BEYER: Crown thriving but tinkering could be in order

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Did you read what he wrote? If MID is willing to pay the insurance premiums on a potential $5.5 million bonus they could divert those funds to the purses on Preakness day.

There's always going to be a "red headed step child" factor to the Preakness undercard because there's more to winning the Churchill Downs than the Maryland Sprint Handicap. The problem that the Preakness undercard has is that the races are rarely competitive and lead to the parade of favorites that has occurred each of the last two years.

I doubt that putting the money spent on the insurance premium (I'm guessing $100K) would meaningfully change the purses offered for the undercard.

The relative weakness of the Preakness undercard is a reflection of the frequency with which horses are raced, the fact that Maryland is generally not a stop on the "good horse" circuit (Gulfstream/Keeneland-Churchill/Belmont-Saratoga), and the weakness of Maryland racing to the extent that Pimlico cannot round up enough competitive local horses to take on the limited number the "stand out" shippers (like a Ventana) to make for good betting races.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

I doubt that putting the money spent on the insurance premium (I'm guessing $100K) would meaningfully change the purses offered for the undercard.

Given my limited conversation with insurers for horse racing bonus, if they insured a $5.5 million bonus for $100k, they got away with a steal.

[King Glorious]

How would the Maryland horsemen react to money being found to enhance the purses of a few races on one day that will go to a bunch of people that ship in for the races while nothing is done for their everyday races?

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

How would the Maryland horsemen react to money being found to enhance the purses of a few races on one day that will go to a bunch of people that ship in for the races while nothing is done for their everyday races?

Happens every year at all small tracks, including Pimlico, LAD etc. The argument the other way is legit: Part of the brand of that track, from a simulcasting perspective etc., is its marquee day. Marketing the track, attracting visitors all play a role.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

How would the Maryland horsemen react to money being found to enhance the purses of a few races on one day that will go to a bunch of people that ship in for the races while nothing is done for their everyday races?

Weak, weak argument. You want, you NEED your home track to have a big day. Bad days lead to more bad excuses. The obvious is accurate - the bigger the opportunities on the ONE day when people are paying attention to Pimlico, the greater the chances of people playing and playing more on your track.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Weak, weak argument. You want, you NEED your home track to have a big day. Bad days lead to more bad excuses. The obvious is accurate - the bigger the opportunities on the ONE day when people are paying attention to Pimlico, the greater the chances of people playing and playing more on your track.

I wasn't making an argument. I was asking a question. I would, however, think that if I was a Maryland horseman, I'd probably be a little upset about it. Yes, you want the exposure but the eyes of the racing nation are already upon Pimlico for that day anyway. Making the purses bigger for the Shaeffer and the MD Breeders' Cup and the Dixie aren't going to make a single person decide to play Pimlico the following Wednesday if it's not a track they already play. The bigger purses might attract better fields that day but I don't know that they make people more interested in Pimlico during the rest of the year. I am not sure I'd be ok with them coming up with a lot more money just to give it away to foreign shippers who have no vested interest in Maryland racing while those of us that do get nothing. I agree that you want your home track to have a big day but I think that you want your local horsemen to benefit from it, not everyone else.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I wasn't making an argument. I was asking a question. I would, however, think that if I was a Maryland horseman, I'd probably be a little upset about it. Yes, you want the exposure but the eyes of the racing nation are already upon Pimlico for that day anyway. Making the purses bigger for the Shaeffer and the MD Breeders' Cup and the Dixie aren't going to make a single person decide to play Pimlico the following Wednesday if it's not a track they already play. The bigger purses might attract better fields that day but I don't know that they make people more interested in Pimlico during the rest of the year. I am not sure I'd be ok with them coming up with a lot more money just to give it away to foreign shippers who have no vested interest in Maryland racing while those of us that do get nothing. I agree that you want your home track to have a big day but I think that you want your local horsemen to benefit from it, not everyone else.

I'm speaking from direct experience. When the Super Derby undercard features a name - a horse, trainer... you name it - the card does better from a business standpoint. The more names you have, the more people feel comfortable playing the signal, and thus the better it does.

If the Preakness undercard was for MD-bred horses only, would it do as well? Definitely not. Would people turn on the signal before the Preakness? Doubtful. Big undercards help. Fact.

Now, do horsemen love it? No. But horsemen do love the exposure the track gets, and it does nothing but help the track long term, definitely not hurt.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I'm speaking from direct experience. When the Super Derby undercard features a name - a horse, trainer... you name it - the card does better from a business standpoint. The more names you have, the more people feel comfortable playing the signal, and thus the better it does.

If the Preakness undercard was for MD-bred horses only, would it do as well? Definitely not. Would people turn on the signal before the Preakness? Doubtful. Big undercards help. Fact.

Now, do horsemen love it? No. But horsemen do love the exposure the track gets, and it does nothing but help the track long term, definitely not hurt.

I understand what you are saying and I'm not saying you're wrong and I'm right cause I don't know. From the outside looking in, it just seems to me that the horsemen would be upset. I also understand how business is helped on that day I just don't see how it really helps the horsemen or the track long term. It sort of strikes me the same way the whole Zenyatta thing did. She was good for the sport on the days she ran but how many of those screaming little girls that came out on those days are going to remain as fans once she's retired? How much long term good did she really do?