Santa Anita and Hollywood Park ask the TOC to lower takeout

[Calzone Lord]

DEL MAR ---- Santa Anita and Hollywood Park have asked the Thoroughbred Owners of California to lower the takeout on daily doubles, exactas and quinellas on an experimental basis at their upcoming fall meets, according to a letter obtained by the North County Times late Saturday night.

The Pacific Racing Association (Santa Anita) and Hollywood Park Fall Racing Association want daily doubles to be lowered from a 22.68 percent takeout to 15.43 ---- the same as a win, place or show bets, which are the nation's lowest ---- and they want exactas and quinellas lowered from 22.68 to 21.68.

The two racing associations are also asking for 50-50 split on the new 50-cent pick five wager. The TOC now receives a higher percentage of the profits for purses from the bet than the tracks do.

The letter comes on the heels of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club CEO Joe Harper announcing on opening day that he was in talks to try to lower some of the wagers that were raised this year.

"Raising the takeout was not a smart idea," Harper said Saturday morning on Roger Stein's radio show. "Raising the takeout may not have seemed like a big deal, but it is a big deal.

"Our rates are too high on exactas and daily doubles. ... I would like those things to come down. This is an industry-wide decision. We need to get together to talk about it."

http://www.nctimes.com/sports/equest...8d62ce885.html


If the TOC had any fucl<ing brains - they'd accept the takeout cuts only under the condition that very slight takeout reductions are made every 6 months from now until the year 2061.