HARNESS RACING : Reddam Meets With Los Alamitos Horsemen

Paul Reddam, part of a group of three horse owners seeking a lease to conduct harness racing in California next year, met with many of the leading trainers Saturday, hoping to persuade them to stay and support California racing.

Reddam, who owns a mortgage company in Irvine, has spent the last 10 days working toward acquiring a 1993 lease for harness racing at Los Alamitos, which will be vacated next month by Lloyd Arnold.

Also in Reddam’s group are horse owners Neil Kelly of Hollister and Perry De Luna of Culver City, both of whom own horses currently racing at Los Alamitos. The trio represent the only substantial offer to come forward seeking the 1993 lease since Arnold announced his retirement last month.

Reddam called the meeting with horsemen to gauge the horse population, which is low, and to enlist the support of the trainers.

“The biggest problem we have is (having) enough horses, and that they don’t all run off,” he said.

He cautioned that there is work ahead before everything is in order for 1993, but said his next move would be to put the necessary funds--estimated at $1.5 million--in an escrow account and then begin to talk terms with track owners, who include Arnold, Chris Bardis and Ed Allred. Arnold and Bardis each own 25%, and Allred has 50%.

Reddam said if the deal is closed, it would probably not happen for several days. “I think there’s probably some issues that need to be discussed between lessors and lessees,” he said.