March 22, 2007

This sucks too

A little bit of history is going away.

Historic Bay Meadows race track to close

SAN MATEO, Calif. (AP) - The historic Bay Meadows race track will close following its summer-fall season, after officials failed to receive an exemption Thursday from mandatory upgrades for every major track in the state.

Track officials had sought a two-year exemption from a California Horse Racing Board mandate that the state's five major tracks replace their dirt ovals with artificial surfaces that are considered safer for horses. Officials made the request to keep racing as long as possible at Bay Meadows, which faces closure to make way for commercial and residential development.

[...]

"For racing in California, this is a day of infamy," Bay Meadows president F. Jack Liebau said. "Racing in Northern California will never exist as in the past. There will be a severe fallout from this. I'm stunned."

Infamy indeed. The nanny-state screws us over again.

Yeah, it's personal. I've never been to Bay Meadows, but I've been meaning to for years. I will absolutely go before they close. See, there is, or used to be, a placque there. It's a tribute to this guy.

Posted by Ken S at March 22, 2007 08:16 PM | TrackBack (0) |
Comments

Dang, that sucks.

Um, I don't know much about horses, but haven't horses been running on dirt for, like, a billion years? Why is dirt so bad for them now?

Maybe if they do sell the land, you could somehow acquire the placque, if it's still there.

Posted by: Julie at March 22, 2007 08:35 PM

I've thought about acquiring it. That would be so cool.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at March 22, 2007 09:30 PM

Giddy-yap up there, Ken!

hehe, and that's a good point, Julie.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at March 23, 2007 03:45 AM