New Law May Come Too Late for Fairplex

Legislation that would enable Hollywood Park and Los Alamitos to take betting on races from Fairplex Park might be approved before the Fairplex Park meeting ends Sept. 30, but officials at the Pomona track are not certain that there will be time to get the system ready.

“We hear that the governor (Pete Wilson) won’t sign the bill until Sept. 23,” said Neil O’Dwyer, vice president for administration at the Los Angeles County Fair, which runs the Fairplex meet.

“That doesn’t give us a lot of time to arrange for the (satellite) signal before we close, but it’s still a possibility.”

The bill O’Dwyer referred to would also permit Hollywood Park to take betting on the Oak Tree races from Santa Anita when that season opens Oct. 2. Santa Anita would also be able to offer betting when Hollywood Park is conducting racing. Santa Anita would not take bets on Fairplex races because of its proximity to the Pomona facility.

O’Dwyer said that the bill underwent some amendments last week before it was passed by the State Assembly. The bill needs to be passed by the Senate before Wilson can consider signing it.