Track Expansion to Close Los Alamitos Jan. 17
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Los Alamitos Race Course has received approval from the California Horse Racing Board to cancel its scheduled live racing programs during the weekend of Jan. 17-19 in order to complete the Orange County track’s expansion to a one-mile oval.
The CHRB gave its approval to the program change for the Quarter Horse track Jan. 6. The schedule is subject to change due to unforeseen weather conditions.
Los Alamitos is in the process of enlarging its track to accomodate Thoroughbred racing and training in the wake of the Betfair Hollywood Park closure. The change in schedule does not affect Los Alamitos’ daytime simulcasting of Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields, or the out-of-state Thoroughbred signals it receives.
Los Alamitos will remain open for simulcasting of the Watch & Wager Harness racing night signal from Cal Expo in Sacramento Jan. 17-18. It will not offer the Australia racing signal Jan. 17-19, however. Live night racing will resume at Alamitos Jan. 25.
According to track surface consultant Dennis Moore, the expansion of the Los Alamitos track from a five-eighths mile oval to a mile track is moving along smoothly and on schedule to open for training in the final week of January. The posts for the inner rail are currently being installed and the material for the racing surface is being moved to the expansion site.