I'm hoping he just lets the last race run in silence. Its one of the things he's been pondering.
I think it would be awesome ... very powerful ...
Then he could wait a full minute, in tribute, after they cross ... and then do the recap and verbal farewell to this lovely place.
Any thought on what his last call you be like?
The trouble with that, you'd have a bunch of folks screaming and yelling to turn the speakers on! He would have to inform the fans there would be silence the second the gate opens .... until the end of race. You know how well folks listen to what is said ... these days! ::) There's always at least one spoiler in the crowd!
When the bugler plays that last time .... is when I would come unglued. Then the post parade .... with all the ponies looking their best ... Yikes! Better have a good supply of Kleenex on hand for the folks!
Quote from: Blue Jeans on December 17, 2013, 09:25:41 AM
The trouble with that, you'd have a bunch of folks screaming and yelling to turn the speakers on! He would have to inform the fans there would be silence the second the gate opens .... until the end of race. You know how well folks listen to what is said ... these days! ::) There's always at least one spoiler in the crowd!
When the bugler plays that last time .... is when I would come unglued. Then the post parade .... with all the ponies looking their best ... Yikes! Better have a good supply of Kleenex on hand for the folks!
I think I'm gonna be unglued all weekend. It will be very emotional for sure. I'm love HP and the memories there. Its a gorgeous track.
It will be interesting to see the entries of the last race on Sunday. I would imagine pretty much everyone will want to be in that last race ... and, aside from the last winner, it will be an interesting sidenote as to who is the last horse to cross the line ... and the last to leave the track.
I wish they'd do a ceremony after the last race and allow trainers, jockeys, workers, etc. to ramble on about what HP meant to them. That would be nice. We could all mourn together.
Quote from: The Tin Man on December 17, 2013, 09:50:42 AM
I think I'm gonna be unglued all weekend. It will be very emotional for sure. I'm love HP and the memories there. Its a gorgeous track.
It will be interesting to see the entries of the last race on Sunday. I would imagine pretty much everyone will want to be in that last race ... and, aside from the last winner, it will be an interesting sidenote as to who is the last horse to cross the line ... and the last to leave the track.
I wish they'd do a ceremony after the last race and allow trainers, jockeys, workers, etc. to ramble on about what HP meant to them. That would be nice. We could all mourn together.
I like HP too.
Although SA gets all the hype, with the mountains in the background, I have long preferred HP. Perhaps it is because I sometimes attended during the late spring - early summer meet, when the temps were nice and the sun was always shining. For years it seemed better maintained and landscaped than SA, with fresher paint, more flowers, the sparkling lake, and the always-present sunshine. In contrast, most of my visits to SA were during the late winter-early spring meet, when it was often overcast, cold and rainy. Yuck. If I want that, I will go to New York for winter racing.
Too bad the economic forces battering horse racing and HP's terrible location in Inglewood contributed to cause its demise.
Quote from: The Tin Man on December 17, 2013, 08:18:30 AM
I'm hoping he just lets the last race run in silence. Its one of the things he's been pondering.
I think it would be awesome ... very powerful ...
Then he could wait a full minute, in tribute, after they cross ... and then do the recap and verbal farewell to this lovely place.
Any thought on what his last call you be like?
I think silence would be appropriate for the last race.
You know, back in the 60s and 70s Keeneland --- if I remember correctly --- did not even have an announcer calling the races live. The theory, supposedly, was that if you needed a race caller to identify the horses, you didn't really belong at the track!
Love the snobbery of Kentucky hardboots!
I'm not in favor of silence...think of all the owners, trainers, grooms and riders of the horses in that last race. Don't they deserve to have a race call, with the names of their horses being called in the very last race at Hollywood Park? That is a video that they all will want to have.
Let Vic make his tribute after the race is run...and I'm sure he will have something poignant to say.
Quote from: BaroqueAgain1 on December 17, 2013, 11:01:53 AM
I'm not in favor of silence...think of all the owners, trainers, grooms and riders of the horses in that last race. Don't they deserve to have a race call, with the names of their horses being called in the very last race at Hollywood Park? That is a video that they all will want to have.
Let Vic make his tribute after the race is run...and I'm sure he will have something poignant to say.
You're right .... and good points.
Quote from: BaroqueAgain1 on December 17, 2013, 11:01:53 AM
I'm not in favor of silence...think of all the owners, trainers, grooms and riders of the horses in that last race. Don't they deserve to have a race call, with the names of their horses being called in the very last race at Hollywood Park? That is a video that they all will want to have.
Let Vic make his tribute after the race is run...and I'm sure he will have something poignant to say.
One thing though ... almost to a person ... all of the owners, trainers, etc. Prefer HP to SA or Del Mar ... as far as the track and stables ...
As far as a tribute to it, I highly doubt they'd be selfish about it. They love this track.
But who knows? The "silent call" probably won't even happen ... although I wish it would. I think it would be so a propos.
I'm still curious as to what others might think would be most fitting.
Quote from: BaroqueAgain1 on December 17, 2013, 11:01:53 AM
I'm not in favor of silence...think of all the owners, trainers, grooms and riders of the horses in that last race. Don't they deserve to have a race call, with the names of their horses being called in the very last race at Hollywood Park? That is a video that they all will want to have.
Let Vic make his tribute after the race is run...and I'm sure he will have something poignant to say.
Silence is pretty much what Gary Henson did at Longacres for the final race there. He said "Ladies and Gentlemen, these horses belong to you" and then turned off his mike. If there were complaints they were drowned out by the silence. Most everyone I've spoken to, that was there, thought it to be very classy. What Michael Wrona did at Bay Meadows was fine but I don't know how memorable it was. Gary Henson's
call was memorable.
Quote from: The Tin Man on December 17, 2013, 11:47:04 AM
One thing though ... almost to a person ... all of the owners, trainers, etc. Prefer HP to SA or Del Mar ... as far as the track and stables ...
As far as a tribute to it, I highly doubt they'd be selfish about it. They love this track.
But who knows? The "silent call" probably won't even happen ... although I wish it would. I think it would be so a propos.
I'm still curious as to what others might think would be most fitting.
I trust Vic - I think he should call the race and end with commentary - hopefully they get the speakers from the infield working so youcan actually HEAR the race calls.
Quote from: Dave in TJ Mex on December 17, 2013, 09:55:52 AM
I like HP too.
Although SA gets all the hype, with the mountains in the background, I have long preferred HP. Perhaps it is because I sometimes attended during the late spring - early summer meet, when the temps were nice and the sun was always shining. For years it seemed better maintained and landscaped than SA, with fresher paint, more flowers, the sparkling lake, and the always-present sunshine. In contrast, most of my visits to SA were during the late winter-early spring meet, when it was often overcast, cold and rainy. Yuck. If I want that, I will go to New York for winter racing.
Too bad the economic forces battering horse racing and HP's terrible location in Inglewood contributed to cause its demise.
I love Hollywood - the location is very accessible - I will be there Sunday = have my box - anyone want to share - I have 4 seats and just me going - section 210
Quote from: Dusty on December 17, 2013, 07:25:43 PM
I love Hollywood - the location is very accessible - I will be there Sunday = have my box - anyone want to share - I have 4 seats and just me going - section 210
Since we missed meeting last weekend, maybe we can coordinate on the last day for a little bit. I'll probably be in section 234 off and on. :)
I had a dream last night of all the still living connections from the recent past at HP that were waiting on the track at the finish line on either side of the path to the winner's circle to greet the horses returning after they passed the finish applauding. I know safety wise it would likely not been practical - but it was a special moment in my dream nonetheless.
Mr. Stauffer's call was as perfect as could be.
Yesterday was quite emotional.
It seemed like there were many more people there for the event than the final tally indicated.
Quote from: Man o Taz on December 23, 2013, 09:05:54 AM
I had a dream last night of all the still living connections from the recent past at HP that were waiting on the track at the finish line on either side of the path to the winner's circle to greet the horses returning after they passed the finish applauding. I know safety wise it would likely not been practical - but it was a special moment in my dream nonetheless.
Mr. Stauffer's call was as perfect as could be.
Yesterday was quite emotional.
It seemed like there were many more people there for the event than the final tally indicated.
Yes, Vic's call was quite poignant.
I told Vic yesterday that I thought he should end the program by saying ...
"Liebau sucks .. peace out! And then drop the microphone to the ground so you could hear the thud.
He said he was gonna do it ... thankfully for his career, he didn't.
But I'd have loved it ... and I'll bet many other would have ... especially HollyPark workers! ;)
Quote from: The Tin Man on December 23, 2013, 11:45:20 AM
I told Vic yesterday that I thought he should end the program by saying ...
"Liebau sucks .. peace out! And then drop the microphone to the ground so you could hear the thud.
He said he was gonna do it ... thankfully for his career, he didn't.
But I'd have loved it ... and I'll bet many other would have ... especially HollyPark workers! ;)
Look, HP has long been a slowing failing business and --- Sunday accepted --- attendance has averaged under 4,000 this meet. Handle is mediocre.
If the owners can make more money developing the property, so be it.
Its sad for horse racing fans, but the owners are not necessarily bad guys for wanting to make some money after buying the track years ago for $250 million.
Blame the politicians and voters of California for not approving slots for race tracks.
I enjoyed his last call, seemed liked he put a lot of thought into it
He covered it all. I don't think anyone could have done a better job.
Source reporting for attendance of the last day is way off. It was based on paid attendance. From 2PM on admission was free. Lots of people showed up after that.
True attendance was between 20,000 and 25,000, in my opinion. I've seen some who were there push it to 30,000.
The paddock grill line was 100 people deep at times.
I wish DRF and others would have posted the TRUE attendance. It was a substancial crowd. That was fun and made this venerable old track feel electric. It was fantastic!
Quote from: Dave in TJ Mex on December 23, 2013, 01:28:16 PM
Look, HP has long been a slowing failing business and --- Sunday accepted --- attendance has averaged under 4,000 this meet. Handle is mediocre.
If the owners can make more money developing the property, so be it.
Its sad for horse racing fans, but the owners are not necessarily bad guys for wanting to make some money after buying the track years ago for $250 million.
Blame the politicians and voters of California for not approving slots for race tracks.
Well said, Dave.
Many blame the Bay Meadows LAND COMPANY but leave CDI alone. If they hadn't sold HOL, it would still be a racetrack.
The same thinking that "blamed" Walmart for the demise of Hamburg Place. The "blame" if there is any, should be directed at the Maddens.
If not for the business slump, HOL would have been gone for years. Liebau was just the president of the track, who kept it going despite low attendance.
If most the fans lamenting the loss of the track had shown up more over the last few years, bet more at the track, the eventual demise may have been postponed a bit, but it was inevitable.
Its not attendance that was the issue. There is more than enough money being bet on the races.
It's the infinitesimal cut HP was getting from the online gaming. Less than 1% track connections have told me.
You would think the actual product would get a decent cut. That was not the case. That deal was a sick sick joke.
Quote from: Dave in TJ Mex on December 23, 2013, 01:28:16 PM
Look, HP has long been a slowing failing business and --- Sunday accepted --- attendance has averaged under 4,000 this meet. Handle is mediocre.
If the owners can make more money developing the property, so be it.
Its sad for horse racing fans, but the owners are not necessarily bad guys for wanting to make some money after buying the track years ago for $250 million.
Blame the politicians and voters of California for not approving slots for race tracks.
Dave is exactly right.
Vic's Stauffer's last call was brilliant, and obviously well prepared. He worked in a marvelous tribute to the track, and the greats that raced there, yet never failed to accurately call the race at hand, and truly imparted the drama of HP's final stretch run (that almost resulted in a dead heat!)
Great job Vic!
Quote from: The Tin Man on December 24, 2013, 02:17:22 PM
Its not attendance that was the issue. There is more than enough money being bet on the races.
It's the infinitesimal cut HP was getting from the online gaming. Less than 1% track connections have told me.
You would think the actual product would get a decent cut. That was not the case. That deal was a sick sick joke.
AMEN and BetFair did them no favors
Quote from: Dusty on December 25, 2013, 07:25:00 PM
AMEN and BetFair did them no favors
Writers like Andy Beyer have reported that there are huge amounts of money being bet on horse racing through the offshore casino/web sites. Those sites have NO overhead associated with putting on the actual horse races, paying employees, paying taxes on their property, and keeping their physical plant in working order, and thus can offer big bettors a rebate of up to 10%.
Thus, the "take" on horse racing bets at those offshore casino web sites is something like 10%, while the take while betting at the track or at a betting site on line in the US is around 20%.
Big time betting syndicates (supposedly using mathematically-based formulas calculated with computers) are supposedly capable of predicting racing results such that they lose only 5-10% of their money bet. Thus, with the rebates they receive from offshore web sites, they actually make a small profit of 5% or so. They bet so much money that they make enough profit to justify their effort. These are the most serious horse race handicappers and gamblers in the world. Their gambling money is badly needed in race tracks' betting pools.
However, NONE of the offshore money makes it into the track's pool. Thus, if Beyer and other writers (Chad Millman, editor in chief of ESPN the magazine, author of several books on gambling, and host of a weekly ESPN podcast on gambling, for example) are correct, as long as the take from horse race bets is 20% at the track and on line through US betting platforms (TVG, etc) and the big time gamblers can get a 10% rebate betting off-shore, betting handle is likely to remain flat in the US. Its all going offshore to the offshore casinos.
And as expenses for race tracks (and horsemen) go up, the flat handle will be insufficient to support all the race tracks we currently have.
Sadly, many US race tracks are dead men walking, and don't know it or do know it and are just stalling for an extra year or two to live.
Quote from: Vic in Chicago on December 25, 2013, 07:16:30 PM
Vic's Stauffer's last call was brilliant, and obviously well prepared. He worked in a marvelous tribute to the track, and the greats that raced there, yet never failed to accurately call the race at hand, and truly imparted the drama of HP's final stretch run (that almost resulted in a dead heat!)
Great job Vic!
^This.