Derby Trail Forums - Improving the product

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- - Improving the product (http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21922)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

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.

My particular statement was for the benefit of the gambler
who actually plans, or needs to make money at a track.
I would think that would be the miniscule few.

So your statement
is not odd at all. Are the tracks actually supposed to provide a
venue for some people willing to look very closely and study horse
racing and betting... a venue for them to live off of... Live off the
people that bet purely for entertainment.

I dont think so. But the tracks themselves need to attract
people to the track if revenue is lost in large amounts due
to the internets vast illegal use of the track's product.

Vegas seems to have done just fine with their house games
which are automatic losing propositions for everyone that
plays enough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

how bout this idea

1-make it so there is almost no where to sit to see racing live

2-treat everyone like crap

3-make the experience extremely uncomfortable

4-rip everyone off

5-serve plenty of Franks energy drink

oops, damnit this has already been done--------GP 2008

I still don't understand all the hate for GP. The racing definitely has taken a decided step down, which I predicted would happen when they hired the Thistledown secretary to card races (16k MCL's on the grass?!?) but the overall experience is a LOT better than say, Aqueduct. It's beautiful, clean, has plenty of places to wager, and good food and drink. The prices are normal, not extrodinary as you seem to claim. Talk about no places to sit, have you ever been to Del Mar? (one of the best racetracks in the world?)

If I lived in South Florida I would have gone to the track today. Since I live in New York, and Aqueduct is still running, I didn't, and played from home. That's a problem that should be fixed... and I'm the kind of guy you want at the track any time you can get me there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Split Rock

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.

Good post.

must install slot machines / artificial carpet

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Who is investing?

this is important !

There is no investing in the league in part because there is no league.

There has to be some type of unified governing body for horse racing. Even something like the NBA or NFL has in place.

"horse racing" can't keep a cheater out of the game
we can't sell the sport to the masses via television
we can't clean up the game with the current structure.

With a better gov't and full scale use of mass media, horse racing could actually expand. Renovate and construct new venues. Double the handle and increase the player base five fold. They could afford to hire a few good actuarys and figure out how low the takeout/concessions/admission should be. Provide top class information to the players.