Bay Meadows - Requiem for a Race Track

[aggiesjc]

My horse ran at Bay Meadows in 2004, and I have such fond memories of this grand old track!

[andrea735]

San Mateo jobs and revenue could have still been here if not for short sighted politicians and BMLM...where is the housing project??

[andrea735]

Fans. The horses could still be running, san Mateo jof

[andrea735]

Loved Bay Meadows. All of it. Even the practice track where I could see the horses running in the early morning on my way down Hillsdale to the freeway. We live so close we often walked to the track. Most memorable was watching Lost in the Fog win the El Camino Derby and trying to get a close up glimpse of our local star in a paddock packed with his d

[gcastro44]

i loved this place. i had great memories here. now it's gone.

[westcoastinvader]

The legacy still lives....

I see "You Lift Me Up," the winner of "The Last Dance" in the final race of the closing day of Bay Meadows is going on Saturday at Santa Anita.

A $300,000 race as part of "The Sunshine Millions"

[funkskull]

gorgeous, you have real production skill.

[FriendsofBayMeadows]

Bay Meadows lives forever in our hearts, thanks for this video,

Linda Schinkel

Friends of Bay Meadows

[RailbirdPictures]

Thank you Linda. I saw you at one of the meetings last year. You and I both spoke. I was so pleased that after I spoke, even though the panel of four members that day admonished the attendees not to applaud, when I was done, they applauded anyway. But, what would have been even better would have been putting off or ending the construction and getting to keep our beloved track. ~ Jen

[boxerchild911]

frank alvarado won the last race there someone should mak a video

[RailbirdPictures]

I know he did! I mentioned it in this video! Thank you so much for watching this. This video is probably the closest to my heart. Long live Bay Meadows!

~ Fer

[YoBud1962]

What's worse is that right now all development of the site has been put on 'indefinite' hold due to the recession. BMLC was in such a big hurry to sell everything and demolish - they could've kept the track running for at least another couple years. Now all we have is a sad pile of rubble, like a war zone.

[RailbirdPictures]

I agree. I totally agree. I couldn't have said it better myself. Idiots. I hope they lose there ass ... ets. All of them.

We're on our way home from the Derby rignt now. I gort a Larry Jones and a Todd Pletcher interview. I should post my Russell Baze interview, but, I want to ask him if it is okay first. Too bad about Friesan Fire's hoof injury! And, thank you for watching this video. It is the one closest to my heart. ~ Fer

[TermonfeckinFire]

Haha, that is funny that the titles of our videos are so similar but the content so different. Thank you for your condolences :-) You can mourn the loss of your race track while I mourn the loss of mine.

[spock8585]

I am so sorry this wonderful place was torn down and thank you for sharing this video about such a special place.

[Cliffbrock]

I didn't know Bay Meadows was torn down. it was a beautiful track. The Woodlands here is closed ( horse & dog racing ) but I hear it might re-open.

Awesome video Fer and Ed. 5 stars --:)Rod

[RailbirdPictures]

Hi Rod. Yes, it was torn down. It is horrific. There are / were pictures of it, the tear down, on the new website. They call it construction. To me, losing Bay Meadows was a lot like having a death in the family. I knew everyone there. I saw Russell Baze pass Laffitt to become the most winning jockey. That was three days of missing work [boss knew and was okay with it]. Russell even let me interview him. I sent a DVD demo to TVG. They never called of course. Sigh. ~ Fer

[melzaelf]

Ohh a Raccoon I was not expecting that =)

They are sooo cute.

Sorry about Bay meadows Fer. :(

Thanks for sharing this video.

[crazyforcrowe]

I love it...thank you, babe..for opening up my world..it's becoming less narrow..and you are a part of that...

[zenith911]

Well I'm a long tall Texan, I ride a big fat horse ....( he rides from Texas on a big fat horse) ...and people look at me and say "oh Roy oh Roy, is that your horse"?

So what's the future of Bay Meadows? Bingo halls?

[RailbirdPictures]

Bay Meadows is being demolished and turned into condos and businesses with no back doors so the trash will be taken out through the front doors of all of the restaurants, right past the customers. And that is progress. I wish they would have developed the salt flats instead.

Thanks for watching Steve.

Fer

[scleg]

*cries a little*

[RailbirdPictures]

yeah, me too. I hope you liked it Suz.

[Tommy4Palace]

This is great! I love the way you vary between spoofs and these things! Keep it up!

[RailbirdPictures]

Thank you for that. It is tough, putting up a spoof, and asking people to watch, then they subscribe, and then I hit them with this. So, I thank you for appreciating it. Bay Meadows meant a lot to me for many years. It was a second home.

~ Fer

[Lolroflok]

another good video keep up the good work

[RailbirdPictures]

Thank you for watching. Bay Meadows meant a whole lot to me.

~ Fer

[jamidix]

great

[RailbirdPictures]

Jami! Thanks for watching this! I appreciate it. Spoofs will be back, but I loved Bay Meadows.

Fer

[airforbes1]

You were near me when they came out for the final race. *Sigh.* The world is a little more bland without Bay Meadows in it.  Thanks for sharing and try to make it to Golden Gate Feb. 14 for the El Camino Real Derby!

[spock8585]

Fer and Ed , I think the two of you deserved to be in the winners circle for this wonderful tribute. Thank you for sharing this video, because I can feel how much Bay Meadows really meant to you.

[RailbirdPictures]

There you are Charles! Yeah, it meant more than I can write. Bay Meadows was our home track. I grew up near Cal Expo, but harness racing didn't catch me like the ponies did at Bay Meadows. And the people.

Thanks for watching my tribute video. It really meant a lot to me.

~ Fer

[BrandonHex101]

Wow. At least you will have the memories and videos and photos. You really love them tracks. I feel for you and for fans. My brother has a few horses and I do enjoy the casual rides. My fav horses name is, Sport! He's old :P

It didn't just look hollow but as Elbrookman seems to have stated, I did feel it more than just see it.

[RailbirdPictures]

Thanks Brandon. You're right. I love the tracks, but none as much as Bay Meadows. It was home. Fer

[elbrookman]

i felt your soul in the song to

[RailbirdPictures]

Thank you. I couldn't see your comments until Brandon posted one. You Tube is weird that way. Yeah, I think the song is totally fitting. The Corrs cover of Little Wing.

I loved Bay Meadows, the people that went there, the people that worked there, the joclkeys, the horses. Sitting to the side of the clubhouse in the sun, right outside of the Pay Master's door. Watching the jockeys come out, getting Russel to let me interview him.

Golden Gate Fields is simply not the same. ~ Fer

[elbrookman]

watching it high quality was great

[elbrookman]

fer......i now have seen your soul......those people and horses.....the joys.....the life.....i love racoons....when you showed the racoon in the rafters....i can only know how lost they are....how lost losing bay meadows has meant to so many ......the world may not remember what took place there .......but you honored my soul....their souls..and forever will be haunted by not having the gathering for loving railbirds like you.....i am proud to know you......it measured what we lost....well done