How about all major tracks having free wireless internet?

10 minutes between races is one of the stupider things I've heard today. . . Ok so let's save a few $s on operating costs and lose 100 times that on handle. . . Brilliant. . .

I like that idea but not sure it would ever happen. . . I can't even find a plug for my laptop at the OTB. . .

...not to mention the cookie cutter rebuttal to not having general admission and paid parking.

There hasn't been nearly as much quality trolling as I would like to have seen this year...

However, the race for '08 DT Tard of the Year has been quite the epic battle so far. Many fantastic tards to choose from and they haven't failed to bring the goods all year long.

That place is awesome for about 2 minutes. Then out comes the aspirin.

A gambler will gamble. I remember people saying that people would not bet on a synthetic surface, however most meet for those synthetic tracks are up. Good thing about trying new things is that if it doesnt work you can always go back.

Why..make your case. And how would handle be hurt? Please explain yourself. Don't post a thought without some examples of why. I dont see why it would hurt handle. Races go off 2 minutes from each other all the time and people manage to wager on both races. Why would having 10 minutes between races hurt handle? Thistle and River have about 7 or 8 minutes between races (if I remember correctly) and they seem to do just fine. This is when both meets are running at the same time.

Just for fun, you should see if you can come up with a suggestion that is MORE vague than this one.

Explain how it is vague. What is vague about it? There is a negative image out there--go and change it. Simple.

Need to have a big players room right on the finish line. I'm sure they can keep track of those that bet a great deal of money. If you take everyone at the track how many wager $200+ a day.

Just like Casinos, offer them rewards in a comp area where it's like a sports book, give them free drinks and food. Cater to your players.

I like the Wifi idea as well.

10 min posts are CRAZY. Easily the worst idea.

Chuck E Cheese Handicap for 2YO's

One last thing...sponsers sponsers sponsers!

Spyder

Now this is a good idea. And with wireless you do not need to stand in line to wager.

Now you just need to find a way to keep people like DaHoss and Drugs from stealing your computer and selling it so they can get money for another $2 wager.

Outside of the names related to ownership ( Harrahs, etc) how come race tracks aren't able to or never pursued corporate naming rights? I know it's blasphemy for CD to be anything else than CD, but desperate times call for desperate measures and it has to be worth a few million a year to get AllState Park at Arlington, or Hershey Presque Isle Downs. If YUM Brands can plaster their name on the most recognized brand in racing, why not tracks?

I know it is not a major track, but Tampa has free wireless internet.

I played an online handicapping contest from my seat one Saturday.

And tasty Cuban sandwiches, and reasonably priced 16oz bottles of beer...

I don't know, some of these changes sound fine but I could certainly NOT live with FREE admission and parking.

I mean, I was raised PAYING to enter the track and to park my car. This is the AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED way; and I live the life.

So, for example, whenever I go to the casino (wherever that might be), I ALWAYS INSIST on paying an ADMISSION fee. And paying for all my food and drinks, cause I was raised in the AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED tradition.

And, when I head over to a BORDELLO (local or otherwise) I INSIST on paying an ENTRANCE FEE and for my DRINKS, in addition to whatever it costs for the sex. Once again, it's the AMERICAN THOROUGHBRED WAY.

Tell you this much, I'll never go to another racetrack that charges admission and parking fees. And I'll never pay for basic data (in its presently FLAWED state) or replays. And, sooner or later, tracks will get their **** together. If they don't, by that time, HKG will be taking my bets.

I don't think it's really up for debate that 25 minutes of taking bets will yield more handle than ten. . .

I too think all of your ideas are good, for the most part. However, I think they are all part of a much more strategic plan for the sport and the industry. One of the biggest issues is the "alternatives" people have today, both internal to the sport/industry and external. Closing racetracks however will have major ancillary effects -- on breeders, owners, tracks, handle, etc. That is not the answer in my opinion. Racetracks will close, but it will be a function of market mass, economics, and the overall marketplace.

The industry must reinvent itself while very much keeping their eye of the ball and the end game, and that is remember what our product and business is. Economics alone dictate that alternative revenue sources are a major part of the (economic) answer. If handled properly, VLT's can be part, only part of that solution. In and of itself, it will cause regress, not progress. I think you will see short term progress, but long term regress and ultimately, possible destruction. I think I know what Woodbine will look like in the future, but I don't the the future is bright at Finger Lakes.

Alternative revenue sources, changes in legislation, simulcasting, internet wagering, and so on -- they are all part of the much larger, global landscape solution.

Eric

Not to get into how/where you or I actually bet, but what's the benefit to having free wireless internet?

Eric

use laptops with downloaded info instead of the Byk method which has killed half the rain forests of the world

Not to mention drained all the ink cows, or wherever ink comes from.

This is a rainforest issue? LOL. Just kidding. Sure, I can see that. But will the majority of the people -- the mass market that exists, and the market the racetracks will need to appeal to in the future -- bring laptops to the track? Will some? OK.

Are there potential problems here Chuck?

Eric

Only if they dont want guys downloading porn on their dime

when i tell people it's 2 bucks to get in, they're shocked. that's it?? yeah, that's it. you can spend a day at the track, and maybe win money back to pay for the trip, and spend a lot less than having three hours at a ball game.

the thing most needed is advertising. sell the product. sell ownership-sell a cheap day long fun fest. sell the fact that you can win huge bucks. a variety of ways to do it.
but they need to get into mainstream advertising. the only time you see ads for racing is during a racing telecast. eff that. we who are watching already know about the sport.
run ads during a baseball game, a nascar race (we're the ORIGINAL horsepower)...

Like Sumitas and W17, you are missing the point. Its not the 2 bucks, its the principle.
I happen to own a small town pharmacy and I value each customer that walks thru the door. How long do you think it would take to go under if I stood at the door all day and charged a $2 admission fee to shop at my store? Although, Sam's Club seems to be getting away with it I am not going to go down that road..

Please, tell me the difference!!

unlike a pharmacy, it's fun to go to the track.

every entertainment venue charges to get in, right? i'd say compared to every other type of entertainment, 2 lousy dollars won't break a bank.

A million percent agreed. Why not inquiry every race, get rid of stupid objections, etc and have a camera in the stewards room so the players can hear the discussion? The reason....cheating. It would have to be on the up and up and, of course, we can't have that.

Gambling venues should not be charging for admission. They should be begging you to come in.

Amen

About the point tha many race tracks should close-- Some states require that a track hold a live meet in order to have simulcasting year around.

Sorry.....that was the wrong answer. But, feel free to try again.....it is the internet after all.

Funny how us real horse players think alike, and the neophytes look at it like going to the ZOO.

Really Danzig, 2 or 3 bucks is not gonna kill anyone.

I think what is really hurting the racing industry is a few things:

1) Interest in horse racing has waned over the years for a variety of reasons:
a) More gambling options
b) Too difficult and time consuming to try and understand all the idiocyncracies of the game for a casual fan
c) Best horses retire right away and fans don't have a connection with any of the horses
d) Awful customer service at MOST (not all) tracks
e) Too much down time between races with nothing for the casual fan to do (ever tried to bring a date or a friend to the track. Not a very social event while you try and cap and strategize between races)

2) Corruption (lack of believability)

3) Lack of a governing body (until this happens competing interests will cause turmoil (case in point the internet wagering battle))

4) From a marketing standpoint, not understanding how to tap into the interests of non-horse players

5) From a marketing standpoint, not understanding who their core audience is (US). They need to present the product in the way we require. For example:
a) Odds changing during or after the race. Core fans don't like it and the perception is it is past posting. Fix it!
b) Closeups during the race. Core fans want to see their horses battling for the minor awards in the stretch. They do not need to see the color of the eyes of the winner crossing the wire. Fix it!
c) Will pays. Core fans want to know what they are set up to win with the final legs of pick 3's, pick 4's and pick 6's. Possibly even will pays for trifectas? Either way, Fix it!
d) Late scratches. This is awful for couplings and for middle or end legs of multi race wagering. Hard core fans don't even know what the rules are, do they get the post time favorite or a consolation pay? Fix it!
e) Inquiries and DQ's. Core fans want more transparency. Fix it!
f) Delays. Can the track at least inform their patrons what the delay is about and the approximate re-start? Case in point, Hawthorne yesterday. Talk about poor customer service. Fix it!

Anyway, could go on and on.....sorry if it sounds like ranting but until the people in control of this game start to have an agenda to "improve the product" and "attract all types of people" we will be stuck with a sub par game. Currently in appears to be run by wolves tearing apart a roting carcas.

Took awhile to read through the entire thread. Lots of issues to address here. Some good stuff here. I think we can all agree that the game will never be perfect.
It will be interesting to see what will be addressed in NTRA players panel and even more interesting to see the NTRA implement anything. Sorry, I don't hold much hope.
Let me throw out an idea that a few friends and I have discussed in the past few months.
The subject is NYRA. VLTs will help for awhile but, it's still gonna be sometime before they are up and running.
Why does NYRA not make an acquistion for the downstate OTBs? Money could be made "overnight" and NYRA could then make the improvements necessary for the 3 tracks. The upstate OTBs could be restructured to be more efficient. If anyone remembers, a multi million $ offer was made to MR. Bloomberg for NYCOTB and he balked. Now he's looking to shut them down.

i guess i'm a neophyte, since i can afford two dollars to get into the track. :rolleyes:
if a hard core gambler hasn't got 8 quarters to get in, i don't see how he's going to last long at the window once inside.

This is so much the wrong attitude that I am genuinely surprised. The horseplayer that enters a racetrack pays PLENTY by wagering. Even if he ( or she ) only puts $100 through the windows in a day they are contributing roughly $20 to the racetrack....are you suggesting they should be expected to pay an additional $2 ( or more ) for the right to help racing in this manner?

But, nowadays it's actually even worse. With the majority of the money wagered these days going in through simulcasting, host tracks receive only a fragment of most of their wagering takeout, thus on-track dollars are even more precious. So, yes, asking people to pay for the right to wager at their facility is puzzling.

But, then again, at least you have the State of NY on your side, as they have effectively forbidden NYRA to allow their players in for free.

The estute hardcore gambler would be better off if the casual
player were let in free. Given info for free. Seminars for easy betting
procedures between races.

And 50 cent beer
certainly would not hurt.

i guess i just don't see it as a big deal. on the one hand, it's a small amount, so you might wonder why they bother at all. on the other, it's such a small amount, you wonder how it could keep someone from attending.
as for people on my side, i don't feel i have anyone there as my state only allows me to wager at the track itself. no online, no tvg, nothing. so i'm really hamstrung about how i can spend my money.
this thread is about improving the product. i think the $2 entry fee is a tremendously small part of a far larger problem, a declining fan base.

who knows, maybe if the tracks got rid of the fee, and trumpeted 'free admission', you might get a few more in there. for me personally, i don't have a problem with paying $2 to enter the track.

maybe they could put that fee towards more advertising. or towards horse rescue/retirement.