The biggest problem the sport has had for a very long time

[outofthebox]

I tried to gamble for a living a few years back. Solely concentrated on the so cal circuit. I clocked in the am, bought the replays on disc and kept up on charts and track bias. Loved the freedom of not working for anyone. I had some winning years. But at the end of the day i realized that it wasnt enough. I was barely making minumum wage. I never fully understood what i was up against with the takeout. Training as you know demands your complete attention. Gone are the days of hours attacking a race card.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by outofthebox

I tried to gamble for a living a few years back. Solely concentrated on the so cal circuit. I clocked in the am, bought the replays on disc and kept up on charts and track bias. Loved the freedom of not working for anyone. I had some winning years. But at the end of the day i realized that it wasnt enough. I was barely making minumum wage. I never fully understood what i was up against with the takeout. Training as you know demands your complete attention. Gone are the days of hours attacking a race card.

Obviously, even a lot of sharp people have a hard time grasping what they're up against. New people? They're completely oblivious to it! And that is part of the reason why the powers that be don't seem to think the rate is a big deal and why it has steadily been jacked up over the year. And why they offer takeout reductions on gimmicky exotic bets as an attempt at some sad marketing ploy.

I've heard more than a few sharp trainers admit that they first tried to make it as a bettor -- a lot of them will say they had no success at all. Scott Lake claimed he failed repeatedly as a bettor and was eating 2 for $1 hot dogs from the gas station before he became a force as a trainer. Bobby Frankel claimed to be a serious horse bettor long before he ever touched a horse.

Obviously, you did a lot of work and showed skill to get that slight edge you had. Under a less draconian system -- your edge would have been stronger, and consciously or not, you would have bet A LOT more money overtime.

It's always great fun and a great challenge playing the horses. For me, the feeling is unmatched and I would be lost in this world if I didn't have it to consume all of my time. I had another incredible time today at the track.

It's a shame -- but 99% of new fans can't possibly be developed because of the climate right now. And worse, a great number more who have no interest in horse racing at all would become hard-core fans and big, constant bettors if a climate existed that wasn't so draconian.

I know, with every bone in my body and every fiber of my being, that the biggest problem this sport has right now, and has had for a long time now, by 50 lengths, is the draconian rake.

[Indian Charlie]

I think this thread has set a record for non politics message boards for the most use of the word 'draconian'.

But, yeah, Sal is right. High taxes never really work well.

[GenuineRisk]

You're spot on, Doug, but I don't know that it'll ever get any better. There's an incredible preference, in business and politics, to favor short-term over long-term planning. Yes, reducing the takeout would attract more betting money over the long term, but how to persuade the powers that be that the long-term growth is worth the short-term loss with a reduction in takeout?

So frustrating.