SUN: Racing's media makeover paying off

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Scav

I think you would agree that the gals from this board who are talking about their wagering adventures are females that GREW UP liking racing. They didn't attach to it at 24 years of age. It has been in their blood since very young. .

No, I wouldn't agree, simply because I have no idea if that assumption is remotely true or not.

Are you saying that people cannot come to a love of horse racing after they are 18?

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Riot

No, I wouldn't agree, simply because I have no idea if that assumption is remotely true or not.

Are you saying that people cannot come to a love of horse racing after they are 18?

I do think that there's a window there that makes it very hard for women to break into the sport. For instance Sighty's example of all her friends wanting to go to the beach and her still going to the track by herself. I would think that most girls are going to want to be with their friends and do whatever they are doing. I just can't see (at least any of the girls I know) getting a call from a friend saying they were going to a pool party and the girl saying no because she's trying to watch race replays in anticipation on playing an early pick 4 somewhere. And if they do decide to ditch them it will be most likely for a significant other instead of going to what could be a very intimidating male oriented place.
Then as you get older, you end up with a career and sometimes you drift away from some of your friends. You start wanting different things. Sure there might be some time and money to invest in the sport then. Obviously if you are single, you have a better chance to really get into it.
But if you should meet someone and that person isn't really isn't into it, I'm thinking it might be hard to spend has much time as you want playing and watching. Then if marrige/kids come into play, you are done for a while. If my wife should get a day to herself (which never happens, she's lucky if she gets 2 hours) I know for sure she's not spending it at the track. Also because she values money in a different way now as well (she's practical, I'm not).
But I do think you can get back into or fall in love with the sport if introduced/reintroduced after everyone is all grown up. Probably have some money and now you have all the time in the world to spend doing spomething you love.

[randallscott35]

We don't need people to fall in love with the sport, we need people to BET!

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

We don't need people to fall in love with the sport, we need people to BET!

How do they even know to BET unless they are exposed to it?????? Do you think the Joe Camel adds were there because the character is cute????

[Antitrust32]

ugh. The RTIP is filled with young adults / actual adults, who love horse racing and want to make a career in it. I dont know if its changed since I've been there.. but..

When I first started there were mostly men in the program, but a solid 30% women in the program.. by the time I left it was 50 / 50 because we got a ton of 18 year old girls one year (most people in the program dont start right after high school).

Not one of the girls gambled. They loved horse racing very much and followed it all the time... and a lot of them now have pretty good and influential jobs in the industry (not me of course).. as a group, including me, we probably put $300 total in the pools in a year.

On the other hand..

A lot of the guys in the program were in what they called "the Ramen Noodle Club". Because they bet constantly and bet their lunch money so all they could ever afford to eat was Ramen Noodle's.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

ugh. The RTIP is filled with young adults / actual adults, who love horse racing and want to make a career in it. I dont know if its changed since I've been there.. but..

When I first started there were mostly men in the program, but a solid 30% women in the program.. by the time I left it was 50 / 50 because we got a ton of 18 year old girls one year (most people in the program dont start right after high school).

Not one of the girls gambled. They loved horse racing very much and followed it all the time... and a lot of them now have pretty good and influential jobs in the industry (not me of course).. as a group, including me, we probably put $300 total in the pools in a year.

On the other hand..

A lot of the guys in the program were in what they called "the Ramen Noodle Club". Because they bet constantly and bet their lunch money so all they could ever afford to eat was Ramen Noodle's.

Thank you Uncly or whatever your nickname is.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

ugh. The RTIP is filled with young adults / actual adults, who love horse racing and want to make a career in it. I dont know if its changed since I've been there.. but..

When I first started there were mostly men in the program, but a solid 30% women in the program.. by the time I left it was 50 / 50 because we got a ton of 18 year old girls one year (most people in the program dont start right after high school).

Not one of the girls gambled. They loved horse racing very much and followed it all the time... and a lot of them now have pretty good and influential jobs in the industry (not me of course).. as a group, including me, we probably put $300 total in the pools in a year.

On the other hand..

A lot of the guys in the program were in what they called "the Ramen Noodle Club". Because they bet constantly and bet their lunch money so all they could ever afford to eat was Ramen Noodle's.

I don't disagree that this was/is the case. I am not at all debating that women gamble less, much much less, than men....right now.

The point is that this will change. Not might change-will change. Its changing every day. This is irrefutable.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

I don't disagree that this was/is the case. I am not at all debating that women gamble less, much much less, than men....right now.

The point is that this will change. Not might change-will change. Its changing every day. This is irrefutable.

While I pretty much agree with your reply to Chuck.. I just dont believe this change will occur in horse racing. IMO, racing has a much greater chance of going under completely than this change occuring. There are more than a few reasons I feel this way (ugh, I better not say "I" too much or SCUDS will get on me)

1) perceived cheating (drugs) keeps lots of people away from racing
2) breakdowns are a huge turn off
3) there's a perception out there that racing is cruel, and I believe women would buy into that easier (we have bigger hearts)
4) high take out keeps lots of people away
5) there are much easier forms of gambling out there that are more appealing
6) most importantly.. women will always be more responsible (or how did Math put it about his wife?) with their $

[Riot]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I do think that there's a window there that makes it very hard for women to break into the sport..

Not any more. Take a population of 14-year-old girls and 14-year-old boys and which population knows more about horses and horse racing? The girls by far.

The only exposure to horse racing is no longer the back page of the sports section gambling race results, it's the internet.

So allow young fans to continue to be fans of the sport, and of the horses. I don't understand the belittling and insult directed to "only a fan". When people earn enough money, they'll gamble.

I haven't seen much success to be pointed out within the past 50 years promoting horse racing as a great money-making speculative venture. Either in bloodstock or via the windows. See the 1980's pyramid schemes.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Riot

Not any more. Take a population of 14-year-old girls and 14-year-old boys and which population knows more about horses and horse racing? The girls by far.
The only exposure to horse racing is no longer the back page of the sports section gambling race results, it's the internet.

So allow young fans to continue to be fans of the sport, and of the horses. I don't understand the belittling and insult directed to "only a fan". When people earn enough money, they'll gamble.

I haven't seen much success to be pointed out within the past 50 years promoting horse racing as a great money-making speculative venture. Either in bloodstock or via the windows. See the 1980's pyramid schemes.

Maybe, but when it comes time that they go to college or are old enough to drive and gamble who do you have a better chance of seeing at a track/otb?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Maybe, but when it comes time that they go to college or are old enough to drive and gamble who do you have a better chance of seeing at a track/otb?

Fortunately, more and more women

[Alan07]

NBC will not want for an encore in preparing a Preakness Stakes (G1) broadcast that comes on the heels of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

NBC will begin its Preakness broadcast at 4:30 p.m. EDT with an NBC News feature on Borel and Super Saver.

http://thoroughbredtimes.com/nationa...broadcast.aspx