Cali tracks get free hand to tinker with takeout..

[dagolfer33]

If they don't get dirt back on the main tracks @ SA and DM, it won't matter what the takeout policy is.

[joeydb]

Like Crist said in his latest DVD, "When it comes to takeout, it's heading in one direction: up."

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by dagolfer33

If they don't get dirt back on the main tracks @ SA and DM, it won't matter what the takeout policy is.

The sky is falling. Lower takeout doesn't help much when the fields are horrendous and the racing surface is garbage.

[Riot]

How many of you have stopped gambling on CA racing because of the surface switch?

Honest question, just asking.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The sky is falling crowd may want to wait until something actually falls before putting on the tinfoil hats. California has some of the lowest takeout rates in the country as a reminder. There may be possible positives from this bill, as hard as it is for anyone to conceive of that.

its not that the sky is falling...its more like another nail in the coffin and the clouds are lowering. the management, governing bodies and such are not that bright either... to say they don't have problems out there and racing handle in general is like sticking your head in the sand. want to see this game go away, alienate the bettors. its pure economics, self interests and competition. its in the self interests of racing to give the best product (quality,quanity and cost) to the bettor (customer) or people will shop elswhere. try running a track that people don't like to bet on. or even worse one that owners/trainers don't want to race on. you have california in a nut shell. people call it complaining but how long will they last at the present course and then this board will be lit up with crying: "What happened ???!!!!" someone point out a good decision they've made in 5 years and i'll listen. they are hurting" lets raise the takeout that will drum up business"...lol...lol. desolation row, " was that some kind of joke!"

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by johnny pinwheel

its not that the sky is falling...its more like another nail in the coffin and the clouds are lowering. the management, governing bodies and such are not that bright either... to say they don't have problems out there and racing handle in general is like sticking your head in the sand. want to see this game go away, alienate the bettors. its pure economics, self interests and competition. its in the self interests of racing to give the best product (quality,quanity and cost) to the bettor (customer) or people will shop elswhere. try running a track that people don't like to bet on. or even worse one that owners/trainers don't want to race on. you have california in a nut shell. people call it complaining but how long will they last at the present course and then this board will be lit up with crying: "What happened ???!!!!" someone point out a good decision they've made in 5 years and i'll listen. they are hurting" lets raise the takeout that will drum up business"...lol...lol. desolation row, " was that some kind of joke!"

J/P,

I understand the dynamics. I deal with EVERYONE in the industry. Track management, government regulators, owners, trainers, riders, players, fans, media, information suppliers, industry support system operators, et al... Everyone wants the best but there is an overall lack of leadership. And since the business is enormous and far flung, there are few ways to provide widespread, tangible result-evident improvements.

But there are plenty of examples of things happening that have had impact like the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium making more progress in 2 years on testing and rule uniformity than was done in the previous 30 years. If you allow the negative influence to overwhelm everything about the sport, it is impossible to acknowledge ANY positives.

Meanwhile, racing handle is off 10% while casino gambling is off 30%. Doesn't that tell us anything? The bubble burst on the breeding side will end up a positive as well because its' effect could serve to force the reduction in meet days that so many believe will be a true benefit.

In life, if you meet every challenge with contempt and disdain for the mechanisms that are needed to implement action, no result can be well received. As LBJ said, "Don't spit in the soup, we all have to eat it."

[joeydb]

The takeout is analogous to taxes. Raise taxes on something, like the infamous "yachts" example from the 1980's, and guess what -- people stop buying yachts. Then the yacht manufacturers start going out of business until the market seeks its new level: less buyers who are willing to pay the higher price.

Cutting taxes has the reverse effect.

If they had a short term plan to cut takeout to increase the health of the game, more money coming in at a lower takeout rate fueled my more players would still exceed the money coming in today at the higher rate fueled by less players.

As Steve often points out on his radio show, you still might have too much racing and need to close some tracks, reduce some dates, the breeding market will self regulate and there will be less horses, but with simulcasting and lower takeout the game could be in a lot better shape. The players would still have enough to wager on all day, and with better returns, it might be more attractive.

The government guys want the game to make money for the state every year, but they don't demand the same performance from the things they spend the money on, so how about giving the industry a break on earnings goals for a few years and let it get healthy?

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Again, it may benefit everyone to read some of the details involved in this. I know it's more fun to call track management, state governments and racing regulatory bodies fools and morons, but let's all try to pretend they may be people looking to improve situations... A few more tidbits about this bill and what it was intended to do from people I spoke with in California... This measure apparently was designed to assist the Fairs first and foremost.

They were receiving support from the state via agricultural-related budgets, and that money is disappearing. Allegedly in the $30-40 million dollar range annually. By being able to ask CHRB for approval of various re-applications of revenue from takeout and maneuvering of some takeout rates, the fairs are hopeful they can 'find' that soon to be missing revenue. Otherwise, they may not survive.

As for the DMR, GG, HOL and SA, they get the option of trying to change some currently state-mandated distribution of revenue towards things they need including capital improvements. The state has percentage directives that the bill makes easier to change.

The sky is falling crowd may want to wait until something actually falls before putting on the tinfoil hats. California has some of the lowest takeout rates in the country as a reminder. There may be possible positives from this bill, as hard as it is for anyone to conceive of that.

Cause and effect. NAFTA created the Cali economy and now the bills are coming due. The tracks used to benefit from agriculture, no more money, have to get it somewhere. Sad nobody thought that through.