Ellis Park closing, now opening

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

No, I'm not kidding. Not at all. And it is not as if Churchill isn't ending in a day or two anyway.

Look, if you need to travel, you travel.

If you were at Churchill, instead of going west to Henderson, go east.

If River is too cheap for you, keep on east until you hit Mountaineer.

If it's too cheap there, stop for deisel and head north or east for Presque, Philadelphia or a half dozen other places with better purses than Ellis would have offered anyway.

What else is there to do?

Your contention was that the horseman could simply ship to Chicago or Cincy when those places are running for signifigantly smaller purses, especially River. It will cost around $1500 to ship a horse to Philly or $1000 to go to Mountaineer. It is not without its costs to horseman and owners especially for the cheaper horses. Everything including fuel and hay and straw have increased dramatically in price yet we should be just fine running for less money? I dont understand where you think that this isnt a bad deal for horseman.

[cmorioles]

Again, what tracks were cutting purses before the standoff?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Again, what tracks were cutting purses before the standoff?

You are looking at this on an individual track basis. If we sign the deal that CDI offered, we will be taking more than a 40% cut our take of the only growth segment in the industry. Do the math. If we get 7% of on track and interstate simulcast handle and get 4% on ADW and internet wagers and the trend of handle flowing to ADW's and internet wagers continues where will we be? Do you think that handle will grow enough to offset the lesser percentage? The fact is that handle is not growing as much as it is switching from one mode of wagering to another. The fact that CDI has gotten into the ADW business in a big way and the fact that they will make a much bigger cut with an ADW bet makes horseman nervous. I mean as a business move it is a good move for CDI but as a business move it is a horrible move for us. Therefore you have a standoff. Frankly I think Geary had no intention of opening the meet because unless his lawyer is really optimistic or just plain stupid there was no chance of any judge granting him an injunction simply because the law is so specific. He is waiting for the slots train like everybody else, plain and simple.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

only growth segment

and who's fault is that?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

and who's fault is that?

Why would there be fault?

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why would there be fault?

my point was racings so inept, so poorly run, so in bred for dis function, that in a country gone gambling crazy only one portion of it has shown any growth.

[Cannon Shell]

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