Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 700979)

I do believe that fans give up on a sport because big events dont go. Perhaps not one singular event, but the frustration levels eventually lead to a breaking point. I won't buy Pac/Margarito as I didnt buy Mosley/Mora. They just arent compelling events. I'm not the only one that feels this way. I dont think that Pacquio would let any fight be scientific. His willingness to take punches may work against him in a fight against mayweather. But he would certainly score more against mayweather than the over the hill gang that he has been facing and Floyd is a great frontrunner who may fight a little different if he was faced with real adversity. Not to mention that I can't see a guy who constantly has money problems passing up upwards of 50 million for a fight he truly thinks he will win.

Originally Posted by HomerS (Post 700955)

Betting drives the game plain and simple. Am sure many of us could attend a day at the races and have a good time without betting. Especially a nice fall sunny day at Belmont. Where you have the place to yourself basically. Can get up close much closer then most other sports. See world class athletes. But at the end of the day the focus needs to be betting, betting and betting.

Way too much time has been wasted on trying to get small time players (or non players) to come out to the track a couple of times a year. As opposed to focusing on your core audience and getting them to increase their handle- whether live, or off track.

Almost every other business but racing markets to their core audience.

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop (Post 700985)

First Bold, great point, I am not there yet for sure but you never know.
Second Bold, if they let Antonio cheat again that would be a great fight.
As far as the fight analysis, we may never know sadly. I have rooted against Floyd over and over and thought that many of the guys would give him some real adversity. Still haven't seen it. Perhaps Manny would be the one to press him hard enough but hand speed at the level he competes is often too much for anybody to deal with.

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie (Post 700999)

I predict that RA will continue to have workouts and be brought out of retirement for the BC.

Or to race again next year.

She really wants to keep racing.

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie (Post 700999)

I predict that RA will continue to have workouts and be brought out of retirement for the BC.

Or to race again next year.

She really wants to keep racing.

Originally Posted by HomerS (Post 701005)

I am not saying they should ignore you or anyone. You always need new customers. Todays smaller bettor may be a bigger bettor going forward. And even if not you want to have more players. But its about focus. When you have limited ad dollars you need to be careful about where you spend them.

But its all about handle and thats where the focus should be. Understand you want the experience of the newbie to be good- so they come back.

Too many tracks spend alot of time on giveaways and cheesy promotions that may get people in one time but not enough on their core player. It shouldnt all be directed at the on track player either. Although I think racing offers tremendous value when compared to other entertainment options (look at cost of going to Belmont compared to a major sporting event in NY). Reality is most players arent going to the track anymore, for a variety of reasons. How often do we see tracks running races running at the same time as others, or poor sound quality. Bad viewing angles.

You look at some of the websites even and its downright embarrassing what some have up there. NYRA does a good job but not enough do.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell (Post 700965)

RA vs Z never happening was a loss to the sport.

Originally Posted by Coach Pants (Post 701004)

Actually I talked to her new life coach and she's been incredibly stressed out the past few months. She's wanting to move on to a far less stressful life of getting railed a few times a year and eating the finest hay and drinking the distillest of the illest water.

Originally Posted by iamthelurker (Post 701163)

She told me personally that she's got the hots for Curlin and has been dying to get at him since she won horse of the year. :{>:

Originally Posted by miraja2 (Post 700877)

This is ridiculous. Go back and watch the fleur de lis again from this year and then explain to me why it is so much worse than most of her races last year, or how it is evidence that she "didn't want to race."
Just because she won the Oaks by a huge margin last year doesn't mean she ran better in that race than she did this year going 9f at CD. In fact, she basically ran the exact same race again except this year she ran a little bit faster while also carrying a couple of extra pounds.
Clearly she didn't turn in performances this year that were quite on par with what she did in the Haskell and Woodward last year, but her races this year stack up pretty well with what she did last year at Oaklawn, and in the Oaks and Preakness, etc. I think the idea that she fell out of form dramatically this year is completely wrong.

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV (Post 701176)

I'm not saying she fell out of form, she just failed to do what a filly with her ability and class will do.

WIN as a 4 yo. Some just no longer have a intrest in racing.

Originally Posted by Coach Pants (Post 701004)

Actually I talked to her new life coach and she's been incredibly stressed out the past few months. She's wanting to move on to a far less stressful life of getting railed a few times a year and eating the finest hay and drinking the distillest of the illest water.

Originally Posted by miraja2 (Post 701193)

So who won the Fleur de Lis and the Lady's Secret?

I still don't understand your point. Can you explain to me how her performance in the Fleur de Lis (in particular) demostrated her lack of interest in racing this year?

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind (Post 700976)

I'm not sure I agree that the highlighted part has actually happened...though it has sure been talked to death.

Obviously, I agree with the latter part.

Yes, you want to introduce new people to the game if possible, and explore that, but it is your core customer that needs to be catered to.

Originally Posted by ateamstupid (Post 701205)

SHE WAS SAD DON'T YOU GETS IT :(:(:(:(!!!!!!!!!!!! That's totally why she ran 2 or 3 Beyer points slower this year than last!!!!

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie (Post 700999)

I predict that RA will continue to have workouts and be brought out of retirement for the BC.

Or to race again next year.

She really wants to keep racing.