Breeders Cup attendance
 

I was at the races friday and and can tell you that only about 30,000 were there.

Watching the ESPN overhead shot you can see that the parking lot is only 1/3 full. My guess is about 35,000 today. This sad considering the place can handle 80,000 fairly well.

John Henry would pull 80,000.

horse racing is dead....your just realizing this?

To be fair, the attendance will surely pick up as the day goes on. Not everyone is anxious to roll out of bed and be at the track for a 1010am first post when the horses are Sixties Icon and Delightful Kiss. Same with this second race.

News Flash! The Internet is here! Many people just don't go to the track when they can sit at home and bet. How many people within 100 miles of SA are doing it on-line? I say a bunch.

The game's not dead...just changed.

I have to go, my virtual horse is getting ready to run...........

Spyder

i think they said later on yesterday that the crowd was 55k. was that the case?

I think that the seating price might have had something to do with it.....a real joke.

The whole thing is becoming a real joke.. They have ruined/are ruining what was the best day in horseracing (in America at least).
I am certainly not looking forward of a repeat next year...Whoopie.

Scavs was in attendance...isn't that enough?

I miss his lucky gallbladder this year actually......

yes scavs was there and we all got booted out of the atr booth...........the bc police" no yellow tickets"!

51,331

I met Scavs , GBBob and Brianwspenser and a few others at the track. DT'er were well represented by these fine human beings....errr...well you were represented and let's leave it at that :D

GBBob started day by crushing Marathon :$: nice job:tro:

I'm not sure if "crushing the marathon" is something I should be proud of..

Nice meeting Geeker and his boys as well.

LOL..same here...

I think I hit one BC race! But I was playing GG and hit a few exacta's - that keep me even.

I hit Muny and ended on the plus side (less the $20WPS youbet bet :p )

It was a good time :tro: :tro:

And lets note that my guy Heels comes out of the woodwork after the last race when our whole crew was hammered.

Most people can't afford to go 2 days in a row! We want a one day event!!

Afterward, or at least after day 1 but I'm not sure, they said the equivalent of 'oops, we didn't realize the market was gonna screw up and the economy'd be in the tanker...that whole 2 day ticket thing was a stinker it turns out.' I'd say expect some changes for next year. They aren't under the illusion it was the best they could do and I think they feel sheepish about what seemed like a good idea at the time... to someone at least.

the post parade camera would show the stands in the background. it looked like ALOT of empty seats for both days. the last couple races on saturday, the rail, apron and paddock areas looked very crowded.

You guys were hammered??? :rolleyes: :D

Great time at BC. Very happy to run into the Chicago crew and meet Brockguy as well (Go Euros). Saw Steve and John Perrotta at the Thursday AM work outs and then later at the Horse Society Magazine launch party. Sorry I did not get to meet other DTers in attendance.

No real luck at the windows again this year. Congrats to those who had BIG DAYS. :$:

And Scav's, next year I will offer my post races taxi services. I am sure we can find a party or two.

Big Brown's injury and Zenyatta racing Friday diluted the attendance dramatically. Santa Anita got no bounce off of ABC and ESPN advertising to promote the race. They just could not put together a compelling enough of a teaser to promote with the biggest identifyable name in racing this year not competing. As a sidenote, UPS cut their advertising commitment 80% to ESPN when Big Brown's injury was announced.

Dramatically no, but I believe it was a combination of Big Brown not running (he upped the crowds at Belmont and the two Monmouths). He had a following. Even though they neither might not have won (him and Curlin), it was still something to hype for the race. Now they no longer could. I also believe Zenyatta being a story line but not racing in the main event didn't capture any interest. If 30,000 was the announced attendance, that reallt stinks. If it were at Churchill or Belmont, I'm sure it would have been much higher. I know I am convaluted but my real point is there was no compelling storyline to promote the race. Big Brown vs. Curlin could have only helped it. Even if they would have fallen short of the hype.

:eek: what a tremendous observation considering they announced the attendance Friday night at 31,000 then you share your attendance thoughts with us Sat afternoon:eek:

Sorry just kidding could not help it.:D

I didn't know you could redboard attendance too!

I was thinking that too geeker2 but I figured I had threw enough fuel on the fire:D

i believe final attendance they announced for saturday was just over 50k.

That's OK, I have been going to Santa Anita since 1973 and I do love it with a big crowd. Most opening days for the fall meet will go 40,000. I just thought there should have been more on both days.

Thanks, That is a better number. Do you know how many were in attendance at Churchill a couple of years ago or sloppy Monmouth last year?

Churchill was 70K plus and Monmouth was about 42K , I believe..both Saturday figs

This does raise a point. Based on 50k this year and the attendance you quoted from the past two, isn't it fair to say that race fans (the overall base) are much more interested in attending a Belmont when a Triple Crown is at stake vs. an all star Breeders Cup event? Curious to hear anyones thoughts.

i believe handle was the highest ever, wasn't it?

Saturday was..$115 Mill I think..But 9 "Official" BC races TY, vs 8 LY and 7 at CD on Sat on '06..So handle should be higher

how was the attendance on friday?

I don't remember the #, but if they had 25K at Monmouth, I'd be surprised.

I don't remember the reported #, but I think they had more than 25k at Monmouth. I think they shot themselves in the foot with the way the facility and the event was handled (vis a vis "general admission", no apron, etc.). The weather should have been taken into consideration and the arrangements should have been changed. You had a lot of people "outside" in the back, by the paddock, up toward the grandstand, etc. and a lot of people in the building. Many of the outside seats weren't covered and of course the weather was a disaster.

Do you remember the reported # and/or how many tickets were sold?

Eric

it was about 30k for fri, 51k for saturday.

I don't know what the numbers are but I would expect it to be higher with the better weather and more races. I do know that I read somewhere that the increase in handle was not that much and that when it was broken down to average amount per race, it was lower this year.

I think its safe to say it was lower, but given the economy I think they were happy.

I also think they had to be pleased as just about every horse that was healthy and elgible showed up.

Who cares? Besides Zenyatta....horrible day for the level of racing. Didn't recognize hardly any of the horses.

I'm surprised if they outdrew the Lakers Pre-season finale.