KEE Handle

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

So in your opinion the surface has nothing to do with it?

Not really. It is only 8 days worth of data anyway. Handle is down everywhere. Oaklawn almost handled as much on instant racing machines based on races already run as they did on live races. Tampa and Keeneland are really just being measured against record breaking seasons so slight handle downturns are not really signifigant.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

We'll agree to disagree. I know more than a few people who played very heavy during Keeneland pre-Poly and now won't even go near it now. I'm sure they're not alone.

As the Bid said there are way too many factors to say that handle drop at Keeneland is due to the surface. Believe what you want but the fact is that Del Mar and Keeneland both had record setting years with poly. The way that tracks measure handle is ridicolous anyway as they only usually compare it to the previous year when there are so many outside factors such as weather that can vary from year to year. Maybe field size is down which naturally would lead to a decrease in handle?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Either way Chuck, 17% is pretty significant. If it was a small amount, I could see it being something like economy. But 17% is huge, no matter how you look at it.

That is true. But there are so many other factors that can contribute to that number that it is hard for me to assume that the majority is based on people not playing polytrack which is very hard to measure. I have yet to make a bet at Keeneland and that may be a factor also. Once the horseplayers of America know that the bad money is back handle will be up 50%.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

We'll agree to disagree. I know more than a few people who played very heavy during Keeneland pre-Poly and now won't even go near it now. I'm sure they're not alone.

This is an incredible statement to me as the source is a knowledgable player and the sentiment is shared by so many other knowledgable and successful players.

I just can't understand why POLY presents such problems (ditto for turf sprints).

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

This is an incredible statement to me as the source is a knowledgable player and the sentiment is shared by so many other knowledgable and successful players.

I just can't understand why POLY presents such problems (ditto for turf sprints).

Glad you got all the successful/knowlegeable players picked out.
But the successful players dont play Poly or turf sprints,
but you do. They are missing the Gold mine which is racing?

Clear as mud.

I wonder where the modest players go...

[Cannon Shell]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/h...,4476354.story

[GBBob]

To think that the major reason for any track's numbers being down for any other PRIMARY reason other than the economy is wrong. I mean..retailers are shutting doors left and right, gas prices, etc, etc...I would think that when discretionary dollars get tight, the first thing that goes is gambling.

Look at Vegas...they are laying off people by the hundreds at each casino. No doubt the racing industry is struggling anyways, but when cash is tight, it is magnified

[tiggerv]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/h...,4476354.story

I would love to know their average field size this year. I just pulled up their card from Friday April 11th as an example for field sizes.

R1 - 6
R2 - 7
R3 - 8
R4 - 7
R5 - 4
R6 - 5
R7 - 7
R8 - 5
R9 - 14

In 5 seconds I know I am not wagering that card. Even at CT you get consistant 8-10 horse fields. There are too many tracks and too many races in the mid-atlantic.

[Scav]

You guys realize that they had a 16% top last year right? And after talking to that mutual guy today, he said that their numbers are right in line with where they were 2 years ago.

Alot of people went to Keeneland last year to see the new surface, alot of people played it to learn it.

All they did was bounce off a great performance....