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  #1  
Old 04-25-2008, 10:04 AM
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cmorioles cmorioles is offline
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Default Improving the product

Since I've done my share of bitching about the industry, here are a few things I think could help INCREASE handle and the shrinking pie everyone is fighting over.
(no particular order)

1) Modernize the information. No more about distances, no more stupid run ups, precision timing, no more "eyeballed" charts.

2) Lower takeout. Nothing new to say here.

3) Free admission and basic PP information available online, along with replays and live video.

4) Close racetracks, and I mean a good number of them, at all levels of racing. We need more competitive races with bigger fields.

5) Open all tracks to all licensed Account Wagering companies at the same price.

6) Change existing tax laws. The industry has done little to change laws that hurt them and the player. There is a new organization at NTRA that I did sign up for (once again the players are asked to foot the bill)

7) Open our pools to international bettors. Europeans love the vast amount of information we provide compared to other countries.

8) Rules reform regarding DQs...way too many people are baffled by some of the happenings.

Again, just a few that could help make the pie bigger.
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  #2  
Old 04-25-2008, 10:06 AM
Coach Pants
 
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That makes too much sense.
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  #3  
Old 04-25-2008, 10:08 AM
Scav Scav is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach Pants
That makes too much sense.
Yep...I agree all are possible but the tax law. the IRS is not changing that law, not a chance.
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  #4  
Old 04-25-2008, 11:13 AM
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VOL JACK VOL JACK is offline
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The thing that gets me fired up the most, is the tracks poke you for 2 bucks walking thru the gate. I sometimes think that Churchill spends more paying the old folks from the community center to sit at the gate than they actually collect some days. You would think the track mgt would take a field trip to a casino sometime to see why they are popular.
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  #5  
Old 04-25-2008, 07:55 PM
Danzig Danzig is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VOL JACK
The thing that gets me fired up the most, is the tracks poke you for 2 bucks walking thru the gate. I sometimes think that Churchill spends more paying the old folks from the community center to sit at the gate than they actually collect some days. You would think the track mgt would take a field trip to a casino sometime to see why they are popular.
when i tell people it's 2 bucks to get in, they're shocked. that's it?? yeah, that's it. you can spend a day at the track, and maybe win money back to pay for the trip, and spend a lot less than having three hours at a ball game.

the thing most needed is advertising. sell the product. sell ownership-sell a cheap day long fun fest. sell the fact that you can win huge bucks. a variety of ways to do it.
but they need to get into mainstream advertising. the only time you see ads for racing is during a racing telecast. eff that. we who are watching already know about the sport.
run ads during a baseball game, a nascar race (we're the ORIGINAL horsepower)...
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  #6  
Old 04-25-2008, 11:16 PM
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VOL JACK VOL JACK is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Danzig
when i tell people it's 2 bucks to get in, they're shocked. that's it?? yeah, that's it. you can spend a day at the track, and maybe win money back to pay for the trip, and spend a lot less than having three hours at a ball game.

the thing most needed is advertising. sell the product. sell ownership-sell a cheap day long fun fest. sell the fact that you can win huge bucks. a variety of ways to do it.
but they need to get into mainstream advertising. the only time you see ads for racing is during a racing telecast. eff that. we who are watching already know about the sport.
run ads during a baseball game, a nascar race (we're the ORIGINAL horsepower)...
Like Sumitas and W17, you are missing the point. Its not the 2 bucks, its the principle.
I happen to own a small town pharmacy and I value each customer that walks thru the door. How long do you think it would take to go under if I stood at the door all day and charged a $2 admission fee to shop at my store? Although, Sam's Club seems to be getting away with it I am not going to go down that road..

Please, tell me the difference!!
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  #7  
Old 04-25-2008, 11:24 AM
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hi_im_god hi_im_god is offline
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cmorioles
Since I've done my share of bitching about the industry, here are a few things I think could help INCREASE handle and the shrinking pie everyone is fighting over.
(no particular order)

1) Modernize the information. No more about distances, no more stupid run ups, precision timing, no more "eyeballed" charts.

2) Lower takeout. Nothing new to say here.

3) Free admission and basic PP information available online, along with replays and live video.

4) Close racetracks, and I mean a good number of them, at all levels of racing. We need more competitive races with bigger fields.

5) Open all tracks to all licensed Account Wagering companies at the same price.

6) Change existing tax laws. The industry has done little to change laws that hurt them and the player. There is a new organization at NTRA that I did sign up for (once again the players are asked to foot the bill)

7) Open our pools to international bettors. Europeans love the vast amount of information we provide compared to other countries.

8) Rules reform regarding DQs...way too many people are baffled by some of the happenings.

Again, just a few that could help make the pie bigger.
"8) Rules reform regarding DQs...way too many people are baffled by some of the happenings."

how about just making the stewards discussion a matter of public record? i don't understand why there isn't a recording made and a transcript available. i don't think we need new rules. we just need transparency on how current rules are being applied.

transcripts would do that.
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  #8  
Old 04-25-2008, 11:27 AM
Scav Scav is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hi_im_god
"8) Rules reform regarding DQs...way too many people are baffled by some of the happenings."

how about just making the stewards discussion a matter of public record? i don't understand why there isn't a recording made and a transcript available. i don't think we need new rules. we just need transparency on how current rules are being applied.

transcripts would do that.
A very GOOD point
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  #9  
Old 04-25-2008, 11:33 AM
sumitas sumitas is offline
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You want bigger fields how about raising the purses across the board.
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  #10  
Old 04-25-2008, 12:17 PM
hockey2315 hockey2315 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sumitas
You want bigger fields how about raising the purses across the board.
???
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  #11  
Old 04-25-2008, 12:30 PM
sumitas sumitas is offline
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And what is wrong with charging a low general admission of $3 like the Spa does ? I think that is very reasonable for having full access to the grounds other than the clubhouse ( which costs $2 more). A reason why the Spa is the most successful meet in the world is because it is fan friendly and filled with history, not mall like stores.
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  #12  
Old 04-25-2008, 01:10 PM
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cmorioles cmorioles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sumitas
You want bigger fields how about raising the purses across the board.
LOL...how exactly are you going to do that without increasing the handle? (Short of slots, of course) That is the point of this, increasing handle.
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  #13  
Old 04-25-2008, 11:39 AM
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Bobby Fischer Bobby Fischer is offline
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a mass media effort (television on cable)

the next best thing, and maybe the easiest, is to provide free tvg hrtv to all cable subscribers for 6 months while drastically improving the effort.

*re-shaped major track racing schedule(prime time night racing)
* top class sports announcers to participate in the broadcast and more *"flexible advertising rules"(signs for beer and trucks around the safty rails and tacky visability).
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  #14  
Old 04-25-2008, 12:06 PM
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brianwspencer brianwspencer is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobby Fischer
a mass media effort (television on cable)

the next best thing, and maybe the easiest, is to provide free tvg hrtv to all cable subscribers for 6 months while drastically improving the effort.

*re-shaped major track racing schedule(prime time night racing)
* top class sports announcers to participate in the broadcast and more *"flexible advertising rules"(signs for beer and trucks around the safty rails and tacky visability).
Who's going to pay for that? Are TVG and HRTV going to decrease what it costs to carry their signal to cable providers proportionally based on the number of new subscribers each company connects each year?

Sounds like a pretty expensive experiment when most people with new connects wouldn't give either of those channels the time of day, and the networks would be footing the bill all the same.
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  #15  
Old 04-25-2008, 12:28 PM
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Bobby Fischer Bobby Fischer is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brianwspencer
Who's going to pay for that? Are TVG and HRTV going to decrease what it costs to carry their signal to cable providers proportionally based on the number of new subscribers each company connects each year?

Sounds like a pretty expensive experiment when most people with new connects wouldn't give either of those channels the time of day, and the networks would be footing the bill all the same.
you either have to invest in cable time or pay tvg/hrtv

dont forget the money it would cost to facilitate prime time racing, hire classA announcers, and put up all those ad banners on the rails.

either way it is an investment

i happen to be a big believer in the wonders of mass media on a product. I could be wrong.
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  #16  
Old 04-26-2008, 12:15 AM
Split Rock Split Rock is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hi_im_god
"8) Rules reform regarding DQs...way too many people are baffled by some of the happenings."

how about just making the stewards discussion a matter of public record? i don't understand why there isn't a recording made and a transcript available. i don't think we need new rules. we just need transparency on how current rules are being applied.

transcripts would do that.
A million percent agreed. Why not inquiry every race, get rid of stupid objections, etc and have a camera in the stewards room so the players can hear the discussion? The reason....cheating. It would have to be on the up and up and, of course, we can't have that.
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  #17  
Old 04-26-2008, 08:37 AM
blackthroatedwind blackthroatedwind is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Split Rock
A million percent agreed. Why not inquiry every race, get rid of stupid objections, etc and have a camera in the stewards room so the players can hear the discussion? The reason....cheating. It would have to be on the up and up and, of course, we can't have that.

Sorry.....that was the wrong answer. But, feel free to try again.....it is the internet after all.
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  #18  
Old 04-25-2008, 02:21 PM
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whodey17 whodey17 is offline
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If you cannot afford the $2 or $3 entrance fee, then you shouldn't be going to the racetrack. Horse racing isn't for the casual fan (with a couple of exceptions). Horse racing is for the person who enjoys gambling. Horse racing gets tons of competition from other sources--NFL, NBA, MLB, and casinos to name a few. In addition, horse racing is quite boring. The person has to enjoy the handicapping aspect and also the beauty of the horses racing. Not too many people have 3 hours before the card starts to handicapp and then another 4 hours watching and waiting for the races. Horse racing needs to speed things up a little. We have a generation of people who are young who expect and want things fast--they do not want to have to wait 30 minutes inbetween races. Also, horse racing has to do something to combat the negative connotation that the races are fixed. The NBA had the ref gambling, MLB had Pete Rose....but neither sport can prove that their actions caused teams to win or lose. When a story of a jock, owner, or trainer cheating then that builds upon the opinion that horse racing is fixed. When the casual fan cashes a ticket, I think he/she feels it was dumb luck and not handicapping skills. This is what I would do increase the take-out.

1) Change the negative image of racing
2) Make the time between races 10 minutes
3) I think racing should be a single owned entity (this will never happen).
4) There needs to be national laws governing racing--not at the state level.
5) Make the racetrack "the place to be" with agreassive marketing.

This is just a start.
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  #19  
Old 04-25-2008, 02:29 PM
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brianwspencer brianwspencer is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by whodey17
If you cannot afford the $2 or $3 entrance fee, then you shouldn't be going to the racetrack. Horse racing isn't for the casual fan (with a couple of exceptions). Horse racing is for the person who enjoys gambling. Horse racing gets tons of competition from other sources--NFL, NBA, MLB, and casinos to name a few. In addition, horse racing is quite boring. The person has to enjoy the handicapping aspect and also the beauty of the horses racing. Not too many people have 3 hours before the card starts to handicapp and then another 4 hours watching and waiting for the races. Horse racing needs to speed things up a little. We have a generation of people who are young who expect and want things fast--they do not want to have to wait 30 minutes inbetween races. Also, horse racing has to do something to combat the negative connotation that the races are fixed. The NBA had the ref gambling, MLB had Pete Rose....but neither sport can prove that their actions caused teams to win or lose. When a story of a jock, owner, or trainer cheating then that builds upon the opinion that horse racing is fixed. When the casual fan cashes a ticket, I think he/she feels it was dumb luck and not handicapping skills. This is what I would do increase the take-out.

1) Change the negative image of racing
2) Make the time between races 10 minutes
3) I think racing should be a single owned entity (this will never happen).
4) There needs to be national laws governing racing--not at the state level.
5) Make the racetrack "the place to be" with agreassive marketing.

This is just a start.
Will we have 20 races a day? I understand the concern, but God knows I'm not going to go out to the track as often if I have to get all ready, drive over there to see live racing, spend all my time handicapping etc etc, and then get there, watch the races, and have to turn around and drive home 90 minutes later. No chance.
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  #20  
Old 04-25-2008, 02:35 PM
Antitrust32 Antitrust32 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brianwspencer
Will we have 20 races a day? I understand the concern, but God knows I'm not going to go out to the track as often if I have to get all ready, drive over there to see live racing, spend all my time handicapping etc etc, and then get there, watch the races, and have to turn around and drive home 90 minutes later. No chance.

imagine how annoying the betting lines would be. I am not a serious horseplayer so I'll glance at the form the night before maybe but the majority of the time I just look that the form is in between races. Wouldnt have time for that if I immediately had to get in line after the last race ended.
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