New sheriff in town in Saratoga
 

Expect to see changes around the track as a new hire from Kentucky has many current employees and vendors on notice. Gone this year are the Rose babes that have walked the grounds in Victorian style dresses for the past 15 years. All vendors with booths as you first walk in will soon follow.

While several attempts have been made to meet with NYRA they have given the cold shoulder to the rose vendor and others. The only response from the "Justice" was we are changing the look of the backyard and entrance to Saratoga? Sounds like more good people have no job during these difficult times.

And finally the word is that this is the final year of the giveway's at Saratoga. It may still offer great racing, but it looks like the "justice" is being allowed to come in and do what she wants regardless of tradition and care for the help that has been in place for several years.

Scat

Sounds familiar, come in like a bat out of hell, do whatever hes see fit without regard to what the people want and do it with with no accountability. Sounds like this guy need a good punch in the face.

We should be so lucky.

:tro: :tro: :tro:

I'm not one to collect these items, but what difference does it really make? We all know that the attendance figures are inflated, but that doesn't impact us at all?

If the giveaways help draw people to the track (and I know that some get their items and simply leave), isn't that a good thing? With the sole exception of the beach blanket giveaway a few years ago, I can't honestly say that I've ever been inconvenienced by a giveaway day crowd. And with NYRA solving the problem of "spinners" jamming the admission booths, even that isn't an issue any more.

I just hate everyone wearing the same red baseball hats, some 4-5 hats at one time, then just wandering and getting in the way of those there for reasons other than a giveaway.

It's better than getting knocked over the head by some guy carrying 50 umbrellas!

we're probably talking about the same guy. lol

Seems like the giveways really accomplish little. I know a lot more horseplayers that have stopped going on giveway days than I have ever heard someone say "I went for a free umbrella, now I'm hooked"...

If they want to make a gesture to fans, I would much prefer free admission Sundays. At least that ensures the people going have some interest in being there as opposed to collecting trunkloads of free crap for friends and neighbors.

Dealing with the throngs of people for a few weeks a year is an okay sacrifice for me knowing there's a lot of them there being exposed to racing for the first time.

Saratoga's success is hung-out like laundry... good racing, good fields, festive atmosphere, appeals to all ages/groups/levels... it's a powerful brand and experience.

This is all fine in a positive sense of looking at things but what does more people being introduced to the game do for someone who just wants to bet the horses? Someone who has no need to fight crowds, heat, and other annoyances just for the privilege of getting a bet in. Betting at home is here to stay. It's comfortable, cost effective, soothing for the psyche, etc.
Whether the targets (tracks) remain constant is neither here nor there, as there will always be targets -- even if we need to 'go' abroad for them. Do we really need these once a year types to show up so that we can feel good about the game?

SAR was 'IN' in the '70's and '80's.

Giveaway days must remain. If NYRA gets rid of it they are stupid. So many more people show up at the track. Not all of them stay all day but a lot do.. it adds to the experience.

I know Chainsaw even plans his visits around giveaway weekends... they at least cant do this to chainsaw.

Dead money?

There's a reason why the city's population has doubled in the past ten years, and Saratoga County is probably the only county in upstate NY that has thrived in recent years. Saratoga is still "IN."

Isn't that really the horseplayer's problem, or perhaps more appropriately, choice? If this is really a topic of discussion, the track can never win. If there's no one in attendance, people complain about that fact. And then if they have a good crowd, (self-absorbed) others complain that they were inconvenienced.

In the grand scheme of things, we're talking about four days of a 36-day meet, and as a lifelong Capital District resident, there's certainly more good will that comes from these days than ill.

Complaints about a racetrack packed to the gills... interesting.

Agree to disagree I guess.

Lived there the first 25 years of my life and always just thought it was kind of a waste and a pain in the ass. That being said, I'm going Sunday which is a giveaway day so I certainly don't let it bother me.

From my perspective I want a clean well kept Saratoga with strong handle and purses. Free T's pretty low on the list...

I know right. :zz:

Very much correct. I know several people from my "home" in WNY that have moved recently to Saratoga County. It's such a wonderful place to visit and live, it's definitely still "in".

does that surprise you?? LOL

I had a guy complain the other day about getting a free t shirt and a $20 dollar voucher for doing nothing but showing up. We horseplayers are the oddest breed of human there is, i'm convinced.

Sure thing! I plan to bring a $100 bill and load myself up like a pack mule.

I think the best giveaway is a voucher. That way you bring people that will play the ponies.

it used to be bad if you had to wait to get in. the line sometimes goes down the street. if you are there to play horses, it sucks. i know alot of people that used to avoid sundays. but in recent years they put an admission window in with no give away. its great, you pay 3 bucks and walk in. the morons that go through the turnstiles dozens of times and then go home before the second race is off, ruin it. how does the track benefit from this anyway?

Was a popular promotion for years in NY. But then was disallowed by the State Racing & Wagering Board.

You can just buy one of the thousand that will be on e-bay next Sunday before the last race even goes off.:D

Popular here as well. In terms of marketing metrics, it was one of our best responses.

i did not know about this. when did that happen? a couple years ago saratoga harness sent me one in the mail. you had to be at the sunday mantinee on the date it said and my voucher went in and was worth a 100 bucks. i loved that promotion why did they ban it? of course i used the 100 to bet the simulcasts throughbreds but its a great promotion for folks that actually play the horses!

Saratoga Rose Girls
 

I am very disappointed to hear that the rose girls will not be back after so many years. I've purchased roses from them in the past and found this a delightful service to offer the racing fan. What NYRA may not understand is many folks as I, don't wager a lot of money, I'm there for the experience. The rose girls added to the Saratoga Experience depicting the Victorian era of style. Possibly NYRA may not understand their customer base that walks through the gates year after year. Can anyone tell me if floral product will be sold track-side?

JP,

Maybe 4 years ago? And in an explanation to those opposed to the giveaways, for years you would register yourself for NYRA mailings by putting your name and address on the back of the giveaway vouchers. It was part of the base of NYRA's mailing list. Then, when Saratoga approached, you'd get the seasonal mailing with the summer schedule and ticket info and there would be the 'Surprise Voucher' enclosed with it. It was worth $2, $5 or $25 and was super popular.

When RWB started to wield their intrusive hand on every single detail of the running of the racetrack during the upheaval period, the Surprise Voucher disappeared along with Clubhouse Exchange Coupons, Admission Day Passes, Seasonal Passes for jockey/trainer wives/family and public access to the Oklahoma Training Track.

I think that same old guy was at Tampa Bay Downs last year and I ALMOST mugged him for his red hat......

By far, the biggest enemies of racing at Saratoga are rainy weather and the State Racing and Wagering Board. (maybe we could add the Schenectady Gazette to the list this year also).

I look at the negative editorial under the "bad news is good news" umbrella. I'm sure a few or more families learned about the offer via the editorial and will now attend the races.

Sheriff Justice
 

My understanding is that they will still be allowed for now to operate at the main gate in a tent. it is a bad decision with a no win win. Why she went after this vendor is a mystery but you can rest assured all vendors should keep an eye out for she will be making rounds and evaluating food vendors too and cutting as she sees fit.
How long it last ??? only lady Justice could answer..

Scat

Not having giveaways is a really BAD idea. Steve hire some rose type girls to hand out free samples of BBQ. Make sure you hook me up with BBQ that is.. I will say that the blanket day a few years ago was a nitemare as it took like an hour to get into the track, but they fixed that right..

I dont know why a jam packed racetrack isn't always a good thing Fats? We realize that you like to cycle on your "rascal" thru Brooklyn head to Luger's in Williamsburg at 12:30 grab a Porterhouse for 2 with creme spinach and a piece of apple strudel and some shlag and stuff your face in front of the computer and TVG. But some of us need a little sunshine and eye candy for lunch.