Smarty Jones Classic

[mes5107]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Most tracks most likely lie about their attendance on big days to make it appear to the others in the industry that they are doing better at drawing people to their tracks than they are.

Does this really surprise you considering the overall industry? If it does....wait until we tell you what really goes on at the yearling sales!

If that is indeed the case, I would think that lying about attendance on an "off" day would be far more productive. Belmont was doing something on this day in particular that no other track can replicate. Lying about the attendance this day offers no incentive. Also, while drawing people to the tracks is nice, the handle is the number they look at.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by mes5107

If that is indeed the case, I would think that lying about attendance on an "off" day would be far more productive. Belmont was doing something on this day in particular that no other track can replicate. Lying about the attendance this day offers no incentive. Also, while drawing people to the tracks is nice, the handle is the number they look at.

they probably do lie about attendence all the time...they just don't claim new attendance records...because then they would be found out.

[mes5107]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

they probably do lie about attendence all the time...they just don't claim new attendance records...because then they would be found out.

If this does indeed happen, who are they kidding? When you have a business, the main thing is the bottom line. Falsifying attendance figures, while it may look like you are doing better to other tracks, doesn't help you one bit. I'd rather have accurate numbers to look at while making my business plan than to sort through phantom figures.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by mes5107

If this does indeed happen, who are they kidding? When you have a business, the main thing is the bottom line. Falsifying attendance figures, while it may look like you are doing better to other tracks, doesn't help you one bit. I'd rather have accurate numbers to look at while making my business plan than to sort through phantom figures.

You are not wrong. However, explaining a lot of things many racetracks do, in a logical manner, is a futile chase.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

You are not wrong. However, explaining a lot of things many racetracks do, in a logical manner, is a futile chase.

plus, would it really matter if attendence figures were off as long as handle is accurate?

[blackthroatedwind]

Only for misguided bragging rights. As usual, racetracks have a distorted sense of what's important.