Derby Trail Forums - Handle down? $281k bet into SA 6 Sunday..

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

I would say a day at the track, by say a newbie family of four, can be very low cost entertainment when stacked against a professional sporting event. Will a newbie family pour money into a pick-6? No. But they will come to spend a nice day with their family, watch the races, maybe play a few small wagers, have a soda and a hot dog? Yes, they will.

I think a lot of people on the board and in general, racing wide, think of racing as just the bottom line wagering business. Granted, that is a good majority of what it is. But there is wiggle room to make money off of the casual fan or new fan. When you boil racing down to it's core and you ignore the money aspect, horse racing can be a captivating drama. Even at the lower levels, excitement can be had. With the economy in that shape it is, people, families, are looking for a break from reality, even for only 3 or 4 hours at a time. When you don't have to worry about work, bills, stuff like that.

Racing can provide an excellent suspension of reality for folks, and at a low cost. You don't need to have a hardcore wagering investment to enjoy it.
It's also worth noting that out of the last economic crisis in question (the Depression) one of the game's greatest icons was born, in Seabiscuit.
People didn't grow to love the horse because they were making money on him, they loved him because they saw a little bit of themselves in him.

I'm not saying any of this will replicate itself in any fashion, but there is a chance to make a mark on newer, casual fans. It shouldn't be dismissed outright as impossible.

If you are willing to put a few hundred in quarters into a slot machine every 60 days then you can get a room at Ceasars in Feb where the kids can play in an indoor pool, you and your wife and kids can have a free buffet with lobster and steak and your bill will be under 100 bucks when you leave..You might also win 1200 quarters? Trust me the kids will have a frickin ball in the game rooms at the casino and have fun running thru all the shops etc. Let's face it the hot dog or Carolina BBQ really has a tough story to tell the working guy's family..

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

BTW explain to me what is so fn entertaining for my 5 year old to do Aqueduct tomorrow for 21 minutes between races.. What are we going to do smoke dope with the Rastas?

Granted if you own a horse or have trainer friends or have "ins" to get you in the paddock etc the track can be more of a friendly petting zoo then casino but really if Saratoga wasn't Saratoga and Delmar wasn't Delmar who the F would need to go to the track.. Believe me there is nothing fun for a 12 year Rachel Mo' to do at Monmouth on a Friday in July.. Other then pet your dads horse and hope you get to scream you would much rather be doing a million other things.

Agreed about Aqueduct. But that's not the type of meet that I was talking about promoting to families. January at Aqueduct is hardcore. You mention Monmouth. Have you ever been there on Sunday when they have things for the kids to do, and if so did she like it? Things like the inflatable jumpies, clowns, face painting, pony rides and so on? My oldest is 5 and he loves it. But I think they only have those things on Sundays. Maybe they could do them for Saturdays too.
I am not saying that this would be the ideal thing for kids to do all the time. But we are talking about cheaper means of entertainment. I'm just saying that there are/could be other ways to entertain people/kids at racetracks to draw them in on days when they don't want to spend lots of money to go to places like amusement parks, baseball games etc.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I live in Central Jersey I have takin my kids there a bunch. It's ok certainly no better or more fun then Dornbrook park in Colts neck which is free.. It's an ok attempt to lure mom and dad to the track and schlept the kids.. Too me its fool's gold.. Five year olds will like any park...Monmouth Belmont or Dornbrook as long as they have stuff to play with.. But its the park they are there for not the track.. Look if people are interested in entertaining the kids they go to Point Pleasant not Belmont because Andy Serling is in a dunking booth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

I'm in Old Bridge so we are in Dorbrook all the time too. But I think you are missing the point. I take my son to the park and he runs around and haves fun. But I just sit there and watch him and I really have no problem with that, as long as he's having fun I'm happy. But sometimes I want to have fun too and if he enjoys going to the track because there's things for him to do there and he likes it, then it's easier for me to take him (to you it's fools gold, to me it's the real deal). I agree in the most part when you say that 5 year olds will like any park. But when we go, it is more than just all the kiddie stuff. He likes looking at the horses in the paddock and waving to the jocks. He asks who's on what horse (because he knows Eddie Castro and Jose Lezcano have given him goggles). Then we go watch the race, he screams, yells with everyone else and then he wants Ice Cream or something. Is it always easy, I'd be lying if I said yes. But are there times that I ask him what he wants to do on any given Saturday or Sunday and he says that he wants to go to Monmouth, that's the truth too. It could be a cheap alternative on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Go there for a few races and come home. I'm sure you know that Point Pleasant isn't the cheapest day either (by the way do you know that they sell the ticket books for half price around Easter) between the rides and the food. Right now my son enjoys it, and I love spending the time with (reguardless where we are). Maybe he will grow out of it, or maybe he will eventually become a fan/player like his old man.
That's why I think the tracks should try to promote themselves to families as a cheaper mode of entertainment. Maybe they will pick up a few fans/players now and plant a few seeds for the future.