How does racing today compare to the 70s or 80s?

[Gate Dancer]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

What did happen was the selection process in which the best horses were bred and the weakest culled stop being a factor because of the bloodstock boom. You went from having foal crops of 25000 foals in the early 70's to having close to 70000 foals in the mid 80's. You suddenly have more mares in production that would have been deemed unworthy just a decade before than mares that would have been worthy. Naturally there were inferior stallion prospects being utilized and the expansion of book sizes also began. The quantity over quality eventually took its toll by reducing the overall quality of throughbreds as a whole. If the NFL expanded to 90 teams do you not think the overall quality of players and hence play would decrease?

Amen.............I've lamented the passing of Ak-Sar-Ben before on this forum but it typifies some of the issues that have come and gone. I grew up in Omaha and started going to Aks when I was 18. Every Saturday there would be 20-25 buses in the parking lot coming from Des Moines, Kansas City, Sioux City, etc. Then, of course, every state wanted to have their own racing facilities and keep the money in their own pockets. Hence, the formation of Prairie Meadows, Canterbury Downs (original name), and The Woodlands. Of course, racing stock is needed for all of these venues so the breeding boom contributes to that. In those days the horse racing industry was the main gambling venue for the public at large. The proliferation of 'alternative' gambling opportunities then happened as the states were looking for tax revenues anywhere they could.

Aks ran basically from late April to early August and in Omaha it was the main focus for every racing day. In the newspaper there were articles every day about the card for the day or about a jockey or trainer. The town just had a buzz going on during the racing season. Average attendance on the weekends was 20-30,000 people. It was as close to a 'major' league sport that the town had. Some pretty nice horses showed up each year for the Omaha Gold Cup and the Cornhusker Handicap. (it still tortures me every year when I see Prairie Meadows hosting the Cornhusker) As far as the horses go, there were many horses that ran 4-5-6 times in a 75 day meet schedule. We never thought anything of it, and I believe the trainers didn't either. One claimer by the name of Dump Truck started the first week at the $5000 level and won 5 races in a row and ended the meet by running in a $50,000 overnight stake. (if my memory is correct)

The basis for my interest of horse-racing in general was formulated here, and I have never lost it. But, had I grown up in the last 20 years things would probably be much different. There are many benefits of being interested in horse-racing now with the ability to bet on multiple tracks and obtain information now that certainly would have been almost impossible to get in the 70's and 80's. I love the opportunities available through OTB's and ADW's but I do miss the excitement and anticipation of a big weekend at the track that only happens at a few venues on selected dates. Things change but my passion for the 'Sport of Kings' is as strong as ever.............