Support grows for Belmont slot machines

[philcski]

is there a barfing icon?

im all for slots at aquedump to kick up the purses but keep them out of belmont/saratoga.

[Cannon Shell]

Why? Because Belmont's facility is so overutilized? Or the fact that Belmont is more easily accessable to about 2 million people who live on Long Island? Saratoga is one thing but Belmont is a morbuid, empty place 98% of the time.

[freddymo]

Plow have the place over and sell houses It's a fn morgue

[sumitas]

if they work with the neighborhood, keep a nice clean facility inside and out, why not slots ?

[ShadowRoll]

In Maryland, they're talking about getting slots, but not having them at Pimlico.

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v...localnews&om=1

Could this work with Belmont? It's a complex question involving both cash and attendance. On the one hand, if there's little cross-over between slots players and horse players, then it doesn't really matter if the money comes from on-site slots or from slots at a remote location. As long as some of the money garnered from slots at Aqueduct (or wherever) is channelled to Belmont, then Belmont should be able to remain competitive with tracks in neighboring states that do have slots.

But I'm not so sure that the absence of slots does not affect attendance. Let me give you an example. At one time, Delaware Park had slots but Philly didn't. From my home, the trip to Philly or Delaware is about the same, and if I were going to the track by myself, I might go to either one. But if I was going with my wife, I'd only go to Delaware Park because she only plays the slots. I suspect that many horse players go to tracks with slots because they don't go to the track alone. If this is true, then the absence of slots could affect a tracks draw, even if most horse players personally could care less about slots.

Don't get me wrong -- I don't think that the slot machine is the panacea for the racing industry's woes that some seem to think. Those people will be mighty surprised when the slots saturation point is reached, and even tracks that do have slots begin to feel the economic pinch again. However, until that saturation point is reached, slots seem necessary for survival. A tourniquet is not an adequate substitute for surgery, but you'll still bleed to death if you don't get one. And the economic power of slots can't be denied:

http://www.marylandthoroughbred.com/...kFarmStory.pdf

What we need now, while the money from slots is still abundant, are forward thinking people who can plan for a future without slots, and who actually have the power to carry out their plans. It'll be too late when Nero starts to play his fiddle.

[pmayjr]

Guys...

right now I don't see how slots are hurting the game. Purses are up everywhere they've been brought in. The thing that puts horse racing (and dogs, sports betting, jai alai, etc) at a disadvantage over casinos, is it can't be done 24/7/365 like games at a casino can be played. Casinos bring in $$$ all the time, the track only brings it in when there's live racing. Don't argue simulcasting, because not enough casual fans do that to make a difference. It sucks, but horse tracks need another revenue stream to prop themselves up. If in the long-term, I'm wrong about this, then ok. But look around- the tracks that have slots are doing quite well.

[Danzig]

but why the need to shun the slots? as was mentioned above, if the spouse goes, they go where the slots are. betting on horses is gambling. most who go to the track are indeed gamblers--so why not offer alternatives? hell, have a bingo parlor, some slots, video poker, keno, whatever...horse racing for many isn't about the gambling--that's not why i'm a fan--but for many it is, and it's what supports the sport. the more money flowing thru the track, the better.
since a lot of bettors can go to the otb for their betting, they need to offer other things you CAN'T get at the otb. handle is up, but attendance is down--offer what consumers want, variety.

[pmacdaddy]

Certainly a lot of unused space at BEL.

Might be better than the current sea of cars being stored for dealers or whatever they have going on over there...

I love Belmont, but it is a ghost town 9 times out of 10.

[pmacdaddy]

Certainly a lot of unused space at BEL.

Might be better than the current sea of cars being stored for dealers or whatever they have going on over there...

I love Belmont, but it is a ghost town 9 times out of 10.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ShadowRoll

Don't get me wrong -- I don't think that the slot machine is the panacea for the racing industry's woes that some seem to think. Those people will be mighty surprised when the slots saturation point is reached, and even tracks that do have slots begin to feel the economic pinch again. However, until that saturation point is reached, slots seem necessary for survival. A tourniquet is not an adequate substitute for surgery, but you'll still bleed to death if you don't get one. And the economic power of slots can't be denied:

http://www.marylandthoroughbred.com/...kFarmStory.pdf

What we need now, while the money from slots is still abundant, are forward thinking people who can plan for a future without slots, and who actually have the power to carry out their plans. It'll be too late when Nero starts to play his fiddle.

If you think slots hurt the sport if we have control of them then what will it be like if they are just direct competition?

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

If you think slots hurt the sport if we have control of them then what will it be like if they are just direct competition?

What will it be like? Just as you said. Competition. Some tracks make it, others go bust. Why should horse racing be immunized with slots? And why should horse racing benefit? No good reason. Unfair competition? Bullsh.t. There's competition in every industry. Why should there be new racetracks popping up just to appease horseowners? Plenty of tracks are surviving without slot machines and some are doing very well. Others are failing. So what? How's that different from how it has always been?

Slot machines in NY tracks is an absurd notion. What for? They already have the highest purse structure within 3000 miles. They're not going to attract better horses. Just taxing people more and paying inflated purses to the same horses.

If a racetrack can't make it, put up a mall. Or condos. The world will go on.

[ShadowRoll]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

If you think slots hurt the sport if we have control of them then what will it be like if they are just direct competition?

I don't think that slots are injurious to the sport in and of themselves. It's like holding a hammer in your hand -- the hammer could be used to build a house or hit someone over the head. The hammer itself is nuetral; the way it is used defines it as being good or bad.

I just think that slots, in the long run, won't save the sport against the other competition for the gambling dollar that you mention. And I don't want to see horse racing become a secondary interest at race tracks. Unless the racing product is promoted as something of value itself, then racetracks will simply turn into slots parlors, with less and less money dedicated to racing and, eventually, the replacement of racing altogether for the more profitable business of slots. Just imagine how many machines you could fit at Belmont if you paved over the track.

For the moment, tracks should take all the money they can get out of slots. But with that money, the sport of horse racing should be promoted so that it can stand up by itself, without the crutch that slots really are.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by sumitas

if they work with the neighborhood, keep a nice clean facility inside and out, why not slots ?

The neighborhood around is a dump(Elmont) and them saying that NYRA has not been a good neighbor is laughable.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The neighborhood around is a dump(Elmont) and them saying that NYRA has not been a good neighbor is laughable.

You are absolutely clueless and have no idea what you are talking about. Floral Park borders Belmont. There are million dollar homes just outside the fence of belmont's back parking area. Also, if you go out the back gate where the school is you are in Floral Park, where homes start at $500K.

Please get your head of of NYRA's butt. It is comical how people stick up for them all the time and then don't disclose their relationship with members of the group.

Who has more credibility, the people that live near the track, or the organization that is bankrupt and in years past was getting slapped around by the federal government? Remember the people that live in that neighborhood are the ones paying the taxes to bail out bankrupt groups like NYRA.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Benevolus

You are absolutely clueless and have no idea what you are talking about. Floral Park borders Belmont. There are million dollar homes just outside the fence of belmont's back parking area. Also, if you go out the back gate where the school is you are in Floral Park, where homes start at $500K.

Please get your head of of NYRA's butt. It is comical how people stick up for them all the time and then don't disclose their relationship with members of the group.

Who has more credibility, the people that live near the track, or the organization that is bankrupt and in years past was getting slapped around by the federal government? Remember the people that live in that neighborhood are the ones paying the taxes to bail out bankrupt groups like NYRA.

These people that live in the neighborhood around Belmont have done nothing as a community to support Belmont. Things work both ways.

Contrary to what you seem to believe, people that see NYRA's side of the situation don't necessarily have their " head in NYRA's butt " as you suggest.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Benevolus

You are absolutely clueless and have no idea what you are talking about. Floral Park borders Belmont. There are million dollar homes just outside the fence of belmont's back parking area. Also, if you go out the back gate where the school is you are in Floral Park, where homes start at $500K.

Please get your head of of NYRA's butt. It is comical how people stick up for them all the time and then don't disclose their relationship with members of the group.

Who has more credibility, the people that live near the track, or the organization that is bankrupt and in years past was getting slapped around by the federal government? Remember the people that live in that neighborhood are the ones paying the taxes to bail out bankrupt groups like NYRA.

You know between you and STS you have tried to convince me that Hialeah was a nice neighborhood and the area around Belmont is full of Luxury homes. Of course the fact that I was stabled at Hialeah for 4 years or lived in beautiful Elmont and Franklin Square for 10 years would give me no idea of what I was talking about. Go the other way from Floral Park (which is not exactly 90210). Leave the front gate at Belmont and go right for about 2 minutes. Still nice? Take a left and see how beautiful it is? The county and town sure never bitched about all the tax money they received from NYRA despite the fact that they allowed an OTB directly accross the street! NYRA has treated me fairly over the years, nothing more, nothing less. I call them like I see them. This constant reference to bankruptcy shows your ignorance of both the situation and bankruptcy laws in general.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Cardus

This part is correct, and I would not describe Elmont as a "dump." A friend recently bought a plain home that needs some work for over $300,000. There are nicer homes in Elmont than his purchase.

Just because it is expensive to live in NY does not make Elmont a wonderful cheery place to live that is just ruined by that nasty old NYRA and all the losing tickets floating around.

[viscount26]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why? Because Belmont's facility is so overutilized? Or the fact that Belmont is more easily accessable to about 2 million people who live on Long Island? Saratoga is one thing but Belmont is a morbuid, empty place 98% of the time.

Chuck,
If this happens, the LIRR might actually run more than 2 freaking trains in and 1 out after the last. Just ask Andy about that c**p