What is Racing's Biggest Current Hurdle?

[Indian Charlie]

#1 Idiots in charge of tracks, BC, etc making one bad decision after another, for years now.

It's like they are hell bent on destroying the industry.

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

#1 Idiots in charge of tracks, BC, etc making one bad decision after another, for years now.

It's like they are hell bent on destroying the industry.

yes Ive seen hot dog carts have much better management than Calder or Gulfstream down here in Fla for example

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

yes Ive seen hot dog carts have much better management than Calder or Gulfstream down here in Fla for example

Also look at how the BC has been handled the last few years. They are trying to appeal to a select few rich and famous celebs and they have no regard for the typical fan. Their decisions really make no sense at all.

The CHRB decision to mandate synthetics? Don't get me started.

CD management just a year or so ago saying they don't want to host the BC, due to some made up nonsense? Now they want it?

The constant bickering with signal feeds?

Stronachs dismantling of GP?

It's really like they are all in a race with each other to see who can destroy themselves the quickest.

Maybe the Breeders Cup has some sort of secret race. It's restricted to racing management types and the first ones to destroy themselves are the winners. Purse, $100 mil.

Though, come to think of it, racings approach to running their businesses is pretty consistent with the normal way of doing things lately across the board in big companies these days.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

CD management just a year or so ago saying they don't want to host the BC, due to some made up nonsense? Now they want it?.

Host tracks have been the BC committee's patsies. The BC essentially leases the track for the day (for free? I haven't seen any word of the BC paying) and takes the track's share of the take-out. Host tracks have often taken financial baths by having the Breeders Cup on their grounds, since they still have to maintain the facility, pay employees, and clean up afterwards.

Churchill wasn't going to host the BC again until they could broker a better deal.

[AeWingnut]

They need gamblers not fans.

I would create a bet that is almost guaranteed to have a huge carryover and advertise the life altering amount of money you can win. People will show up to bet "The 7" or whatever and stick around to bet the other races.
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Definately work to get rid of the IRS 300-1. The feds may let you slide on losses vs winnings but the state only cares about the wins. "you lost? eh, too bad - pay me"
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I agree that the small fields hurt. I won't play a race with less than 8 horses. The "big name" horses can avoid each other and dominate a 4 or 5 horse field for the same money.

[johnny pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

#1 Idiots in charge of tracks, BC, etc making one bad decision after another, for years now.

It's like they are hell bent on destroying the industry.

i agree with the indian and some of the other posts which point out the crummy decisions. Poly in Cali where its hot, there is no "weather"...stupid,stupid,stupid. poly at keenland, those are what i call lost causes right there. i rarely bet that crap! the horses have to "avoid" each other because of specialized tracks. whose going to send a horse to run in a big race on poly when you know you have no shot? after two years of breeders cups there(which is another joke of a decision) the connections for dirt horses know its a farce. charging for parking, admission and all the other crap when casinos are giving things away and you walk in the joint free! turning gulfstream park into some kind of racino/mall.....brilliant. i could go on and on and on and on.........