Bardis Determined to Sell His Share of Los Alamitos

Chris Bardis, minority owner of Los Alamitos Race Course, is planning to sell his part of the Orange County track, despite efforts of a harness horsemen’s group to dissuade him.

Bardis, who lives in Sacramento, owns 25% of the harness and quarter horse racing facility and, along with Lloyd Arnold, who also owns 25%, runs the harness meeting at the track. Dr. Edward Allred of Long Beach owns the remaining 50% and conducts the quarter horse meeting.

An eight-member team traveled to Sacramento on Monday to speak to Bardis about his plans. Bardis announced last month that he intended to sell his Southern California real estate holdings.

Bardis said he would prefer to sell his portion of the track to harness interests, who would maintain the industry in Southern California, but did not rule out selling to others.

“This is a decision I’ve wanted to do,” he said. “My wife and I have been thinking about this. Our lifestyles have changed. At 55, I’m trying to slow down. I don’t get to the track like I used to. The joy isn’t there anymore and it’s because I have a family life.”

His family includes a 3-year-old daughter, Kathyrn.