Presque Isle Downs - Nice Purses

[sumitas]

Here's a paragraph about Tioga Downs, NY, a new harness racino.
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pb.../1002/BUSINESS

A couple of months ago Tioga/Vernon Downs petitioned the state to lower the slots takeout so they could compete with Turning Stone (Indian reservation). The state did so because the tracks needed to be on a par with the Indian reservations to survive. Customers were all going to Turning Stone for the bigger and more frequent slots payouts.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Here's a paragraph about Tioga Downs, NY, a new harness racino.
http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pb.../1002/BUSINESS

A couple of months ago Tioga/Vernon Downs petitioned the state to lower the slots takeout so they could compete with Turning Stone (Indian reservation). The state did so because the tracks needed to be on a par with the Indian reservations to survive. Customers were all going to Turning Stone for the bigger and more frequent slots payouts.

Tioga Downs isn't new, it had been idle for almost 25 years in disrepair on the side of Rte 17. It makes me ill every time I see it, because they were granted a slots license and had their racino up and running within like 18 months, whereas NYRA is at what, 5 years now and no racino?

Personally I hate slot machines but if they help racing (and if you don't think the racing is better at MNR or especially DEL post-slots you don't remember the $1500 claimers there) I'm all for it.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by philcski

Tioga Downs isn't new, it had been idle for almost 25 years in disrepair on the side of Rte 17. It makes me ill every time I see it, because they were granted a slots license and had their racino up and running within like 18 months, whereas NYRA is at what, 5 years now and no racino?

Personally I hate slot machines but if they help racing (and if you don't think the racing is better at MNR or especially DEL post-slots you don't remember the $1500 claimers there) I'm all for it.

I do remember those days, especially Mountaineer where we used to ship out of Detroit in the late fall in the 70's. I guess I'd say that with inflation, a nickel claimer today is no better than a $1500 claimer 25 or 30 years ago, so it's arguable the racing has improved.

As for Delaware, what good do all their five and six horse Allowance fields do for the bettors? Nice horses, ok, but in my mind the bettors suffer when these decent horses run at Delaware with their $7,000 pick-3 pools. I guess I look at it a bit different than a lot of folks.

I also have a sore spot for Delaware (and other mid-atlantic tracks) dating back to when they stopped carrying Keeneland's signal when that track tried to reduce takeout on ALL wagers to 16% stating their own handle would suffer. Keeneland relented. The bettors get the short end. I digress.