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#1
12-05-2014, 05:28 PM
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Gulfstream simulcast in doubt as rights stalemate continues
By Matt Hegarty http://www.drf.com/news/gulfstream-s...mate-continues With Gulfstream set to start its winter meet tomorrow, a simulcasting cooperative and Gulfstream’s parent company remained locked in a stalemate Friday night over the rights to simulcast signals, threatening the availability of Gulfstream’s races on its opening weekend at sites in a handful of states. Though Gulfstream’s parent company sent the cooperative a detailed proposal seeking to end the stalemate Friday, it was unlikely the proposal would lead to any immediate lifting of the blackout, according to officials for both sides. The proposal was sent by Monarch Capital Management Company, which controls the simulcast rights to tracks owned by the Stronach Group, to a group called the MidAtlantic Cooperative, which represents 23 racetracks, including most sites in Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Scott Daruty, the president of Monarch, said the proposal delineated the rates Monarch believed should be paid for each site within the MidAtlantic Cooperative, a sharp departure from the group’s previous contract, which charged the cooperative’s members a flat rate. The prices varied depending on the amount of live racing conducted by a site, Daruty said, among other factors. “It’s pretty much the way we price to everyone else in the country, which is pricing each site on an individual basis depending on the business they do,” Daruty said. Phil O’Hara, the executive director of the cooperative, said he received the Monarch proposal Friday afternoon and was attempting to convene the group’s board Friday night for a detailed discussion of the proposal. However, he would not comment on whether he believed a deal could be reached by the start of Gulfstream’s Saturday card, which features the Claiming Crown event. Signals from the Monarch tracks, which include Laurel, Tampa Bay, Golden Gate, and Turf Paradise, began to be cut off at the cooperative sites last weekend. A previous contract between the two parties expired Nov. 30. Monarch has offered to allow the cooperative’s sites to continue to offer wagering on the company’s signals while the negotiations took place, but the cooperative has declined.
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. 
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#2
12-05-2014, 05:31 PM
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__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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#3
12-05-2014, 06:40 PM
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Among other positive items this fall in racing, Charlie Hayward explains why the negotiations to raise the signal fees are important.. and fair: https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/c...an-racing-fall
Good news item #3: Simulcast impasse between Stronach Group and Mid-Atlantic Cooperative At first glance, one might not consider the trouble between Stronach’s Monarch Content Management and the collection of small Thoroughbred and Standardbred tracks that make up the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative to be good news. But it is good news, and it is important for the future of quality Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. As I wrote in an earlier commentary, higher-quality, net-exporting racetracks have long been shortchanged in commission when they sell their signal to simulcast locations. Monarch represents Stronach tracks Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Pimlico, Golden Gate, Laurel, Pimlico and some other major tracks such as Tampa Bay Downs. The Mid-Atlanic Cooperative generally represents smaller tracks and negotiates a set fee for all of their member tracks. However, at least two Mid-Atlantic member tracks, Colonial Downs and Suffolk Downs no longer conduct Thoroughbred racing and at least five of their member tracks operate slot machine gaming businesses at their racetracks. The fact that these smaller tracks make more money on a Gulfstream Park simulcast race than Gulfstream Park and its horse owners is not in the best interest of the future of Thoroughbred racing. I congratulate Scott Daruty, the president of Monarch, for forcing this issue and not caving to the short term cash flow benefit. An anonymous commenter posted the following beneath a Dec. 1 Daily Racing Form article addressing the situation written by Matt Hegarty: “30 years ago the pittance that the simulcast sites paid to the tracks (content) was considered found money. Now the content provider gets 3-5% depending on the track while the simulcast site gets 15-17%, the blended takeout being 20%. Why shouldn’t it be 10-10%. In fact if a site doesn’t provide live racing why not 15-5% to the content side. The fact is the larger tracks have been subsidizing the smaller tracks by this split of the simulcast money. Bottom line is Stronach is right….” Anonymous, whoever you are, you have it absolutely correct.
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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#4
12-05-2014, 11:48 PM
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As you said Steve, why can't they keep going on the previous deal and keep the signals and pools open and work on a new deal. They could maybe set some deadlines and all, but shutting down the betting just screws everybody. It's like a strike where everybody loses.
They've done great work on making the medication rules uniform, now why can't they tackle the ADW issue and then takeout. To have those issues uniform would be fantastic. The industry must take the initiative. The more government control, the less favorable things are. It's proven fact. As you can see with the NTRA (a big failure), it comes down to people agreeing. Not a big organization or government. It's a bunch of people saying OK.
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#5
12-06-2014, 07:39 AM
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#6
12-07-2014, 05:28 AM
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__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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#7
12-07-2014, 07:43 AM
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Finally got around to reading my home e-mail, received this from Sam Houston
To All SHRP Simulcast Customers: Sam Houston Race Park is one of 23 members of the Mid Atlantic Cooperative. The Cooperative negotiates simulcast contracts on behalf of its member tracks. Monarch Content Management Company is another cooperative that negotiates simulcast contracts on behalf of its member tracks. The Monarch tracks include: Tampa Bay, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Los Alamitos Thoroughbred, Meadowlands, Portland Meadows, Santa Anita, and Turf Paradise. The contract between Mid Atlantic and Monarch has expired. Attempts at negotiating a renewal have so far been unsuccessful. Monarch is demanding rate increases in excess of 20% and other conditions that Mid Atlantic, on behalf of its 23 member racetracks, cannot accept. The result of this impasse means that starting on Monday December 1st, Sam Houston Race Park and all other members of the Mid Atlantic Cooperative will be unable to simulcast the Monarch tracks. The Mid Atlantic Cooperative remains committed to working with Monarch to arrive at an agreement that benefits all parties involved. We apologize for the inconvenience this creates for our valued SHRP simulcast customers. A reasonably priced arrangement is necessary so we can continue to provide you with current levels of service for the long term. Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We will keep you updated on this matter. Sincerely, Dwight Berube Vice President Sam Houston Race Park Not much left after that except for NYRA 
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say, fools talk because they have to say something" - Plato
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#8
12-07-2014, 09:38 AM
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#9
12-07-2014, 09:14 AM
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#10
12-07-2014, 08:48 PM
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#11
12-09-2014, 07:37 AM
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__________________
The virtue of a man ought to be measured, not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his everyday conduct. Blaise Pascal
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#12
12-09-2014, 02:33 PM
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Thorough update by T.D. Thornton for TDN:
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com...nt.cfm?id=1478
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984.
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