I have no experience in racetrack operations but this is what I would do:
1) i would reserve the weekends for the highest level of racing. i wouldnt run one claiming race at all on the weekends. i would card one msw and all the rest allowance races or some high level race. i would take advantage of the weekend to bring people out to the races. during the week i would cater to the on-line bettor and to the slot players.
2) i would have a dress code during the weekends as well. you have to have respect for your appearance.
3) i would not offer shopping but i would offer other avenues of entertainment. i would have a bowling alley, game room, pool hall etc etc. a % of the profits could go to the purses.
4) i would decrease the takeout %. i would have guranteed pick 4 and pick 6 pools. i would decrease the number of races per day to 7 during the week and 8 during the weekend.
5) i would increase ownership. ownership is the blood of the horse racing industry. i would make owning a horse easier and more cost effective.
6) get rid of the big barns. i think the maximum number of horses a trainer can train at one time is 20. also, a trainer can not have more than 2 horses entered in the same race.
7) i would re-schedule the stakes races regionally. we need to take advantage of our stars and the potential match-ups.
8) we need to give an incentive for trainers to race their horses more often.
again, i am not a race racing business person but maybe some of these things could work.
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