No timetable yet for San Luis Rey reconstruction

ARCADIA, Calif. – The parent company of the San Luis Rey Downs training center that was partially destroyed by a devastating wildfire Dec. 7 has solicited bids for the reconstruction of stables, but has not set a timetable on completion of the project.

Santa Anita chairman Keith Brackpool said Friday that conversations are taking place with horsemen’s groups and Del Mar regarding the short-term future of San Luis Rey Downs. Santa Anita and San Luis Rey Downs are owned by The Stronach Group.

Santa Anita officials have recently discussed expanding stabling at the racetrack, a process that could take a few years to complete between acquiring permits and construction.

Reconstructing San Luis Rey Downs could take several months. Trainers who had stables based at San Luis Rey Downs have relocated to Del Mar. Brackpool said the details of the reconstruction of San Luis Rey Downs have not been finalized.

“There are ongoing discussions,” he said. “We could have a different barn structure.”

Brackpool said one possibility is using pre-fabricated stables that are easy to assemble. The project would not take an inordinate amount of time to complete because much of the infrastructure is in place at San Luis Rey Downs, Brackpool said.

San Luis Rey Downs is located in Bonsall, Calif., in northern San Diego County.

“What takes time is getting the roads built and the water hookups,” he said.

Brackpool emphasized that San Luis Rey Downs needs to be at capacity of 495 horses to be most cost-effective as a training center. There were approximately 450 horses based there in early December.

“It’s hard to see how a training center works unless it has 500 horses,” Brackpool said. “The costs are disproportionately higher if you’ve got 250 horses and not more.”