NY

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I'd love to know Capital Play's plan to draw women to Aqueduct and in turn drawing men..have they actually been there?! I love horses and racing and only a day like the Wood Memorial is going to get me to step foot in the place. I don't see slots being that big of a draw for most woman either and if you were going to go shopping you'd do so in the City where the best stores in the world are. There is just way too much competion with the City to put anythign there that would be remotely appealing to the woman who is not interested in racing in the first place.

Even that's questionable at this point.

I had a great time this weekend because I was with friends but honestly... I wouldn't have gone by myself. Aqueduct sucks.

[Storm Cadet]

Belmont can not hold winter racing as it's facility has NO HEAT. They said in a study a few years back that it would be exorbitant to heat the facility and enclose major portions of the grandstand.

It's racing surface is not suitable for winter racing.

AQU USED to have 2 turf courses, just like SAR and BEL. But they ripped out the outer turf course and made it a winter inner track.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by philcski

Even that's questionable at this point.

I had a great time this weekend because I was with friends but honestly... I wouldn't have gone by myself. Aqueduct sucks.

Hard to imagine they actually held a Breeders Cup there.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Hard to imagine they actually held a Breeders Cup there.

I've been there hundreds of times and I think the same thing too.
There was a time, not long ago, when it wasn't bad, believe me...

My 2nd favorite racetrack was the one in your avatar.

[SentToStud]

What I have never seen at any racetrack is a place to get information about online wagering. I've been to 3-4 tracks in the last few months with direct ownership ties to ADW companies (Gulf, Philly, etc). You would think that on weekends and big days they get SOME casual fans who would be at least interested in an online account.

I suppose the reason why is that the tracks are trying to squeeze out every on-track dollar they can. Personally, I think they're missing some casual online fan handle.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

What I have never seen at any racetrack is a place to get information about online wagering. I've been to 3-4 tracks in the last few months with direct ownership ties to ADW companies (Gulf, Philly, etc). You would think that on weekends and big days they get SOME casual fans who would be at least interested in an online account.

I suppose the reason why is that the tracks are trying to squeeze out every on-track dollar they can. Personally, I think they're missing some casual online fan handle.

I believe that there are some surprises coming up regarding on line wagering and the tracks are waiting until these things are announced. Or they may just be stupid.

[whodey17]

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.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by whodey17

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.

PLEASE tell me how you would approach this....No disrespect at all...This is one of the strangest industries in the history of mankind....no one ever makes any money - not the owners, not the trainers, not the track, most definately not the players (as a whole)...I've got partners lined up (literally) if you can tell us how to make owning them easier and more cost effective...Each year the cost go up - everything for the total spent at the sales to the day rate...the purses are fairly stagnent, unless you are running at a slots-primed minor track.

You'd have to increase purses - and the dynamic at play now will not allow it- in general. To your point - the focus must be on brining regular players into the ownership piece of the game at a reasonable level. DeeTee is a perfect example. Dee Tee times a thousand and you will grow the sport.

[disappearingdan_akaplaya]

Originally Posted by whodey17

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.

we have ownership seminars here in chicago in response to some of the other posts in this thread. whodey i have to disagree with some of whatya say. #1 having a dress code would decrease attendance dramatically. certain areas like restaurants in a track already have dress codes but having it all over the entire place again would decrease attendance signifcantly! i disagree with getting rid of the big barns as you say. alotta tracks rely on these barns to fill their races

[Swale84]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I believe that there are some surprises coming up regarding on line wagering and the tracks are waiting until these things are announced. Or they may just be stupid.

Both statements are probably true