Handle down? $281k bet into SA 6 Sunday..

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by freddymo

You think because the economy is poor that folks "newbies" will be available to go to the track? I don't think the poor economic conditions will be a positive.. I think while Jon Nerud was accurate in his analysis of the past and I mean the way past, his take is very much flawed in todays world.

I suggest racetracks are basically theaters for pay per view events. You think Saratoga was slow last year wait till this summer. You think the sales ring was slow last year and averages where down wait till this year..

For starters Freddy, Saratoga wasn't 'slow' last summer. The meet just got off to a horrific start... The odd calendar that provides for the earliest meet start possible, and numbingly dreadful weather, were far more influential in digging the hole to climb out of than the high gas prices at the time. And it was going to be impossible to match the 2007 numbers anyway which were driven by 36 days without a single drop of rain during race hours.

Secondly, Nerud's thinking is never flawed. By comparison to other forms of profesional sports, racing is virtually FREE entertainment. You don't think virtually free entertainment won't be an attractive diversion in a depression economy? I'll take Nerud's view and run with it.

[PSH]

How do the racetracks take advantage of this situation?
A depressed economy to attract newbies....
Increased marketing, not charging admission and parking.....
$1 beers? Free vouchers?

Oh, full fields and competitive racing would help too for the more hardcore players...
I would be for cutting back some of the days at certain tracks but that isn't going to happen....

PSH

[Scav]

Originally Posted by PSH

How do the racetracks take advantage of this situation?
A depressed economy to attract newbies....
Increased marketing, not charging admission and parking.....
$1 beers? Free vouchers?

Oh, full fields and competitive racing would help too for the more hardcore players...
I would be for cutting back some of the days at certain tracks but that isn't going to happen....

PSH

I think you are starting to see this though. Gulfstream has cut back to 5 days for the WHOLE year, Arlington this year raced Thursday - Sunday half the time (when Churchill was running) and added Wednesday's. Slowly but surely is unfortunetly the model of the industry.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by PSH

How do the racetracks take advantage of this situation?
A depressed economy to attract newbies....
Increased marketing, not charging admission and parking.....
$1 beers? Free vouchers?

Oh, full fields and competitive racing would help too for the more hardcore players...
I would be for cutting back some of the days at certain tracks but that isn't going to happen....

PSH

The hardcore players are going to play no matter what. It's the rest of the people/newbies that the sport has to try to attract. Get the people/families that won't/can't afford to buy tickets to sporting events. Market going to the track as a day of inexpensive entertainment (obviously I am talking about tracks/meets that run in the warmer months in the northeast, but certain tracks could do this year round). Things like cheap food, give aways and things to do for kids. Concerts after the races. Promote smaller type bets like .10 supers and maybe .50 pick 3's and 4's, so people realize that they might be able to make a score without having to put up alot of money. Have house handicappers be available to interact with patrons. But the important thing is just to get them to the track. Once there hopefully they will be hooked by the excitment of the sport that we all love and will eventually want to go back.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Kasept

For starters Freddy, Saratoga wasn't 'slow' last summer. The meet just got off to a horrific start... The odd calendar that provides for the earliest meet start possible, and numbingly dreadful weather, were far more influential in digging the hole to climb out of than the high gas prices at the time. And it was going to be impossible to match the 2007 numbers anyway which were driven by 36 days without a single drop of rain during race hours.

Secondly, Nerud's thinking is never flawed. By comparison to other forms of profesional sports, racing is virtually FREE entertainment. You don't think virtually free entertainment won't be an attractive diversion in a depression economy? I'll take Nerud's view and run with it.

Saratoga adversely effected by fuel costs? I get it folks elected not to spend the delta between 60 gallons of fuel at 2 bucks versions 4 bucks or 120 "big bucks"..Hotels are 300-700 a night, dinner is 30-100 a head and folks were concerned about the 120 bucks the gas cost. If I was NYRA I would be looking at attendance and on track handle down 15% off of last years figs and that is with oil at 40 barrel. As for the rain, isn't it common knowledge that it rains a lot in Saratoga in the summer? Geez if I was booking a vacation to Aruba I would surely realize it is windy and warm.. Are we now willing to accept that folks don't realize it rains a lot at SPA?

What is flawed with Mr Nerud's opinion is that in 1970's racing had zero gambling competition..No casinos, No blood sucking lottery and no slot palors, no on line gaming and of course the advent of fantasy sports and online poker ..That is why you got 15k to the Meadowlands on a Saturday nite.. Plus in 1970 folks and subsequently that entire generation were still involved in racing. In the 70's folks were young enough to remember the glory of racing as it and for that matter boxing had the abilty to capivate this nation.. No such luck in 2009..people are a generation plus removed from racing as a glorious sport and the competition for gamblings alledgely recession proof dollars is fierce.

BTW explain to me what is so fn entertaining for my 5 year old to do Aqueduct tomorrow for 21 minutes between races.. What are we going to do smoke dope with the Rastas?

Granted if you own a horse or have trainer friends or have "ins" to get you in the paddock etc the track can be more of a friendly petting zoo then casino but really if Saratoga wasn't Saratoga and Delmar wasn't Delmar who the F would need to go to the track.. Believe me there is nothing fun for a 12 year Rachel Mo' to do at Monmouth on a Friday in July.. Other then pet your dads horse and hope you get to scream you would much rather be doing a million other things.

I seriously doubt this current economic sitution will do anything but further contract racing. This could be the long term silver lining.. Less trainers, less horses, less race dates, and consequently a stronger core that has the foundation to potentially reinvent itself and grow organically could be the healthy result..Unfortunately such revolution only comes with much pain and that is obviously the very sad part. While I appreciate and respect the thoughts of Mr Nerud this is 2009 not 1979 and nothing is the same.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by freddymo

BTW explain to me what is so fn entertaining for my 5 year old to do Aqueduct tomorrow for 21 minutes between races.. What are we going to do smoke dope with the Rastas?

Granted if you own a horse or have trainer friends or have "ins" to get you in the paddock etc the track can be more of a friendly petting zoo then casino but really if Saratoga wasn't Saratoga and Delmar wasn't Delmar who the F would need to go to the track.. Believe me there is nothing fun for a 12 year Rachel Mo' to do at Monmouth on a Friday in July.. Other then pet your dads horse and hope you get to scream you would much rather be doing a million other things.

Agreed about Aqueduct. But that's not the type of meet that I was talking about promoting to families. January at Aqueduct is hardcore. You mention Monmouth. Have you ever been there on Sunday when they have things for the kids to do, and if so did she like it? Things like the inflatable jumpies, clowns, face painting, pony rides and so on? My oldest is 5 and he loves it. But I think they only have those things on Sundays. Maybe they could do them for Saturdays too.
I am not saying that this would be the ideal thing for kids to do all the time. But we are talking about cheaper means of entertainment. I'm just saying that there are/could be other ways to entertain people/kids at racetracks to draw them in on days when they don't want to spend lots of money to go to places like amusement parks, baseball games etc.....

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Agreed about Aqueduct. But that's not the type of meet that I was talking about promoting to families. January at Aqueduct is hardcore. You mention Monmouth. Have you ever been there on Sunday when they have things for the kids to do, and if so did she like it? Things like the inflatable jumpies, clowns, face painting, pony rides and so on? My oldest is 5 and he loves it. But I think they only have those things on Sundays. Maybe they could do them for Saturdays too.
I am not saying that this would be the ideal thing for kids to do all the time. But we are talking about cheaper means of entertainment. I'm just saying that there are/could be other ways to entertain people/kids at racetracks to draw them in on days when they don't want to spend lots of money to go to places like amusement parks, baseball games etc.....

I live in Central Jersey I have takin my kids there a bunch. It's ok certainly no better or more fun then Dornbrook park in Colts neck which is free.. It's an ok attempt to lure mom and dad to the track and schlept the kids.. Too me its fool's gold.. Five year olds will like any park...Monmouth Belmont or Dornbrook as long as they have stuff to play with.. But its the park they are there for not the track.. Look if people are interested in entertaining the kids they go to Point Pleasant not Belmont because Andy Serling is in a dunking booth.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by freddymo

I live in Central Jersey I have takin my kids there a bunch. It's ok certainly no better or more fun then Dornbrook park in Colts neck which is free.. It's an ok attempt to lure mom and dad to the track and schlept the kids.. Too me its fool's gold.. Five year olds will like any park...Monmouth Belmont or Dornbrook as long as they have stuff to play with.. But its the park they are there for not the track.. Look if people are interested in entertaining the kids they go to Point Pleasant not Belmont because Andy Serling is in a dunking booth.

I'm in Old Bridge so we are in Dorbrook all the time too. But I think you are missing the point. I take my son to the park and he runs around and haves fun. But I just sit there and watch him and I really have no problem with that, as long as he's having fun I'm happy. But sometimes I want to have fun too and if he enjoys going to the track because there's things for him to do there and he likes it, then it's easier for me to take him (to you it's fools gold, to me it's the real deal). I agree in the most part when you say that 5 year olds will like any park. But when we go, it is more than just all the kiddie stuff. He likes looking at the horses in the paddock and waving to the jocks. He asks who's on what horse (because he knows Eddie Castro and Jose Lezcano have given him goggles). Then we go watch the race, he screams, yells with everyone else and then he wants Ice Cream or something. Is it always easy, I'd be lying if I said yes. But are there times that I ask him what he wants to do on any given Saturday or Sunday and he says that he wants to go to Monmouth, that's the truth too. It could be a cheap alternative on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Go there for a few races and come home. I'm sure you know that Point Pleasant isn't the cheapest day either (by the way do you know that they sell the ticket books for half price around Easter) between the rides and the food. Right now my son enjoys it, and I love spending the time with (reguardless where we are). Maybe he will grow out of it, or maybe he will eventually become a fan/player like his old man.
That's why I think the tracks should try to promote themselves to families as a cheaper mode of entertainment. Maybe they will pick up a few fans/players now and plant a few seeds for the future.