NY

[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.

[Linny]

More money for horsemen should make the chances better for some profit, BUT... In NY the union controls on who you may buy hay/feed from, which vets you may use, which farriers etc are killing smaller operations. If purses go up, they raise fees but a guy like Tood can pass the expense on to owners where smaller operations either eat the cost or see owners drop out.

I agree about the plight of smaller operations but as a "free market" supporter I have concerns about limiting the size of some operations. Limiting stalls makes some sense. Guys like Todd in NY and others around the country can lieterally "control" a condition. last summer at SAR, Todd had a horse in almost every open allowance race carded. He tends to complain that a particlar condition never fills but it wont when he has 1/2 the horses on the grounds who are eligible. The secretary then runs around threatening smaller outfits that if they don't run their cheaper claiming mare in some 3other than allowance to fill a race for Todd or Shug that they'll lose stalls. So the guy takes a horse ready to earn some $$$ in a $20 claiming and runs her with stakes mares, gets creamed and then has "no horse" 2 weeks later when her condition shows up. How does that help horsemen? Explain to the owner that your mare is a sacrificial lamb for billionaires like Tabor and Phipps.

I know many people who have "invested" in various partnerships and I know many people involved in managing/selling shares etc. Attend a seminar or "sales meeting" and the first thing you hear is "Don't bring me the mortgage money. Be prepared to lose it all..." The business model is flawed and must be repared, in NY are elsewhere. Sure you may hit a home run but even if you do you are lucky to break even. I heard an interview years ago with one of the partners in Captain Bodgit. Here's a major G1 horse, second in the KY Derby and the owner "broke even" before proceeds from the sale of the colt for stud. You want to know why stars are retired early? Even wealthy owners cannot afford this game! Why should even men wealthier than most of us here cough up millions a year while losing money racing when the shed is calling? They didn't get rich by making charitable donations to "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

[whodey17]

Originally Posted by disappearingdan_akaplaya

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

Good points.

[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