Hollywood Park Expresses Some Interest in Del Mar

Hollywood Park may be one of three groups interested in operating Del Mar when the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s 20-year lease expires in December 1989.

Other potential applicants whose names came before the State Race Track Leasing Commission during meetings here last week were the Ladbroke Racing Corp. of England and John Brunetti, the owner of Hialeah in the Miami area.

Joe Harper, general manager for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the nondividend-paying group that was granted the existing lease in 1970, said his directors will reapply for racing rights at the seaside track.

Neil Papiano, chief legal counsel for Hollywood Park, indicated Saturday that it would be premature to consider his track a Del Mar applicant.

“All we’ve done is request documents, such as a copy of the lease itself,” Papiano said. “This was in response to an ad that the leasing commission ran in the Daily Racing Form awhile back. That’s the extent of our interest.”

Del Mar is considered to be a plum in the national racing picture, which is bleak in many areas. Since 1970, betting at Del Mar has increased 280%, and attendance has doubled, with last year’s daily averages of $3.7 million and 19,682 ranking it among the country’s top tracks.

Besides the on-track success, Del Mar is looking at the potential revenue from satellite wagering, which might begin at Southern California tracks within a few months. Once legislation is passed, Del Mar would be able to be open year-round, offering betting on televised races from Santa Anita and Hollywood Park.

Hollywood Park already controls a sizable chunk of Southern California’s racing market. It owns Los Alamitos, which has quarter horse and harness racing, and also offers quarter horse racing at its Inglewood track.

Ladbroke is the English bookmaking concern that also has substantial international hotel properties. Ladbroke bought Detroit Race Course two years ago and has also shown interest in acquiring other U.S. tracks.

Brunetti owns a home near here, races horses in California and said a couple of years ago operating the Del Mar track might appeal to him.

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, through the conditions of its lease, has returned 75% of its net profits--$28 million--to the state for improving and expanding the race track-fairgrounds facility.

The state leasing commission is a six-member body headed by Jess Huff, who is Gov. George Deukmejian’s director of finance.

Harper said it was his understanding that the commission would consider the applications and award the new lease early next year.