BUCKING TRADITION : Los Alamitos Trying Something New to Boost Track’s Crowds, Handle

Since its birth 37 years ago, when a parcel of Frank Vessels’ 475-acre cattle ranch in what is now Cypress was converted to a muddy oval and called Los Alamitos Race Course, California quarter-horse racing has remained a sport virtually devoid of pretense and change.

Unlike the tweed and taffeta of the thoroughbred set, the preeminent quarter-horse costume has remained denim and the races have been short and straight--from 350 to 440 yards.

But a steady decline in bettors and betting at Los Alamitos--the nation’s No. 1 quarter-horse track, handling about half of the sport’s pari-mutual betting--has brought about a change that many involved in the sport thought they would never see, let alone allow.

Friday, the track began what many believe is a critical 78-night meet, with a racing program that includes an increase of longer races--870 to 1,000 yards--many of which will have quarter horses running against thoroughbreds. Though the breeds have run against each other in other states for years, this will mark the first time in California.

It’s the kind of change that would have seemed unfathomable in 1982 when the Los Alamitos was averaging its highest daily on-track handle (money bet) of $1.15 million. But by 1988, that figure had dwindled to $712,758 and the winds of change were at gale force.

“There’s no question we’re as low as we’ve ever been,” said Ed Allred, an owner and president of the Horsemen’s Quarter Horse Racing Assn. “I think the only reason you’re seeing these changes is because of our present condition. There are a lot of purists, and I used to be one of them, who don’t like the change. But you have to put things in perspective, and right now the sport is running down and needs a shot in the arm.”

Purists have resisted changes such as the longer distances or running against thoroughbreds because they feared the breed and sport would lose its identity.

“The purists worry about the quarter horse becoming a cheap thoroughbred,” said Dan Fink, director of racing for the American Quarter Horse Assn.

Spencer Childers, a quarter-horse owner and breeder for 45 years, counted himself among the purists. But conditions being what they are, Childers, like others, has changed his mind. “Hard times will make a monkey eat hot peppers,” he said.

Los Alamitos’ stature makes its survival paramount to the sport. Opinions on its recent decline are varied, but usually include placing at least part of the blame with the present Hollywood Park management (which owns the race course), competition for the betting dollar from the California Lottery and the Southern California traffic, which discourages people from going to the track.

There’s movement in virtually all areas. Millionaire quarter-horse owners Allred and R.D. Hubbard, who also own Ruidoso Downs Race Track in New Mexico, are attempting to purchase Los Alamitos, promising to refurbish the facility that many believe has fallen into disrepair.

It’s hoped that off-track betting, which made its first appearance in California quarter-horse racing a year ago, will alleviate the traffic problem.

And now they are making fundamental changes in the race program. For the 37 years Los Alamitos has been running quarter horses, it has emphasized the speed and power of the horse over the short distance. But fast horses make for short races. Usually 20 seconds or less.

“If people are going to throw away two dollars on a race, they want to be able to enjoy watching it fly away,” said Ceasar Dominguez, one of the sport’s most successful trainers. “People who aren’t familiar with watching a quarter-horse race, blink their eyes and miss it.”

It’s not uncommon to hear patrons say, “Is that it?” after a field of quarter horses blow down a quarter mile in less than 20 seconds. In order to attract thoroughbred fans to watch and bet on their sport, quarter-horse people have come to believe that the medicine will go down much easier with a little sugar.

And so the longer races, in which horses will run around a turn. There always has been a curiousity about how a quarter horse would do against a thoroughbred. Of course, these won’t be top-notch thoroughbreds, most figure to make their way to Los Alamitos via the fair circuit.

“You can’t expect a quality thoroughbred running at Hollywood Park to come over here and run,” said Ron Church, Los Alamitos’ racing secretary. “The money isn’t there yet, and neither is the prestige.”

But quarter-horse people are eager to talk about making converts to their sport. Get the people into the park by offering something they know--longer races with thoroughbreds--then introduce them to something new, the speed and power of the quarter horse and they’ll be hooked.

Church says that including thoroughbreds with quarter horses does not figure to become a permanent part of quarter-horse racing, but is “a promotional tool” to attract some of the fans.

“With the fan base in Southern California being predominantly thoroughbred, you give them something that looks more like what they’re used to seeing,” said Brad McKinzie, editor of Quarter Week. “The theory is that they’ll be lured in by that and see the shorter quarter-horse racing and bet on that.”

It’s a theory that has gone national. Fink said that of the 15,554 quarter-horse races run last year, 1,333 were 870 yards or more, about twice the number of races that there were five years ago. One reason for the increase in longer races is the tendency quarter-horse observers have noticed for more money being bet on longer races.

“If you’re talking about comparable fields, we’ve figured that the longer races will make about 15% more in handle,” McKinzie said.

“I’ve heard so many fans say, ‘Geez! Is it over?’ Those people feel a lot more comfortable betting on something that is run around a corner,” Childers said. “They figure at longer distances they have a better chance to handicap the race.”

As the longer races gain popularity with the betting public they figure the purses will increase, and so will the quality of horses.

As it stands now, most of the horses competing in the longer races will be of mediocre quality. As Allred said, “No quarter horseman worth his salt raises a horse to run that distance.”

McKinzie said: “The longer races certainly seems to be the trend. The public likes it and if the money is there you’re eventually going to see some top horses in those races.”

Notes

Opening night was highlighted by the debut of Special Elan, a full brother to millionaire Elans Special. Special Elan, ridden by Eddie Garcia, won his first start by a half a length in 15.85 seconds and returned $11.80, $7.20 and $4.60. . . . The opening-night crowd of 8,183, up 57% from last season’s opener, turned out for a Cinco de Mayo celebration, which featured mariachi bands and Aztec dancers. . . . Opening night handle was projected to be $1.2 million, a 50% increase over last year’s opening night.

Summer Meet Figures

at Los Alamitos

Year Avg. Att. Avg. Handle 1978 7,869 $922,979 1979 7,527 $929,649 1980 8,701 $1,121,357 1981 8,293 $1,120,681 1982 8,352 $1,147,114 1983 8,107 $1,113,665 1984* 7,228 $1,076,086 1985** 6,857 $1,022,020 1986 4,954 $789,450 1987 4,417 $774,708 1988*** 4,011 $712,758

* Season reduced by three weeks due to Los Angeles Olympics.** First year of full-time Hollywood Park management. ***On-track figures only.