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Originally Posted by cmorioles
I have a pretty good idea what I'm talking about. I'm sure I don't know everything. I doubt you do either.
You say handle is increasing and purses decreasing. When did Churchill cut purses, before this THG battle obviously? What other places has this happened?
Look at Presque Isle Downs. There is a track that is basically living on slots subsidies. There is next to no handle even when the signal was available. The horsemen are fighting for more of the ADW handle there? Give me a break.
I certainly agree that the tracks are not innocent either. Tracknet is just as bad, and probably worse. The whole thing is a mess, and in the end the bettor gets fukked. Now, I'm not your typical guy does this for fun a few days a week. You'll have to excuse me if I don't feel much sympathy for the tracks or the horsemen.
In the end, the tracks should set the purses and horsemen either run there or they don't. They should be set well enough in advance (at least a year) so that plans can be made. It isn't much different for me. The tracks, with the state and whatever ADW they allow to cover them, set the takeout. I either play there, or I don't. It is my choice.
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Look I am not a pro union guy by any means. But the horsemen should have the ability to have a negotiating group that wants uniformity accross the board. The stance of the THG is that all ADW's should have access and that we should be getting a fair share of the revenue especially when Tracknet is attempting to dominate the market to the detriment of all but Tracknet. You said that ADW's arent making that much money but is that really true? Setting up an ADW calls for little more than computers, a bank of phones, and a small office. They produce nothing. The issue as explained by CDI execs is that under our demands they would not be making that much money. But under their plans we will lose more money and that will grow as the handle continues to shift. Like it or not we are partners with the tracks. They hate to admit that as seen by their behavior. That is why the horsemans right to withold the signal exists. The tracks have that same right to withold the signal and they have done it quite often to meet thier demands, a right CD has used on many occasions to use the Derby as a battering ram to squeeze more money out of other tracks. In the end it is just business. Maybe it is bad business right now. Maybe it will chase more customers away. But if we cave now, which is the intention of not only CDI, and Geary, but most of the other tracks many which may be acting in collusion (against law by the way) things will never get better.