book a new band."

Two speakers objected. "I don't think organized gambling is in keeping with our little Spanish Village by the Sea," Harriet Steffes said.

She and Michele Forster lamented the city attorney's directive that the City Council couldn't use moral grounds to approve or deny satellite wagering, since it is legal under California law.

Forster said gambling can ruin lives and "open up a can of worms."

Many of Tuesday night's speakers were horse-racing fans who said they would like to spend their money locally rather than drive to Los Alamitos or Del Mar. Dan Clark called it an opportunity to increase the city's tax revenues without increasing his taxes or parking-meter fees.

Councilman Joe Anderson said off-track wagering is appropriate for OC Tavern, in line with concerts and sports offerings.

Councilman Bob Baker acknowledged that gambling can have serious personal consequences but said the state has decided gambling is OK. He said the City Council can monitor the OC Tavern operation and, if things go wrong, pull the permit. But he and others had high praise for the way Merrigan does business.

"Mike cleaned up a serious eyesore in that part of town," Baker said.

"He's been a good neighbor, Chuck Narey, a business owner, told the council.

Next up is for Merrigan to apply for a revised conditional-use permit.

Contact the writer: fswegles@ocregister.com or 949-492-5127


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Horse Racing

Posted: 06 Jul 2010 11:24 PM PDT

July 7

Horse Racing

Horse Racing

Pocono Downs Results

Tuesday Jul 06, 2010

First - $15,000 Trot 1:54.1

5-Springboard (Ji Taggart Jr) 24.80 6.60 6.60

4-Ginger Tree Jimmy (La Stalbaum) 3.20 3.80

3-Our Last Photo (An McCarthy) 9.00

EXACTA (5-4) $94.20

TRIFECTA (5-4-3) $848.20

Second - $8,500 Pace 1:52.4

6-Paper Cut (Ja Morrill Jr) 3.20 2.60 2.60

1-Little Red Dress (Da Miller) 5.60 5.20

3-Grngrasanhitimes (An McCarthy) 3.40

EXACTA (6-1) $16.80

TRIFECTA (6-1-3) $50.60

DAILY DOUBLE (5-6) $60.40

DAILY DOUBLE (5-7 CONSOLATION) $17.20

Scratched: Yasmin Hanover, Somethingtobelieve, Night And Daisy

Third - $25,000 Trot 1:57.3

5-Triomphe De Vie (Ma Kakaley) 8.40 3.00 2.20

2-Up Up And Away (Ji Takter) 3.80 2.60

1-Buffalino Hanover (To Schadel) 2.40

EXACTA (5-2) $28.80

TRIFECTA (5-2-1) $48.60

Fourth - $8,000 Pace 1:54.0

3-Political Terror (Ja Morrill Jr) 6.60 3.80 3.40

8-Fort Ord (An Miller) 5.40 3.60

4-Powered By Zeus (Er Goodell) 3.60

EXACTA (3-8) $34.40

TRIFECTA (3-8-4) $317.20

SUPERFECTA (3-8-4-6) $621.00

Fifth - $25,000 Trot 1:58.2

5-I Wish Icould Fly (Ji Takter) 6.60 3.20 2.20

1-Groom Hanover (Mi Lachance) 3.80 2.60

7-Orlando (Da Miller) 2.20

EXACTA (5-1) $26.80

TRIFECTA (5-1-7) $70.60

Sixth - $25,072 Pace 1:51.4

1-Ruffle's Kiss (Jo Pavia Jr) 2.40 2.10 2.10

5-Hello Great Mate (Ja Morrill Jr) 5.00 3.80

3-Aspectofmusic (Er Goodell) 3.00

EXACTA (1-5) $15.40

TRIFECTA (1-5-3) $41.80

Seventh - $25,000 Trot 1:58.2

1-Pastor Stephen (Ji Takter Jr.) 2.60 2.10 2.10

3-Del Cielo (Mi Lachance) 3.60 2.60

1A-Not Nice (Ji Takter) 2.10

EXACTA (1-3) $5.80

TRIFECTA (1-3-4) $32.00

PICK 3 (5-1-1) $19.80

Eighth - $17,350 Pace 1:51.1

3-Presidential Order (Ge Napolitano Jr) 3.60 3.20 2.40

8-Bully Mccool N (Da Miller) 2.80 3.00

2-Answer Me This (Ja Morrill Jr) 4.20

EXACTA (3-8) $16.40

TRIFECTA (3-8-2) $69.20

SUPERFECTA (3-8-2-1) $348.60

Scratched: The Perfect Escape

Ninth - $25,000 Trot 1:58.0

4-Ride In Style (Da Miller) 5.60 3.60 2.60

6-Gordo Hall (Ji Takter) 3.20 2.40

1-Broad Bahn (An McCarthy) 2.60

EXACTA (4-6) $14.80

TRIFECTA (4-6-1) $32.00

Tenth - $25,073 Pace 1:52.1

2-It's De Lovely (Je Gregory) 2.60 2.10 2.10

6-Sand Gesture (Ge Napolitano Jr) 2.20 2.60

3-Sugarcoated (Ra Schnittker) 15.00

EXACTA (2-6) $6.00

TRIFECTA (2-6-3) $61.20

Eleventh - $24,000 Trot 1:54.0

4-Grain Of Truth (Ra Schnittker) 5.60 3.40 2.40

5-Vivid Photo (Ro Hammer) 8.80 4.00

2-Southern Rocketop (An Miller) 2.10

EXACTA (4-5) $51.20

TRIFECTA (4-5-2) $112.80

PICK 3 (4-2-4) $36.60

Scratched: The Shepherd, Scorpion Moon

Twelfth - $14,550 Trot 1:54.3

6-Farifant (An McCarthy) 8.00 5.20 3.00

4-P J Clark (Ja Morrill Jr) 2.60 2.60

1-Senator Hall (Jo Pavia Jr) 3.40

EXACTA (6-4) $33.00

TRIFECTA (6-4-1) $119.00

Thirteenth - $25,072 Pace 1:52.4

5-Alladorable (Ja Morrill Jr) 18.20 5.40 3.00

3-All Heart Gal (Ge Napolitano Jr) 2.80 2.40

2-Kate's Joy (Do Irvine Jr) 3.00

EXACTA (5-3) $51.40

TRIFECTA (5-3-2) $301.40

Fourteenth - $11,150 Trot 1:57.0

1-El Hombre Dan (An Napolitano) 14.00 4.60 3.40

2-Pembroke Chip (Jo Pavia Jr) 3.80 3.00

5-Pitandthepandulum (Th Jackson) 6.00

EXACTA (1-2) $108.20

TRIFECTA (1-2-5) $548.40

Fifteenth - $8,500 Pace 1:54.3

4-Cams Lucky Charm (Jo Pavia Jr) 20.80 10.60 5.40

2-Classieriverboat N (Ke Sizer) 13.20 12.60

7-Mememe (La Stalbaum) 7.40

EXACTA (4-2) $393.00

TRIFECTA (4-2-7) $2,630.20

Sixteenth - $8,000 Pace 1:55.0

3-Summer Camp (Mi Simons) 2.80 2.80 2.40

2-Cannae Sonny (To Schadel) 4.00 2.20

1-Real Houdini (Ho Parker) 5.40

EXACTA (3-2) $12.40

TRIFECTA (3-2-1) $68.60

SUPERFECTA (3-2-1-5) $283.20

LATE DOUBLE (4-3) $80.80

Scratched: P L Dragon, Starspangledpanner

Total Handle-$290,135

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Horse Racing Canceled

Posted: 06 Jul 2010 07:56 PM PDT

STANTON, Del. (AP) - Delaware Park has canceled live horse
racing because of the extreme heat.
The park canceled live racing after the second race on Tuesday
and all live racing on Wednesday.
Live racing is set to resume on Saturday.

Online:
www.delawarepark.com

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
 

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Kling on horse racing: NYRA likely out for Breeders' Cup

Posted: 08 Jul 2010 08:58 PM PDT

By NICK KLING
The Saratogian

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) held its annual pre-Saratoga press conference June 28. NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward sat down for an interview that day. Part 1 of the session was in this space earlier in the week. This is part 2, with some background added for clarity.

Most of our remaining conversation concerned the Breeders' Cup, and NYRA's future prospect of becoming a host of the event. 2005 was the last time the Cup came to Belmont Park. It was held at Churchill Downs in 2006, Monmouth Park in 2007, and in an unprecedented move, at Santa Anita in consecutive years, 2008 and 2009. NYRA fully expected to get its next turn in 2010. Hayward said he thought as much at the end of the 2008 Saratoga meet.

Hayward said, "Some people (in the press box) asked about the Breeders' Cup. I (told them) I thought we had the Breeders' Cup for 2010. (The Breeders' Cup) board had been informed that we were selected. We had a business plan that we had...agreed upon."

That deal for 2010 fell through when, as Hayward said, "Breeders' Cup board members went to the Governor (of Kentucky) and to Louisville. They ended up doing a deal which Bob Evans (Churchill Downs' President and CEO) didn't want to do."

The "deal" Hayward mentioned was to provide a financial incentive to go to Churchill Downs.

"When it came to 2011, (Breeders' Cup President and CEO Greg) Avioli was telling people NYRA wasn't interested in having the Breeders' Cup. That's really the reason for (our) letter," Hayward said.

He was referring to an April 15 letter sent to Breeders' Cup Chairman William S. Farish by himself and NYRA Chairman Steve Duncker. In it NYRA described its vision of the Breeders' Cup, concluding with, "The Breeders' Cup has been a success...due to its rotation to various racetracks...Belmont Park stands ready to participate in that rotation and looks forward to host the Breeders' Cup."

NYRA never received a written reply, settling for a phone call from Farish to Duncker.

Less than four weeks later, Breeders' Cup board member William Casner provided a response of sorts. That was his commentary for the Blood Horse's online Final Turn opinion section. The piece was titled 'One Site Only.'

Casner began by writing, "Breeders' Cup is at a crossroads. Will it continue rotating host sites annually or take the bold step of designating Santa Anita as the permanent venue for the near future?"

Casner answered his own question by concluding, "The time is right to make Santa Anita the permanent venue. It is the correct business decision for the Breeder's Cup event and the future of our industry."

A blind squirrel could have found this nut. Santa Anita was going to be so designated, leaving Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, and other venues around the nation empty-handed.

Then a funny thing happened. Magna International, which owns Santa Anita, rescinded its contract to lease the track to the Oak Tree Racing Association. The latter group's fall race meet comes when the Breeders' Cup is held. With no certainty this decision would be reversed, Cup officials have remained silent on naming a permanent host. In the interim, Churchill will get the Cup in 2011 as well as 2010.

Nevertheless, observers with whom I've spoken have the strong feeling a permanent site will eventually be chosen. Since it appears NYRA is out of favor with Cup officials, that leaves two choices -- Churchill or Santa Anita.

Hayward reiterated what was in the NYRA letter to Farish. "A rotation among three or four tracks, which is regional in nature, is better for our respective horseman, it's better for the fans, and it is a better way to build (racing's) brand. We've had four really good Breeder's Cups at Belmont. In fact, the 2005 one was very good financially for them," he said.

"Going back to Churchill Downs is far, far better than Santa Anita. First and foremost, (Churchill) is not a synthetic (track). It's on the East Coast," said Hayward." One of your questions is what do (we) do about our Fall racing schedule. Churchill Downs doesn't open until a week before the Breeders' Cup. We work with the Breeders' Cup on our Jockey Club Gold Cup weekend so it is four or five weeks out...a good prep. So we can work with Churchill. However, if (the Breeders' Cup) goes to California (for a permanent site) and it stays on a synthetic track, we would have to adjust (NYRA's) racing program accordingly. We can't go through what we have in the last two years when it was in California.

"It is better for us if the Cup were to be held all the time at Churchill Downs rather than California, but I still don't think it is the right thing to do for the Breeders' Cup," Hayward continued. "New York fans, New York media, and New York horsemen, deserve to have the Breeders' Cup here."

My final question was whether Saratoga Race Course would ever be used for the Breeders' Cup.

"We can't have it there," Hayward said. "First of all there is the weather issue. The place isn't heated. It's not air conditioned. The total seating capacity we have with all the dining areas is...10,000.

"Down the road we are investigating upgrading the facilities at Saratoga. I would like to see a permanent structure which would replace the At the Rail tent, and those stupid, ugly things we call luxury suites. I think there is room for some very attractive expansion beyond the finish line. It is not that I wouldn't like to (have the Cup at Saratoga), it's just not appropriate," Hayward finished.

Unless the thinking among some Breeders' Cup officials changes course, it won't matter.

 

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