LOS ALAMITOS : Second Group Considers Lease

Bob Murphy, a Canadian businessman and horse owner, is considering a lease to conduct harness racing at Los Alamitos next year.

Murphy, of Vancouver, told owners and breeders Sunday morning that he wants to conduct two harness meetings next year. Murphy, who represents a group of potential investors, made his plans public on Saturday, one day after a group of three California horsemen failed to reach an agreement with track owners Lloyd Arnold, Chris Bardis and Edward Allred. Murphy declined to identify his partners.

Technically, Murphy has until Dec. 1 to reach a lease agreement, but the current meeting ends Nov. 14 and horsemen need to know then whether there will be harness racing in California next year or whether they need to make plans at other tracks.

Arnold said another group, which he did not identify, had contacted him Saturday.

“I think someone will do it,” Arnold said. “I think something will happen with one of the groups before the week is over.”

Murphy said he will meet with advisers this week.

“Looking over the (financial) figures will take time, and we don’t have a lot of time,” he said.

One problem is that the Los Alamitos backstretch has only 425 horses. Several hundred more would be needed for a successful meeting next year.

“(Finding more horses) will be the main objective (for next year),” Murphy said. “We need to know how many young horses, like 2-year-olds, haven’t been racing, plus the basic number of horses that will be staying. You put those numbers together and keep the ball rolling.

“My emphasis would be on California owners, and that’s the grass roots. We must put emphasis on California-breds. I’m looking long-term.

“We’ll be looking at the financial questions (over the next few days). I’m not in this on a short-term basis. I think it would be a shame if the California harness industry died.”

Murphy, who once owned 260 horses, has raced at tracks across the continent.

“I’m optimistic,” he said. “I think it will take a big effort from everyone involved to make it work. I hope it can.”

The California group that failed to reach an agreement with management on Friday consisted of Paul Reddam of Newport Beach, Perry De Luna of Culver City and Neil Kelly of Hollister.

“They said what it would take to work it out and I didn’t think it was financially feasible,” Reddam said.

Because of that news, half of the 142 horses in the state’s annual yearling sale of harness horses were withdrawn. The other half did not sell well.

The 50 California-breds, many of which had been nominated only for California stakes races, averaged $2,106, far below last year’s average. The 22 Eastern-bred horses averaged $6,747 because most had stakes engagements in other parts of the country. The sale-topper was Castlereagh, an Abercrombie colt, purchased for $16,000 by Nick Kareotes of Huntington Beach and driver-trainer Rick Plano of La Palma. The colt has several stakes engagements in the Midwest and East.

Another sale scheduled for Sunday, primarily a reduction of breeding and racing stock owned by Suzanne Broughten of Corona Del Mar, was canceled.

Murphy’s meeting with horsemen on Sunday, many of whom were in town for the sale, raised the spirits of many.

“It was a very positive meeting,” said Gene Vallandingham, a driver and trainer. “It lifted the hearts of everyone. He also said it’s a business, but he was upbeat and is a concerned horseman.”

Many in the harness industry are feeling jilted by Arnold, who also promoted racing at Los Alamitos in the 1970s and 1980s.

“I don’t think this management wants us to race here,” said Gary Budahn, a veterinarian and past president of a horsemen’s organization. “My opinion is as soon as they got simulcasting (of daytime thoroughbred racing) last year, they didn’t want us. They’ve made it known they want a card club and they can still sell this land per square foot.

“That’s the plan they wanted and they got the legislation (permitting simulcasting).”

Alan Horowitz, the executive secretary of the California Harness Horsemen’s Assn., estimated that the California harness industry provides 5,000 to 10,000 jobs.

If a leaseholder is not found in the next week, quarter horse interests plan to approach the California Horse Racing Board and request 11 months of quarter horse and Arabian racing next year.

Popsicle caught Sleepwalk at to win the first leg of the Presidential series Saturday night.

Sleepwalk had a four-length lead an eighth of a mile from the finish, but Popsicle, who was driven by Ross Croghan, moved to the outside and won by a nose as the 4-5 favorite. Popsicle is a 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding owned by Paul Bielec of City of Industry.

Popsicle has won two of 10 starts at the meeting, racing against the top horses on the grounds. He has been second in the invitational class, but was last in a qualifying leg of the American pacing Classic in mid-September after speeding to the half-mile mark in 55 2/5 seconds.

“When I got him to the half in 55 (in the Pacing Classic), it took the sting out of him,” Croghan said.

Popsicle lost his next three starts, but set a personal best on Oct. 24, winning a preferred-class race in 1:53 3/5, a mark he equaled in the Presidential.

“He’s always been fast,” Croghan said. “He was throwing half-miles in 56 (seconds) at Sacramento and was doing it under wraps. When he won in 1:54, he was idling.”

The series continues Saturday and concludes on Nov. 14, closing night, with a $25,000 final.