Rachel, handle, exposure... it's all there

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Any nerve struck wasn't by your post specifically. I'm tired of the 'woe is us' mentality that pervades a certain percentage of the industry and fan base.

General interest is fine, and it creates long term interest.

The wagering numbers are deceptive. Note that they encompass a period where certain amounts of handle went off shore. They also reflect the very recent peiod where ADW/HBPA/Signal providers were in a feeling out tug of war. And you have handle loss reflected there from the synthetic travails.

There's plenty of business out there and new customers will keep coming to the game. The chicken little mentality of aging fan base has been around 50 years. Racing is like Hyman Roth... dying from the same heart attack for 30 years.

I guess my point was while despite all these issues and "woe is us" mentality so many people in racing have, there is plenty out there to grab a hold of. Yesterday's Preakness is a prime example.

The same heart attack argument has a lot of merit because the negative-minded individuals have been singing the same song ever since I read my horse racing book. But at the same time, society is changing, interest and entertainment values to general society are changing as well. So I am concerned of an industry sitting back on its heels, hoping for a slot machine to save it, while not proactively attacking the fronts which could provide the longevity the sport needs.