Who Are You Talking To John?

[randallscott35]

This quote is offensive.

John Walsh, the simulcast director at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Illinois, said that bettors at his track consistently request that bet minimums be lowered. But, to the chagrin of many horseplayers who maintain that takeout rates are too high, Walsh also said, “I never hear anyone say anything about a takeout rate unless I read a blog.”

http://www.drf.com/news/fractional-w...racks-and-fans

[Calzone Lord]

The guy is clueless. And he's saying the small-fry bettors he talks with at Hawthorne are clueless as well. So what?

How many suits in this game know anything about horse racing?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The guy is clueless. And he's saying the small-fry bettors he talks with at Hawthorne are clueless as well. So what?

How many suits in this game know anything about horse racing?

Which is why I am seriously considering no longer playing. Dead serious. Bettors are treated like they are the problem, not the solution.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The guy is clueless. And he's saying the small-fry bettors he talks with at Hawthorne are clueless as well. So what?

How many suits in this game know anything about horse racing?

Exactly.

Hawthorne is a very interesting crowd, and lets just say that it isnt for the faint of heart. If your rocking some BBQ or ketchup stains, and half your teeth, your part of the IN crowd

[joeydb]

Ugh. It's hard to believe that consistent messaging along the lines of "takeout doesn't matter" is spontaneous. If this sport had a national chairman, I'd say that talking points to this effect were being distributed.

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by Scav

Exactly.

Hawthorne is a very interesting crowd, and lets just say that it isnt for the faint of heart. If your rocking some BBQ or ketchup stains, and half your teeth, your part of the IN crowd

And the men are worse!

[Travis Stone]

At the risk of getting hit with tomatoes, he's partially right.

I'm NOT saying that takeout is not an issue, but I've never heard anyone in our building say, "Your takeout is too high." It is generally an issue left to message boards, blogs and the occasional article.

Not to sound like an industry shill, but the reality is folks who believe the takeout is too high and talk about it out loud are currently receiving rebates, stout ones to boot. Sorry, but it's a fact. Also, many of them refer others to their current ADW and get a slice of their action as well.

So the whole takeout debate, in my opinion, is frustrating because on one hand are legitimate arguments for reduction and on the other are folks clamoring for them, claiming they don't bet this or that, but ultimately, their rebates reduce the takeout down to what they're clamoring for in the first place.

For what it's worth. Again, please don't take this post to mean I'm against takeout reduction, which is not true.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

At the risk of getting hit with tomatoes, he's partially right.

I'm NOT saying that takeout is not an issue, but I've never heard anyone in our building say, "Your takeout is too high." It is generally an issue left to message boards, blogs and the occasional article.

Not to sound like an industry shill, but the reality is folks who believe the takeout is too high and talk about it out loud are currently receiving rebates, stout ones to boot. Sorry, but it's a fact. Also, many of them refer others to their current ADW and get a slice of their action as well.

So the whole takeout debate, in my opinion, is frustrating because on one hand are legitimate arguments for reduction and on the other are folks clamoring for them, claiming they don't bet this or that, but ultimately, their rebates reduce the takeout down to what they're clamoring for in the first place.

For what it's worth. Again, please don't take this post to mean I'm against takeout reduction, which is not true.

I'll let Doug respond to this....I would never throw tomatoes at you Travis, I am a big fan of yours.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

At the risk of getting hit with tomatoes, he's partially right.

I'm NOT saying that takeout is not an issue, but I've never heard anyone in our building say, "Your takeout is too high." It is generally an issue left to message boards, blogs and the occasional article.

Not to sound like an industry shill, but the reality is folks who believe the takeout is too high and talk about it out loud are currently receiving rebates, stout ones to boot. Sorry, but it's a fact. Also, many of them refer others to their current ADW and get a slice of their action as well.

So the whole takeout debate, in my opinion, is frustrating because on one hand are legitimate arguments for reduction and on the other are folks clamoring for them, claiming they don't bet this or that, but ultimately, their rebates reduce the takeout down to what they're clamoring for in the first place.

For what it's worth. Again, please don't take this post to mean I'm against takeout reduction, which is not true.

The people that care about takeout are probably wagering a much (and I would say the majority) of the wagering dollars.

The statement completely ignores long term growth in the game.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

At the risk of getting hit with tomatoes, he's partially right.

I'm NOT saying that takeout is not an issue, but I've never heard anyone in our building say, "Your takeout is too high." It is generally an issue left to message boards, blogs and the occasional article.

Not to sound like an industry shill, but the reality is folks who believe the takeout is too high and talk about it out loud are currently receiving rebates, stout ones to boot. Sorry, but it's a fact. Also, many of them refer others to their current ADW and get a slice of their action as well.

So the whole takeout debate, in my opinion, is frustrating because on one hand are legitimate arguments for reduction and on the other are folks clamoring for them, claiming they don't bet this or that, but ultimately, their rebates reduce the takeout down to what they're clamoring for in the first place.

For what it's worth. Again, please don't take this post to mean I'm against takeout reduction, which is not true.

This is a good point and 100% true in my experience.

[Bogey]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The guy is clueless. And he's saying the small-fry bettors he talks with at Hawthorne are clueless as well. So what?

How many suits in this game know anything about horse racing?

Totally agree with the first part and Scav nailed the stereotype of the typical Hawthorne bettor.

John Walsh is far from a typical suit if at all. He's extremely involved in bringing in new racing fans to the game.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

This quote is offensive.

John Walsh, the simulcast director at Hawthorne Race Course in Cicero, Illinois, said that bettors at his track consistently request that bet minimums be lowered. But, to the chagrin of many horseplayers who maintain that takeout rates are too high, Walsh also said, “I never hear anyone say anything about a takeout rate unless I read a blog.”

http://www.drf.com/news/fractional-w...racks-and-fans

There is a worse quote in there. Some of these track execs have a vision that makes very little sense to me.