Finley @ ESPN: Good times are over

[tector]

And, PS, I did not even address simulcasting, which was virtually unknown back in '89.

Let's see--so on a nice summer day now I can bet SAR, DMR, ARL or MTH. Or I can bet my local dinky track, Crap Meadows, like my grandpa did. Hmmm...

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by tector

And, PS, I did not even address simulcasting, which was virtually unknown back in '89.

Let's see--so on a nice summer day now I can bet SAR, DMR, ARL or MTH. Or I can bet my local dinky track, Crap Meadows, like my grandpa did. Hmmm...

And if Crap Meadows doesn't exist then 2011 Tector may never get exposed to horse racing. How does Crap Meadows closing make racing at those other tracks better?

Racing isn't a singular entity with pooled money being wasted on purses at small tracks. If Crap Meadows closes and is replaced by a simulcasting facility what makes you think that the govt wont simply take that $$ that used to go to purses at Crap Meadows now that the entire economic impact and jobs argument is now gone?

[tector]

Wow.

Crap Meadows ISN'T surviving unless the government props it up--such as by limiting simulcasting to there, or by allowing other forms of wagering to only exist on its grounds.

IF HORSE RACING CAN'T SURVIVE SOMEWHERE, IT SHOULDN'T. The sport should find its own level in marketplace. If it is a vastly smaller level, THEN IT IS.

How hard is that to understand? Do we have to go into Adam Smith v. Karl Marx here?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by tector

Wow.

Crap Meadows ISN'T surviving unless the government props it up--such as by limiting simulcasting to there, or by allowing other forms of wagering to only exist on its grounds.

IF HORSE RACING CAN'T SURVIVE SOMEWHERE, IT SHOULDN'T. The sport should find its own level in marketplace. If it is a vastly smaller level, THEN IT IS.

How hard is that to understand? Do we have to go into Adam Smith v. Karl Marx here?

What are you some radical fundamentalist economist who worships at the alter of free market purity??

Let's not forget that the govt has made billions of dollars from horseracing that it did nothing to deserve. The Mob made less money putting the strong arm on businesses than state govts who often make the same cut on each dollar bet as the tracks and horseman. That is on top of taxes paid by the corps that own the tracks and horseman who earned purse money.

Let's not forget that the money that govt mandates (laws) steer to racing come not from govt coffers but from other forms of gambling often AT THAT TRACK!

Let's not forget that in the vast majority of states tracks are restricted by the govt in not only the dates that they run but the pricing of their product. NYRA cant give out free passes because NYS says it cant.

Like I said before we all know that the way things have worked out we are beholden to outside interests. We all know that is not a good situation. But I still dont see how closing tracks does anything but serve as a template for every other state/racino company that might get the bright idea to just get rid of racing.