They are piling on the bad news...
 

Guys I hate seeing stuff like this but you have to see this article:

"Are horses racing toward oblivion?"

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/200...ard_obliv.html

Does anybody have any GOOD news to report? I'd love a silver lining. I like this game too much.

Racing needs a national Czar . Mandated standards for track surfaces, drug testing, penalties, preventive measures to reduce breakdowns; a lot is needed that does not involve purse money .

I nominate Golden Missile for National Czar

I think there are far too many tracks running and some need to go.

Right.. Because a racing czar will magically align 38 states that have completely different rules and regulations regarding pari-mutuel gaming.

Steve - I was just about to post something similar, but you said it better.

Here's the thing: What exactly would a national czar do? Yes, he and a team he appoints could smooth out some differences in the game, but he cannot change state laws that bind up our options. Racing is a state game with a national interaction through simulcasting that we were, frankly, lucky to get.

A sad side effect is that some states (Maryland, New Jersey, even California) will continue to contract, and possibly have racing cease, while nothing outside of those states can directly affect the regulations strangling the tracks.

There is no denying that the sport does not have a good young fan base.

The sport is just not an appealing sport for many in a world where there are tons of options to gamble.

There really are just too many racetracks and too many racing days in america.

Problem is, if the states don't shape things up themselves can't the feds claim racing is interstate commerce and step in and regulate it themselves? Anyone really want a bunch of lawmakers in DC making the decisions instead?

Feds are a little busy right now

This is simply 100% untrue. The same assertion has been made for 60 years and its' a canard.

Rod Blagojevich = National Racing Czar

Wait till they get bored again and there is another high profile breakdown.

For Scavs...a CANARD is basically a fabricated report or rumor.






Carry on gentleman. You too Sumitas

Yes, because look at all the young people at the track on the weekend or in the OTB's.

There are simply more things to do today, online poker and other gambling outlets are much more popular.

Horse racing is just not what it once was. It doesn't appeal to the crowd looking for constant action, which is what young people are looking for today.

There arent any high profile horses left

What the hell is up with that dudes hair???

The "young people" argument has always baffled me. Why exactly do you want to attract young people? Do they have the disposable income or time to bet? Go into a slots parlor and see how many young people there are there. it is about betting and always has been. One of the reasons that horse racings marketing's efforts usually come up short is because they too are far too interested in young people.

Still one high profile race though.

thanks. that makes a lot more sense.

i had no idea why steve was calling this story a french duck.

Which one?

The Fall Highweight

I still like my idea of stripper poles and table dances between races:D

canard:
n.
An unfounded or false, deliberately misleading story.

A short winglike control surface projecting from the fuselage of an aircraft, such as a space shuttle, mounted forward of the main wing and serving as a horizontal stabilizer.
An aircraft whose horizontal stabilizing surfaces are forward of the main wing.

^^^late to the party

young people annoy me almost as much as old people
the fan base is dying off
Maybe if we have KC and the sunshine band play the infield between races they will come to the track

racing czar is right up there with globull worming czar

all power to the soviets

I love the sport and have been enjoyed it for a number of years. The idea that horse racing in general is dead or is dying really disturbs me. I'm not sure what the problem is, as there are many legit reasons why it's declining. To me it comes down to this:

I play races just about every weekend and some weekdays. I always play on the big days. I print out free PP's, bet online, at the track, or at the OTB. I have Dish so I get to watch all the races that I bet. Now, for me, it doesn't take a lot of my time, and it sure never gets old, tiring, and I never feel it's a burden to get the information. (all pretty much free)

For many though, who aren't "hooked" I can see where they think it's too much work. Especially during football season where they get analysis of every game by simply clicking a website or clicking a remote to ESPN. Then call their bookie or get online to bet. They don't have to search for the PP's or go to the track to get a program. They don't have to sit and cap the races. And they sure don't have to get Dish Network to watch the football games.

There really seems to be a problem in marketing this great sport to the masses. Either the vast majority of people don't care, or maybe, just maybe, they don't know what is going on with this sport due to the lack of coverage, thus missing out on what this sport offers.