KEE Handle
 

Looking at DRF this evening. Saw article about KEE handle down 17% so far - http://www.drf.com/news/article/93744.html.

I know why I have not been playing, and it's not just because I stink.

Seems like a significant decrease. Just normalizing off a big meet in 2007?

Even with the big fields and good competitive racing - I want no part of playing against a horse racing takeout in those synthetic races.

There is the outside possibility the economy
as a whole has something to do with it. A snapshot
of the simulcasting facility I visit... very vacant.

Or it could be Hooves taking everyone's money.

I do think most of it's normalizing. People perceived alot of chaos (= $$ opportunity) last year, I think, so many paid more attention and may have played when they normally didn't. This year they are not, perhaps?

I think many perceive boutique meets as difficult to hit hard from day one, with horses coming in from everywhere.

I'm playing right along and enjoying myself as I cash. I'm ecstatic at finally having some competitive turf races again. What a HUGE step up from the action at GP, TAM, AQU inner, etc.

I'm also playing SA regularly. And, later this year, going to add TP.

If you're selective, and enjoy 'charts' that make sense and are predictive, you're probably wondering why we can't get this more than 2 abbreviated meets a year.

They need to stop signing these stupid exclusive wagering deals with the TVGs of the world. There are 12 states that can't wager online at Keenland through Twinspires and Xpressbet. I don't really want to fund another account so I decided to pass on Keeneland because it's such a short meet knowing I will have to suck it up for Del Mar which has the same problem.

i like the fact that they have fairly decent size fields good grass racing and nice betting format with .50cent tris and pick 4 its just the economy thats affecting handle

It's the economy.

4 favs and a second fav in the pick 6, I guess some people have it down:)

Too many variables

Its the economy!!!

Can't stop laughing on that one.

If they allowed their signal to go to Indiana Downs, then maybe they would get more players from those OTB's. I know I will still never be one as I've only bet one Astro Turf race there this year.

Actually it is. I know Tampa is down and Oaklawn was down slightly as was Fair Grounds.

Cannon just likes to blame Bush for everything.

Not really. It is only 8 days worth of data anyway. Handle is down everywhere. Oaklawn almost handled as much on instant racing machines based on races already run as they did on live races. Tampa and Keeneland are really just being measured against record breaking seasons so slight handle downturns are not really signifigant.

I usually blame Ed Whitfield and Roger Clemens

As the Bid said there are way too many factors to say that handle drop at Keeneland is due to the surface. Believe what you want but the fact is that Del Mar and Keeneland both had record setting years with poly. The way that tracks measure handle is ridicolous anyway as they only usually compare it to the previous year when there are so many outside factors such as weather that can vary from year to year. Maybe field size is down which naturally would lead to a decrease in handle?

Interesting that this wasnt mentioned as a reason especially for the out of state losses

That is true. But there are so many other factors that can contribute to that number that it is hard for me to assume that the majority is based on people not playing polytrack which is very hard to measure. I have yet to make a bet at Keeneland and that may be a factor also. Once the horseplayers of America know that the bad money is back handle will be up 50%.

This is an incredible statement to me as the source is a knowledgable player and the sentiment is shared by so many other knowledgable and successful players.

I just can't understand why POLY presents such problems (ditto for turf sprints).

I know some of those states couldnt wager on Keeneland last year (Keeneland was unavailable for KY residents through twinspires/brisbet). I wonder if thlose 12 states were allowed to bet into the pools last year or not.

I wonder how far down the handle would be if they compared the dirt racing and the grass racing separately. I wouldn't be surprised if the grass handle is actually up a little bit and the dirt handle is down more than 17%. While I'm not a heavy gambler in any sense, I know that this year, I've not wagered a single dollar on a Keeneland dirt race. Combine that with less than $200 wagered on a SA dirt race and I was able to do a few extra things with the money saved. So on behalf of my family, thank you junk track.

I think the weather has been unfortunately not in their favor as well, both Saturdays were pretty miserable and those are typically huge handle days at Keeneland.

Was there Ashland Day and didn't see a lot of "players"... just a lot of drunk college kids.

Glad you got all the successful/knowlegeable players picked out.
But the successful players dont play Poly or turf sprints,
but you do. They are missing the Gold mine which is racing?

Clear as mud.

I wonder where the modest players go...

To think that the major reason for any track's numbers being down for any other PRIMARY reason other than the economy is wrong. I mean..retailers are shutting doors left and right, gas prices, etc, etc...I would think that when discretionary dollars get tight, the first thing that goes is gambling.

Look at Vegas...they are laying off people by the hundreds at each casino. No doubt the racing industry is struggling anyways, but when cash is tight, it is magnified

I would love to know their average field size this year. I just pulled up their card from Friday April 11th as an example for field sizes.

R1 - 6
R2 - 7
R3 - 8
R4 - 7
R5 - 4
R6 - 5
R7 - 7
R8 - 5
R9 - 14

In 5 seconds I know I am not wagering that card. Even at CT you get consistant 8-10 horse fields. There are too many tracks and too many races in the mid-atlantic.

You guys realize that they had a 16% top last year right? And after talking to that mutual guy today, he said that their numbers are right in line with where they were 2 years ago.

Alot of people went to Keeneland last year to see the new surface, alot of people played it to learn it.

All they did was bounce off a great performance....