[Aly-Sheba]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Here's my original 9. There's a 10th to add as Peter Rotondo pre-empted one of mine (Equine Sports Alliance) before I got to it. I broke them in to 2 categories, Business Development & Wagering Enhancement. I also note the origins of several of them as to my thinking, there's nothing wrong with re-booting someone else's good idea (Kids to the Cup) or expanding one already working (Latino Marketing).

STAKEHOLDER BUYERS GUIDE: A national directory of horseplayer/horse owner businesses. Those that are investing in the game as owners or players should be conducting business with each other whenever possible and can offer coop discounts along the the lines of the highly successful NTRA Advantage Program. Why buy a car from a dealer who isn’t in the game when you can patronize owners like Nick Alexander (CA), Billy Fuccillo (NY), Pat Chapman (PA) and Billy Hays (Louisville), Frank Shoop (Lexington), Rick Porter (DE), etc., who will funnel revenue back into the sport?

ON TRACK PATRON REBATE (Satish Sanan): Reward on track patrons with a rebate for a percentage of their losses on the day (3%? 5%?) that must be used in another on track visit.

“TAX FREE TUESDAY”: Utilize the successful tax-free zone or tax-free shopping day concept by offering takeout rollbacks on specific target days that generally produce lower handle.

“KIDS TO THE CUP 2.0” (Trudy McAffery): Revive Trudy McAffery & John DeSantis’ Kids to the Cup Youth Auxiliary initiative whose lasting impact is being felt 10 years after its’ closure with dozens of the KTTC participants involved in racing professionally.

INDUSTRY PRODUCT PLACEMENT OFFICIAL: As with Consumer Packaged Good marketing, create or utilize dedicated personnel to the placement of positive racing images/experiences/storylines in Television and Motion Picture production.

BETTING LINE ‘SKI AREA’-style DESIGNATIONS (Seth Merrow): Enhance on track patron experience by designating proficiency indicators on mutuel teller windows matching the most efficient tellers with the most serious bettors; Patient tellers with neophyte players, etc.) i.e., Black double diamond for expert players, green square for intermediates; yellow circle for inexperienced. Nothing infuriates serious players more than getting stuck behind inexperienced players and nothing intimidates neophytes more than being barked at as they struggle to call a bet. Separate the two and enhance the experience for both. (SUBTEXT: Start reward the most productive clerks for proficiency. Those punching the most tickets and producing the most handle deserve commission/bonus).

LATIN CULTURE CAPITALIZATION (NYRA): Move aggressively to invite and welcome North American Latino culture to the racetrack. Central and South American emigres are instrumental to the sport as trainers, jockeys and backstretch workers and are highly marketable as players and owners to growing generations in the U.S. It is embarrassing that besides NYRA, the industry has generally ignored this mammoth demographic.

EQUINE SPORT ALLIANCE: Maximize cross-pollination opportunities for participation (ownership/wagering) with closer ties to the affluent National Steeplechase Association, U.S. Equestrian Federation, United States Polo Association, American (Carriage) Driving Society, etc. (Even Pro Rodeo and Barrel Horse Associations).

SUBSTITUTED IDEA: Report exotics/multi payoffs in the lowest increment offered on track on the wager. Stop reporting $2 payoffs which disappoint (newer) players that cash a .50 ticket but were expecting what was displayed. No one should leave a window unhappy after cashing a ticket.

EXPLORE, TEST FIXED ODDS WAGERING (Ainslie/Bergstein): Richard Carter (Tom Ainslie) and Ray Gomez pursued Fixed Odds Wagering models (TAB Australia) working with Stan Bergstein and the potential could solve a variety of frustrations from those that have become disillusioned by today’s wagering landscape.

Steve,
A lot of good ideas, especially the one about rebates for being on track!!
One of mine would be to bring back the goosebumps, which I got with the large crowds and hearing Dave Johnson calling at Santa Anita stake races before off track wagering. I know they will never go back, but those days are missed!!