SUN: Racing's media makeover paying off

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

But thats the point coach isnt it? I love racing. I will sit here online with you fools all day and night long and I will bet on youbet. But go to an OTB?

There is a place in Manhattan called the Playwright. I'm sure the NY contingent knows about it. Its not a bad place. But really...its kind of gross. Most OTB's seem seedy. Im sure there are exceptions but most I have encountered are disgusting looking places.

Go to Charlestown on a saturday night. Yes, charlestown West Virginia. The dining room is PACKED and anyone who has been there will say that it is easily 50% female (most likely over 50%). They are there for the racing and the gambling. Sure, its not Saratoga, but at the same time its suitable and you aren't sitting around a bunch of scuzzy guys yelling obscentities at a tv.

As the product becomes more female friendly, you will see an increase in female fans. Is it not fair to say that VENUE is a huge part of the product?

Totally agree.

On an aside, in the last few months, I've taken my first trips to Charlestown and Penn and have been pleasantly surprised.

Seedy as in the men there? Then that problem will never change.

The OTB in downtown Indy and the one in Evansville are not seedy facilities...just full of seedy people.

And live racing is a different ballgame. Most of the people in the clubhouse are couples and the men tend to bet much more while the women bet $2 and would rather spend two hours playing with their food.

And really if you're just going to bet $1 exactas and $2 win bets do it with 15 minutes left to post, not 1 minute and then take 2 god damn minutes to get the bet in.

So what I'm saying is women, for the most part, hurt the game more than help it.