SUN: Racing's media makeover paying off

[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 $