Brilliant moves by Churchill

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Big Peps

Exactly.. Saratoga isn't much better, so much red tape for anything as well. It's a joke. I just always assume when my horses are running that I will get screwed by calling for anything so why bother. Like I said, it's a joke.

Takes a miracle for anything to happen. even getting down the stairs into the paddock is a at aqueduct is a pain in the ass with my 3 little kids, somebody always giving you a hard time over something. MAKES YOU JUST FEEL THE LOVE.

But you still run your horses at Saratoga?

[Big Peps]

Originally Posted by pointman

But you still run your horses at Saratoga?

I have run horses that I have owned in partnerships at Saratoga, haven't been fortunate enough to run horses I own by myself there yet. I have a two year old that should run there this summer if all works out. I will run there yes and will certainly will just show up with my family and enjoy it.

I ran at Fairground this past year but I prefer to sit in the stands anyway, there I usually just hang out in the Star Guitar bar between races and enjoy the view of the paddock if it's just my wife and myself. It's nice if you have a larger group to have access to some private seating or at least a bit easier than they make it

I enjoy the sport regardless obviously but I do think it's a pain in the arse at the bigger tracks.

[Thunder Gulch]

I have a solution. They should just raise the takeout on the ordinary horseplayers so the millionaires and buddies can get free box seats.

[Big Peps]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

I have a solution. They should just raise the takeout on the ordinary horseplayers so the millionaires and buddies can get free box seats.

Obviously there is a balance that needs to be found but if you piss off owners in an industry that needs improvement , it's not a great business plan. Plain and simple. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that most horse owners ain't making money, perks matter to many.

[ADJMK]

Originally Posted by Big Peps

Obviously there is a balance that needs to be found but if you piss off owners in an industry that needs improvement , it's not a great business plan. Plain and simple. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that most horse owners ain't making money, perks matter to many.

Exactly and the owners are the ones who are spending thousands to provide the product so that the racetrack can put on a show. If I am forking up $$ for an entry fee to race as well as paying shipping costs and I am less important that a "B" celeb who won't be back until his free invite next year, I am totally pissed off too. Sure it's the tracks big days and the ones that make their year but if it wasn't for the owners who support all year there would be no track. Porter and his fellow owners have a reason to be upset. They put the bucks all year so they have a right to feel "entitled".

[Cannon Shell]

CD always used to provide owners with horses in under card stakes on Oaks and Derby days with accommodations that weren't in the nosebleed section for a face value cost (which of course was far cheaper than what they charge now)

They used to have a vice president of racing that handled things like this. Why would a racing company need an executive in charge of racing matters after all?

[Payson Dave]

Just my humble opinion but if tracks hustle owners and trainers to race to fill cards throughout the year, then accommodating owners and trainers on the big days is only proper. Oaks Day and/or Derby Day would be a lot less spectacular if the non featured events consisted of 5k to 12.5K Claimers.
And in my opinion the owners and trainers with horses racing on a given day should be "entitled" to accommodations on that day.