Santa Anita President Leaves Post

Jack Liebau said Monday that he had resigned as president of Santa Anita, becoming the fourth chief executive to leave the 67-year-old racetrack since Magna Entertainment’s Frank Stronach bought it in December 1998.

Jim McAlpine, chief executive of the Canada-based Magna, did not respond to a request for an interview, but Liebau said that his successor would be Jack McDaniel, who has been responsible for Santa Anita’s post-race music program and was involved in the design and construction of the track’s new paddock-area bar and restaurant.

Liebau is leaving as business sags. In an interview with the Daily Racing Form last week, Liebau said it was probable that purse money would be cut.

Business downturns have become synonymous with California racing. There were purse cuts late last year at Hollywood Park and during the Oak Tree Racing Assn.’s meeting at Santa Anita, where the running of the Breeders’ Cup in October failed to stimulate attendance and betting. Even Santa Anita’s rare big-crowd days can cause service problems. At least two members of the California Horse Racing Board, John Harris and Roger Licht, were critical of the way the opening-day crowd was handled on Dec. 26.

Liebau, 65, has been president of Magna’s California tracks -- Santa Anita, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields -- since November 2001. Since Magna’s takeover of Santa Anita, Bill Baker, Cliff Goodrich and Lonny Powell preceded Liebau through the revolving door.

A retired lawyer and horse owner, Liebau had been president of Bay Meadows, in San Mateo, since 1992.

Liebau said that Stronach’s reorganization at Santa Anita might have led to Liebau’s becoming vice chairman of Magna, but that he turned down that post.

“There was a difference of opinion in the way Frank wants to go with Santa Anita and the way I thought it should go,” Liebau said. “I just didn’t buy into a lot of the plans he has for the track. The proposed new post with Magna -- a promotion, if you will -- didn’t have any appeal to me.”

Stronach sees Santa Anita as the focal point for a multi-entertainment facility that would include a hotel, restaurants and theaters.

Magna offended bettors recently when it denied rival account-wagering companies its TV signal from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, Stronach’s track in Florida. Business at Gulfstream is also down.

Liebau’s resignation is part of an ongoing shake-up at Santa Anita. Stuart Zanville, director of marketing and publicity, and Leif Dickinson, the track’s grounds superintendent, also left recently.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Liebau said. “I enjoyed my tenure. We faced a challenge, and I think we did the best we could.”

When Stronach dipped into the ranks of former jockeys and hired Hall of Famer Chris McCarron as Santa Anita’s general manager last year, there were rumors that Liebau was leaving. McCarron had no experience in track management.

“It’s true that I was uncomfortable with Chris’ hiring,” Liebau said. “He was brought in over several others who had outstanding qualifications. But Chris and I have gotten along fabulously. There has been no friction between us.”

Liebau, who earned his law degree at Stanford Law School, said that he had no immediate plans.

“All I’m really concerned about is getting up to see Stanford play Oregon [in basketball] this weekend,” he said. “It’s a really tough ticket.”