|
|
 |
|
|
|
#1
12-02-2007, 10:33 AM
|
||||
|
||||
Go To Prairie Meadows Before It's Too Late
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=42265
Racing Operations Results at Prairie Meadows for 2006 -Revenue: $ 4.6 Million -Expenses: $33.8 Million -Net: ($29.2 Million ) loss They need to have racing to run the slot shop, but how much and for how long? From the article: "By law, we’re required to support a viable racing program if we’re going to have a casino,” board member Ron Morden said. “It doesn't get specific, so the job of this board is to balance the necessity of providing that program with the necessity of providing community betterment. And that’s always a judgment call.” Fat lady ain't started singing yet, but she's in the building. 
|
|
#2
12-02-2007, 12:07 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Prairie Meadows is a really nice CASINO. But I noticed they don't put much effort into the horse racing aspect there. They have a nice (and large enough) simulcasting area upstairs, but for live racing, there doesn't seem like much seating inside or out.
Someone can feel free to correct me on this, but the 2 times I was there, it seemed like they had a small 3-tier strip of indoor seating for live racing (tables I mean). And outside, there's no bleachers or mass-seating right? It's just some benches... I will say that the casino is nice and clean and all of that, and IT IS BUSY. Both times I was there, it was poppin off. And no offense to the Iowa contingent on this site, but Des Moines doesn't seem to have much to offer from a leisure standpoint. So I bet eventhough racing losses were that big, I bet the casino still made a butt-load of $$$$. I think as far as their racing dates and times go, they're pretty good. Like Canterbury, they run in the summer when it's warm enough. Usually Derby day-Labor day or a little after, and they run at night. They run at night, so they can get the simulcast feed to more locations, and they're not butting heads with the big-dogs (NY, KY, Cali, etc.) that run during the day. But putting in more seating for live racing, and maybe adding a turf course (they have a full mile oval there, so there is room for it) might help them.
__________________
Facebook- Peter May Jr. Twitter- @pmayjr You wouldn't be ballin' if your name was Spauldin' If y'all fresh to death, then I'm deceased...
|
|
#3
12-02-2007, 06:22 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Another example of how slot revenue is not the golden goose it is heralded as, in terms of racing. There has to be a balance of slot revenue addition being put back into the product, the facilities, the purses, and the community. It is the only way to make a profitable AND desirable outfit. You can't just get the slots legislated, and magically expect the racing to improve. Takes time and creativity. PS Pete, hit some tri's last night at THE MOUNTAIN. Little simulcasting from the local greyhound track 
__________________
"Boston fans hate the Yankees, we hate the Canadiens and we hate the Lakers. It's in our DNA. It just is." - Bill Simmons
|
|
#4
12-02-2007, 10:07 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
"Boston fans hate the Yankees, we hate the Canadiens and we hate the Lakers. It's in our DNA. It just is." - Bill Simmons
|
|
#5
12-03-2007, 10:26 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I have spent many of my college days at Prairie Meadows....I love it there for simulcasting, its never very busy and I just go to on of the dining tables or a love seat in the clubhouse and have my own personal 25' flat scren TV.....most people stay in the simulcasting area and don't venture into the cludhouse tables during the dark days......some of my best memories of college are playing Tampa Bay on tuesdays and having the pretty much the whole place to myself.
|
|
#6
12-03-2007, 10:44 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
A problem with Iowa is they don't have OTB's, along with that most of the casions don't have simulcast...I went to a indian casion that had a very small area for it but most don't have them or if they don't its nothing special...hard to get people interested in betting in Iowa with no OTB's.
|
Hybrid Mode
