Arlington Park saga

[Easy Goer Otis]

Today's letter from the ITHA. AP/CDI strangely silent on advocating slots at AP. New governor in Springfield, so why not take another run at it?

It's Past Time for AP/CDI to Renew

Its Support for Slots at Tracks Agreement

Message from ITHA Legislative Committee


Dear Fellow Horsemen:

Five years ago, representatives of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Arlington Park/Churchill Downs Inc., and other industry leaders met and negotiated the terms of the agreement that would become of the basis of the slots-at-tracks bills that lawmakers have since approved.



Though the state's previous governor, unfortunately, twice vetoed that legislation, the ITHA and other horse racing stakeholders are continuing to advocate for final passage of that plan. Once approved and implemented, slots at tracks will improve our purses and, in doing so, position Illinois racing to again compete with racing in other states already using slot revenue to enhance purses.

But conspicuously absent from the voices publicly advocating for passage of that gaming bill during this spring session is AP/CDI. Though the ITHA, Hawthorne Racecourse, the Illinois Harness Horseman's Association, and other organizations with a direct interest in that legislation are unequivocal in our commitment to the terms we brokered in 2010, AP/CDI - the same entity fond of admonishing others across the industry to stay in unity - has declined to publicly renew its support.

Indeed, in light of AP/CDI's incessant refusal to negotiate with the ITHA in good faith over a contract with owners and trainers for the 2015 season, we must wonder whether AP/CDI is deliberately scuttling contract negotiations to hamstring horsemen and distract attention from efforts to obstruct the slots-at-tracks agreement. (In a recent racing industry meeting on gaming, an AP/CDI official advised that the agreed gaming bill does not meet its desired "return on investment.")

The agreed slots-at-tracks legislation includes three provisions, in particular, embodying the priorities of Illinois horsemen:

1) Agreed rates to support purses.

2) Guaranteed live racing opportunities.

3) Elimination of recapture. (In 2014, Illinois tracks took an estimated $13.19 million in recapture subsidies - dollars removed from horsemen purses to subsidize track operations.)

It may be the case that AP/CDI continues to honor its agreement to these terms but that, for reasons that are not clear, it is refraining from stating that publicly. Or it may be the case that AP/CDI has abandoned its agreement - in which case all Illinois horsemen, as well as all of the other parties that negotiated those terms with AP/CDI, deserve to know exactly where AP/CDI now stands - and whether it is now advocating for terms against our interests.

The stakes are far too high for the Illinois horse racing industry, and the tens of thousands of jobs that we support across Illinois, for us not to know who's on board and who is not.

Sincerely,

The ITHA Legislative Committee:

President Mike Campbell

Vice-President Chris Block

[dellinger63]

Fan-friendly Arlington; Derby Day

$14.00 General Admission
$2.50 Program
$5.00 per cooler (no alcohol allowed whatsoever)
$5.00 preferred parking


http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/Tick...value=05022015

[South Beach Luv]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Fan-friendly Arlington; Derby Day

$14.00 General Admission
$2.50 Program
$5.00 per cooler (no alcohol allowed whatsoever)
$5.00 preferred parking


http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/Tick...value=05022015

Just saw $25 on Million Day for General Admission. Glad the wifey gets in for free and it might take a few superstars (Lady Eli in Beverly D please ) to get me there this year.

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Fan-friendly Arlington; Derby Day

$14.00 General Admission
$2.50 Program
$5.00 per cooler (no alcohol allowed whatsoever)
$5.00 preferred parking


http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/Tick...value=05022015

CDI is really running with all this California Chrome momentum this year... Derby tickets are near impossible to get, and calling for $14 GA at their tracks is pretty ridiculous.
Just head to the back side OTB, or live life dangerously and hang out at Joe's on Weed Street, that only sets you back $2.....but the drifters there make $14 seem like a steal at AP.

-bt-

[Left Bank]

Come and race at Canterbury Park. They will treat you right. Beautiful grass course. Well cared for track. I think you would like it.

[tomm5647]

Dellinger63 your post shows exactly why racing is dying in the area. It has little to do with slot machines. CDI apparently is planning a business model that does not include live fans. I have lived in the area my entire life and I have been going to AP since the early 1970s. It's criminal the way they squeeze the fans at every opportunity. Customer service means follow all of our directives or stay home. I now attend the live races only once or twice per year. I play at home or at the local OTB where there is no admission charge and frequent food and beverage specials. When I watch the feeds from other tracks at home or the OTB I get angry. Golden Gate regularly schedules dollar Sundays with $1 admission, program, hot dogs and beers. When I asked one of the Customer service reps when AP was going to try something similar I was told the chance was slim or none. If I go to the races with my wife and sister they will not even let me purchase 3 beers at once at the stands. Protecting me from overserving myself. If these customer service wizards had spent any time at the track they would realize that 98% of the customers that they have are trying to go home with more money that they came with. Guzzling multiple beers even at a low price doesn't help you make intelligent handicapping decisions. I'll stay far away from AP this year and I'm sure they will not miss me but when the doors close for good and they blame the politicians refusal to OK slots those of us who tried to be customers will know the real story.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by tomm5647

Dellinger63 your post shows exactly why racing is dying in the area. It has little to do with slot machines. CDI apparently is planning a business model that does not include live fans. I have lived in the area my entire life and I have been going to AP since the early 1970s. It's criminal the way they squeeze the fans at every opportunity. Customer service means follow all of our directives or stay home. I now attend the live races only once or twice per year. I play at home or at the local OTB where there is no admission charge and frequent food and beverage specials. When I watch the feeds from other tracks at home or the OTB I get angry. Golden Gate regularly schedules dollar Sundays with $1 admission, program, hot dogs and beers. When I asked one of the Customer service reps when AP was going to try something similar I was told the chance was slim or none. If I go to the races with my wife and sister they will not even let me purchase 3 beers at once at the stands. Protecting me from overserving myself. If these customer service wizards had spent any time at the track they would realize that 98% of the customers that they have are trying to go home with more money that they came with. Guzzling multiple beers even at a low price doesn't help you make intelligent handicapping decisions. I'll stay far away from AP this year and I'm sure they will not miss me but when the doors close for good and they blame the politicians refusal to OK slots those of us who tried to be customers will know the real story.

One small suggestion I had and conveyed it to GM Tony Petrillo was to sell $50 or even $100 vouchers at the gate that would have to be used on that particular race day. Those willing to do this would be given complementary admission and a racing program. Food and beverage at Arlington is handled by Levy so I didn't even suggest they participate. So far crickets.....

Meanwhile this Saturday we'll see the park packed with miserable crying kids who are only charged $4 admission. We'll see their idiot parents lifting up said kids to self-service terminals to make picks on a machine the parent barely understands how to use. Each kid betting $2 and taking their sweet time completely ignorant that there are others in line seeking to bet far more. Throughout the day throngs will clog teller lines to place their $2 derby show bets first confirming show means 1rst, 2nd or 3rd on either American Pharaoh or Dortmund and then clog lines following the derby hoping to cash their $2.80 cent winners.

Wow I feel better getting that out.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

One small suggestion I had and conveyed it to GM Tony Petrillo was to sell $50 or even $100 vouchers at the gate that would have to be used on that particular race day. Those willing to do this would be given complementary admission and a racing program. Food and beverage at Arlington is handled by Levy so I didn't even suggest they participate. So far crickets.....

Meanwhile this Saturday we'll see the park packed with miserable crying kids who are only charged $4 admission. We'll see their idiot parents lifting up said kids to self-service terminals to make picks on a machine the parent barely understands how to use. Each kid betting $2 and taking their sweet time completely ignorant that there are others in line seeking to bet far more. Throughout the day throngs will clog teller lines to place their $2 derby show bets first confirming show means 1rst, 2nd or 3rd on either American Pharaoh or Dortmund and then clog lines following the derby hoping to cash their $2.80 cent winners.

Wow I feel better getting that out.

Nice rant Del! Let me know how those lines at the machines are after you give everybody a voucher they don't know how to insert let alone bet with.

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

One small suggestion I had and conveyed it to GM Tony Petrillo was to sell $50 or even $100 vouchers at the gate that would have to be used on that particular race day. Those willing to do this would be given complementary admission and a racing program. Food and beverage at Arlington is handled by Levy so I didn't even suggest they participate. So far crickets.....

Meanwhile this Saturday we'll see the park packed with miserable crying kids who are only charged $4 admission. We'll see their idiot parents lifting up said kids to self-service terminals to make picks on a machine the parent barely understands how to use. Each kid betting $2 and taking their sweet time completely ignorant that there are others in line seeking to bet far more. Throughout the day throngs will clog teller lines to place their $2 derby show bets first confirming show means 1rst, 2nd or 3rd on either American Pharaoh or Dortmund and then clog lines following the derby hoping to cash their $2.80 cent winners.

Wow I feel better getting that out.

they're clearly catering to the family atmosphere, and away from the gambler, and purely from a business standpoint, it's smart, i don't like it, but it's smart.
You figure you get a family of 4 coming through the turn styles, roughly $20-$24, those people are going to head to the picnic table, pay for overpriced food/beer, all while placing their $2 show bets, they're not breaking CDI, as CDI just nickles and dimes those people to death and essentially provides them little to nothing aside from suspect musical acts and balloon animals.

Gamblers clearly are looking for some value on their money, and this track just isn't going to give it to them. None the less, the place is packed, even during the week, so usually when i go there i take my racing/gambling a little lighter, and enjoy the day for what it is, a stroll in the park, where i happen to be able to drink beer and gamble

-bt-