GP changes

[robfla]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

ruining a great place to spend the afternoon sums it up for me. They built the most uncomfortable place, from top to bottom, imaginable..

Hit the nail right on the head there. Was a great place to relax in the winter sun, watch quality horse racing in a relaxing atmosphere.

Total opposite now. Now they herd you into tents and throw a few benches here and there. If you want to bet simulcast races you either have to sit in a stuffy room or under a tent with undesirables.

I didn't mind the temporary bleachers they put in last year.

[Bystander]

Originally Posted by Magnanimous

No more tents or bleachers. I think you have to go to the simulcasting room now. The old tents/bleacher area is now a tiki bar.

The fact is they understand that with the future of High Definition tv and racing, very few are going to go to live racing anymore. If your racetrack doesn't have a casino or isn't named Saratoga or Del Mar, you can pretty much say goodbye to making a profit.

A casino will save Churchill and Belmont is dead unless they turn that into a casino.

Do you work for Magna, by any chance?
Is Gulfstream, following the “renovations” and dedication of space to casino endeavors, making a profit?

I don’t post much here, nor to I want to start some drawn out pissing match with you, but you’re spouting pure marketing crap. "They understand?" Just because they say it doesn’t mean it’s true.
If Gulfstream was to offer a decent racing product and, maybe, was to cater in any way to the bettor, the horseman, or the live-racing fan, perhaps they’d be in better shape than they are now and wouldn’t have to offer a conciliatory tiki bar and a mound of dirt.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

"F" Gulfstream.....Tampa Bay is now the new way!

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Hickory Hill Hoff

"F" Gulfstream.....Tampa Bay is now the new way!

Actually Hoffy, you're on to something. Each year I like Tampa more and more.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

Actually Hoffy, you're on to something. Each year I like Tampa more and more.

Big fields, great turf course.....sure beats those 5k @ GP for horses that haven't a race in two years

[Fearless Leader]

Tampa is a dump.

[fpsoxfan]

The facility itself may possibly be, but racing wise it's fun to bet.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by Fearless Leader

Tampa is a dump.

And the new Gulfstream is a gem???

If I wanna go shopping, I'll go to a mall...If I wanna go to the movies, I'll go to the mall...If I wanna go throw quarters in a slot, I'll go to a racino...
If I wanna play the ponies....It's a racetrack, I'll go to.....dump or not!

[jpops757]

Originally Posted by Magnanimous

No. I don't like the new Gulfstream. However, they understand that seating is pretty much not worth worrying about. The "real" guy betting, the ones that make up the real money in the pool, don't go to races. They bet online or at a simulcat facility.

There is just no reason for racetracks to cater to the small guy any longer.

The fact is horse racing, with 30 minutes between races, is just too slow for people to go to and sit down with nothing to do. Unless you have a Saratoga, Del Mar, or Keeneland there is no reason to go to the track.

The reason why Saratoga, DM, and Keeneland are so successful is because they have short meets. If they were to go for 4 straight months like a Gulfstream does, they would lose their novelty and suffer the same way tracks like Gulfstream do.

I think you hit \on the real fix for horseracing. Shorter meets with larger purses. The casino fix is just a band-aide.

[Alan07]

Gulfstream USED to have a 2 month meet