Los Alamitos seeks approval to allow spectators

Los Alamitos has submitted a proposal to Orange County health officials asking to conduct racing with spectators as early as Friday.

Since mid-March, Los Alamitos has run its evening mixed meet of Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds without spectators because of the coronavirus outbreak, similar to other tracks around the world.

Track vice president Jack Liebau said Wednesday that Los Alamitos hopes to hear a response before Friday.

“We are in the process of applying for approval to have spectators and opening our satellite,” Liebau said. “The goal is this Friday night.”

Under the plan, the track would open for satellite wagering for Thoroughbred racing during the day, including races from Santa Anita. Spectators would be required to wear masks or face coverings and would have their temperatures taken at entrances.

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If Los Alamitos is granted approval for spectators in coming days or weeks, the track will have an ontrack audience for its two-week Thoroughbred meeting from June 26 to July 5.

Del Mar will open its summer meeting July 10, but is not expected to have spectators, according to chief executive officer Joe Harper.

“We’ve been going on the assumption that we’re not going to get any people in here,” Harper said Wednesday. “We’re hoping things will relax.”

The other tracks operating in the state – Golden Gate Fields in Northern California and Santa Anita in Arcadia – are racing without spectators. Earlier this month, several mini-satellites in bars and restaurants in Southern California were allowed to reopen.

Sunday at Santa Anita, the track had an all-sources handle of $9,123,144. Of that amount, $304,768 was bet at mini-satellites, according to the track’s daily report. The remaining handle was generated from account-wagering sources. Santa Anita has not held racing with spectators since mid-March.

On March 15, the track had an all-sources handle of $6,703,010 with satellite handle accounting for $971,836 when more satellite locations were in operation. There were no ontrack customers that day.

Tracks derive income for operating expenses and purses from handle. Bets placed ontrack are the most lucrative compared to bets placed at satellite locations or through account-wagering sources.

The Los Alamitos night meeting operates on a Friday-through-Sunday basis. Unlike Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita, Los Alamitos has raced without interruption this year. Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita were told to close by health officials in their respective counties earlier this spring, reopening on May 14 and 15, respectively.

In April and early May, Los Alamitos was one of the few tracks operating in the nation, leading to record handle figures.