PA political heist

[joeydb]

Steve thanks for following this. This one gives me heartburn. I am worried.

Parx has always been consistently adversarial to the sport - never advertising the track, just the casino. It's been maddening.

They are the track closest to my home so I want to see them succeed, in spite of their management. I realize of course this is coming from the state, but I am sure Parx is giving a wink and a nod, at some level, that as long as they can keep the Casino running, and not pay anything further for the support of racing, they'd be happy.

Oh - and some articles online are still saying racing is "subsidized" - what a joke. Racing is the reason any casino gambling was permitted as you well know.

[jnunan4759]

Agree with Joey.

I'm worn out finding and shipping masks.

[ScottJ]

Originally Posted by joeydb

Oh - and some articles online are still saying racing is "subsidized" - what a joke. Racing is the reason any casino gambling was permitted as you well know.

Racing just has to come to grips with the fact that the entitlements that have been received through government regulation (casino revenue) can and will indeed change. Bolstering purses is great to compete for thoroughbreds during racing seasons, but if you are not increasing your own handle (on/off track), what does it matter?

NYRA is far out in front of everyone on this front crushing both the Stronach and Twin Spires groups. Combining their NYRABets wagering platform with a national video outlet (FS/2, MSG+) for all of their races, they have created a platform where they benefit from on-track at Saratoga, mitigate attendance issues on slow days at Belmont and Aqueduct, and generate their own handle year round. The on-track and in-home experiences, where appropriate, are improved immeasurably.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has Parx, Penn National, Presque Isle, Harrah's Chester, Pocono Downs, and the Meadows. Rebuilding the breeding system has been important and the harness racing breeding is equally important. However, what has been done to bolster the customer experience?

[jnunan4759]

I agree Scott. There is much more to be done and not great cooperation from the tracks. The casino is the focus.

I think Oaklawn is showing you can have both a casino and racetrack and have them mutually benefit each other.

[jms62]

How many of us play Parx on a Saturday or Sunday with the exception of PA Derby day? They just cant compete with winter tracks like Tampa, Gulfstream and Oaklawn and Belmont, Saratoga, Delmar, etc. etc. in-the summer. It will take more than adjusting takeout.. Maybe install lights and run at night Thurs-Sunday and during day on Monday. Vegas is devoid of racing options after 4:00 PM and Parx product can compete with what is available at that time.

[moses]

Originally Posted by jms62

How many of us play Parx on a Saturday or Sunday with the exception of PA Derby day? They just cant compete with winter tracks like Tampa, Gulfstream and Oaklawn and Belmont, Saratoga, Delmar, etc. etc. in-the summer. It will take more than adjusting takeout.. Maybe install lights and run at night Thurs-Sunday and during day on Monday. Vegas is devoid of racing options after 4:00 PM and Parx product can compete with what is available at that time.

Don’t they have lights? They tried running at night on Fridays a while ago.

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by jms62

How many of us play Parx on a Saturday or Sunday with the exception of PA Derby day? They just cant compete with winter tracks like Tampa, Gulfstream and Oaklawn and Belmont, Saratoga, Delmar, etc. etc. in-the summer. It will take more than adjusting takeout.. Maybe install lights and run at night Thurs-Sunday and during day on Monday. Vegas is devoid of racing options after 4:00 PM and Parx product can compete with what is available at that time.

I actually like that idea of Parx running at nights but that puts them in direct state competition with Penn National, not that Penn is producing an all-world product either. I could see Parx filling that East Coast void that has been left since the likes of Atlantic City, Garden State and the Meadowlands have left years ago. Sure there's Charles Town, but again that's a different product when compared to Parx.

Personally I don't bet Parx. I've always thought the racing was sh!t, the payouts were light and the rake is ridiculous. Now, if you want to start showing them at night when there are far fewer thoroughbred options, that's something a fellow degen. like myself could get behind.

-bt-