New sheriff in town in Saratoga

[Travis Stone]

Dealing with the throngs of people for a few weeks a year is an okay sacrifice for me knowing there's a lot of them there being exposed to racing for the first time.

Saratoga's success is hung-out like laundry... good racing, good fields, festive atmosphere, appeals to all ages/groups/levels... it's a powerful brand and experience.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

Dealing with the throngs of people for a few weeks a year is an okay sacrifice for me knowing there's a lot of them there being exposed to racing for the first time.

Saratoga's success is hung-out like laundry... good racing, good fields, festive atmosphere, appeals to all ages/groups/levels... it's a powerful brand and experience.

This is all fine in a positive sense of looking at things but what does more people being introduced to the game do for someone who just wants to bet the horses? Someone who has no need to fight crowds, heat, and other annoyances just for the privilege of getting a bet in. Betting at home is here to stay. It's comfortable, cost effective, soothing for the psyche, etc.
Whether the targets (tracks) remain constant is neither here nor there, as there will always be targets -- even if we need to 'go' abroad for them. Do we really need these once a year types to show up so that we can feel good about the game?

SAR was 'IN' in the '70's and '80's.

[Antitrust32]

Giveaway days must remain. If NYRA gets rid of it they are stupid. So many more people show up at the track. Not all of them stay all day but a lot do.. it adds to the experience.

I know Chainsaw even plans his visits around giveaway weekends... they at least cant do this to chainsaw.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

This is all fine in a positive sense of looking at things but what does more people being introduced to the game do for someone who just wants to bet the horses? Someone who has no need to fight crowds, heat, and other annoyances just for the privilege of getting a bet in. Betting at home is here to stay. It's comfortable, cost effective, soothing for the psyche, etc.
Whether the targets (tracks) remain constant is neither here nor there, as there will always be targets -- even if we need to 'go' abroad for them. Do we really need these once a year types to show up so that we can feel good about the game?

SAR was 'IN' in the '70's and '80's.

Dead money?

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

SAR was 'IN' in the '70's and '80's.

There's a reason why the city's population has doubled in the past ten years, and Saratoga County is probably the only county in upstate NY that has thrived in recent years. Saratoga is still "IN."

[philcski]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

There's a reason why the city's population has doubled in the past ten years, and Saratoga County is probably the only county in upstate NY that has thrived in recent years. Saratoga is still "IN."

Very much correct. I know several people from my "home" in WNY that have moved recently to Saratoga County. It's such a wonderful place to visit and live, it's definitely still "in".