Lol...for the record I'm not crazy about the increased takeout...its not the owners that raised the takeout... it takes all three entities for the model to work but it is the tracks and the owners who are directly related in putting on the show. :eek:

Ron Turcotte's experience:

http://foxhillfarmstable.com/2014/04...end-of-racing/

Need NBA commish to force CDI to sell all of their tracks.

I'm not joking. They are scum of the earth.

I think what everyone is learning here is why profit-maximizing corporations are not necessarily good for America in general. Churchill is doing what "is best for their shareholders" because that's what they HAVE to do. It's the whole 99%'er argument all over again.

I have a lot more compassion for Ron Turcotte than Porter- a true legend of the game, who literally gave everything he had to it, and Churchill should have shown him the respect he deserves with at least a ticket and a parking spot.

I totally agree about Turcotte. Porter should pay his way.

This this this a thousand times this.

This is sad...and shows how disengaged CDI is with the "sport". Porter should pay but to offer this type of treatment to one it's historical stars and HOF members is "below the line". Shame on you CDI. :p

Phil you know this sentence is not exactly true.

CDI conveniently trots this out whenever they do something that will piss people off like their hands are tied because of shareholders. While Fiduciary responsibility is a part of every publicly traded companies accountability, the idea that free programs for the backside or a few hundred comped seats on a day when 150k people will be there has zero to do with shareholders. Management has a lot of leeway on day to day business decisions and pricing. This has far more to do with intentionally alienating the racing industry to the point where the backlash allows them to feel free to slash racing to the absolute bare minimum and eventually sell off or eliminate it completely. Except of course the Derby/Oaks weekend.

People mistakenly believe that because of the name "Churchill Downs" the company is a racing company. They might as well be named Acme Gaming. They have decided that instead of trying to grow the racing product, they will just squeeze it for every drop of blood and then dump it when the politicians are desperate.

In other words, they are acting like every other large corporation, with the possible exception of Costco.

No I'm just saying that they aren't what they were even 7-8 years ago. They didnt just go public.

Let's say they hold back 1,000 seats for owners and trainers on Derby Weekend. Got to be clubhouse 300's at minimum, as though not to offend a guy like Porter, right? Those seats are almost $1,000 for the two days. That's a million bucks of lost revenue. You know what a million bucks is to CD's CEO? 2% of Net Income in 2013. Let's just say that correlated 1:1 to the stock (which it's often magnified, but for argument's sake)... 2% is a difference of $30 million to the market cap.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... they don't have people who understand racing and gaming in place, they have knucklehead MBA's who see everything as an asset or liability on the balance sheet and P&L on the income statement. Not saying it's right, but that's what they're doing.

I'm saying that like every other large corporation they are maximizing short term profit at the expense of long term growth. I find it hard to believe they have a coherent long term plan to alienate the racing industry because most corporations aren't capable of thinking past the next quarter.

Acme Gaming makes money and shareholders like profit CD horse racing is a huge LOSER...move forward sir you are wasting your time. Racing is not a business model to bank on

Phil he is thinking like a horseman not a business owner.

facts are simple your horse wins the KD and is worth 8 figs plus save the BS for Rick Porter

1000 is a way high number Phil and thy never gave away premium seats to anyone but Derby/Oaks horses. My point is that they have changed policy and while the beancounters might not be racing savvy they are smart enough to realize what changing policy is going to do. Sure they want more revenue but believe me they know exactly what the fall out will be. They have cut out or cut back on a lot of petty things like programs for the trainers that cost virtually nothing because they are printing them themselves. The KTA had to sponsor racing programs and it only cost something like $20 a day. That's less than $100 a week. They use shareholder responsibility as a cover regardless

Oh I believe you are mistaken as the elimination of racing would be a huge boon for them at all their current racing locations. Don't forget that they have invested in minor league harness tracks in Ohio simply for the slots license that the cache of being "Churchill Downs" allows them to get a leg up on. The idea that they have an interest in promoting C level harness racing would be a stretch. Fact is that they havent made a single move in the racing arena in a long time that hasnt alienated racing interests. Virtually everything at Calder. Virtually everything at FG. Virtually everything at AP. Virtually everything at CD. Eliminating the position of vice President of Racing for CDI. Cutting track maintenance budgets at a time when breakdowns and tracks surfaces are under the microscope. If they dont have a strategic policy to minimize racing outside of the Derby/oaks it would be the worlds biggest coincidence.

Which is fine and they should lease the racing facilities to parties interested in trying like they are doing in FL.

No actually I am thinking like an informed person who has been speaking out against the actions of CDI for years on this board.

The idea that if CDI comps undercard owners some seats that they will be failing shareholders in laughable. Bob Evans corporate internet porn account subtracts more from the bottom line than those seats.

:tro::tro:

I really dont understand how anyone would want to attend the Kentucky Derby for that matter. Absurd admissions, long lines everywhere and not even a good view of the race. I rather go to track early, bet my picks and come home and watch it on my own 65 inch TV with friends/family.