Improving the product

brianwspencer · #1 04-25-2008, 02:29 PM

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.

Antitrust32 · #2 04-25-2008, 02:35 PM

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.

whodey17 · #3 04-25-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

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.

If a track ever had a problem with too many people betting, then I am sure they will be happy to come up with a solution.

whodey17 · #4 04-25-2008, 02:37 PM

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.

No have 9 or 10 races. You are thinking like a gambler. Think more like a casual fan. With the decrease amount of time it takes to run the races the race track would save 1000's in operating costs.

brianwspencer · #5 04-25-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whodey17

No have 9 or 10 races. You are thinking like a gambler. Think more like a casual fan. With the decrease amount of time it takes to run the races the race track would save 1000's in operating costs.

Damn right I'm thinking like a gambler.

And frankly, it would be a terrible idea that would likely bring in an insignificant amount of 'casual fans' while turning off a large segment of the industry's existing bread and butter. Trade gamblers for casual fans -- it doesn't make sense.

slotdirt · #6 04-25-2008, 03:18 PM

Honest question: how many "casual fans" who hit the track don't then gamble? I'd suggest somewhere between zero and zero.

The logistics of of trying to space races only ten minutes apart would be a complete nightmare.

#7 04-25-2008, 03:20 PM

How about all major tracks having free wireless internet?

hockey2315 · #8 04-25-2008, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

How about all major tracks having free wireless internet?

I like that idea but not sure it would ever happen. . . I can't even find a plug for my laptop at the OTB. . .

whodey17 · #9 04-25-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

How about all major tracks having free wireless internet?

Now this is a good idea. And with wireless you do not need to stand in line to wager.

Now you just need to find a way to keep people like DaHoss and Drugs from stealing your computer and selling it so they can get money for another $2 wager.

Bigsmc · #10 04-25-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

How about all major tracks having free wireless internet?

I know it is not a major track, but Tampa has free wireless internet.

I played an online handicapping contest from my seat one Saturday.

pmacdaddy · #11 04-25-2008, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

I know it is not a major track, but Tampa has free wireless internet.I played an online handicapping contest from my seat one Saturday.

And tasty Cuban sandwiches, and reasonably priced 16oz bottles of beer...

ELA · #12 04-25-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

How about all major tracks having free wireless internet?

Not to get into how/where you or I actually bet, but what's the benefit to having free wireless internet?

Eric

Cannon Shell · #13 04-25-2008, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELA

Not to get into how/where you or I actually bet, but what's the benefit to having free wireless internet?

Eric

use laptops with downloaded info instead of the Byk method which has killed half the rain forests of the world

hockey2315 · #14 04-25-2008, 03:20 PM

10 minutes between races is one of the stupider things I've heard today. . . Ok so let's save a few $s on operating costs and lose 100 times that on handle. . . Brilliant. . .

#15 04-25-2008, 03:22 PM

...not to mention the cookie cutter rebuttal to not having general admission and paid parking.

whodey17 · #16 04-25-2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockey2315

10 minutes between races is one of the stupider things I've heard today. . . Ok so let's save a few $s on operating costs and lose 100 times that on handle. . . Brilliant. . .

Why..make your case. And how would handle be hurt? Please explain yourself. Don't post a thought without some examples of why. I dont see why it would hurt handle. Races go off 2 minutes from each other all the time and people manage to wager on both races. Why would having 10 minutes between races hurt handle? Thistle and River have about 7 or 8 minutes between races (if I remember correctly) and they seem to do just fine. This is when both meets are running at the same time.

TheSpyder · #17 04-25-2008, 03:54 PM

Need to have a big players room right on the finish line. I'm sure they can keep track of those that bet a great deal of money. If you take everyone at the track how many wager $200+ a day.

Just like Casinos, offer them rewards in a comp area where it's like a sports book, give them free drinks and food. Cater to your players.

I like the Wifi idea as well.

10 min posts are CRAZY. Easily the worst idea.

Chuck E Cheese Handicap for 2YO's

One last thing...sponsers sponsers sponsers!

Spyder

GBBob · #18 04-25-2008, 04:02 PM

Outside of the names related to ownership ( Harrahs, etc) how come race tracks aren't able to or never pursued corporate naming rights? I know it's blasphemy for CD to be anything else than CD, but desperate times call for desperate measures and it has to be worth a few million a year to get AllState Park at Arlington, or Hershey Presque Isle Downs. If YUM Brands can plaster their name on the most recognized brand in racing, why not tracks?

hockey2315 · #19 04-25-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whodey17

Why..make your case. And how would handle be hurt? Please explain yourself. Don't post a thought without some examples of why. I dont see why it would hurt handle. Races go off 2 minutes from each other all the time and people manage to wager on both races. Why would having 10 minutes between races hurt handle? Thistle and River have about 7 or 8 minutes between races (if I remember correctly) and they seem to do just fine. This is when both meets are running at the same time.

I don't think it's really up for debate that 25 minutes of taking bets will yield more handle than ten. . .

whodey17 · #20 04-25-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Damn right I'm thinking like a gambler.

And frankly, it would be a terrible idea that would likely bring in an insignificant amount of 'casual fans' while turning off a large segment of the industry's existing bread and butter. Trade gamblers for casual fans -- it doesn't make sense.

A gambler will gamble. I remember people saying that people would not bet on a synthetic surface, however most meet for those synthetic tracks are up. Good thing about trying new things is that if it doesnt work you can always go back.