Fed judge wrestles with CDI-THG claims and issues..

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I disagree Deb, and the throwing of hands up in the air in disgust and frustration is no help. It's not a mess and it's not the industry attacking itself from within. Given the lack of a ruling body to bring these parties together for collective bargaining or similar negotiations, this particular confrontation is undergoing a natural process for determination of who is 'most' right.

Would it have been nice if there had been foresight 10-15 years ago as to these issues presenting themselves? Sure.. But there wasn't, and the technology has moved faster than the industry's ability to comprehend the ramifications. As a result, it's important that a fair, long term, mutually beneficial arrangement be made between the betting platforms (A), bricks and mortar operators (B) and the horsemen/ownership entities (C). For that to happen, everone involved has to understand and respect each parties contributions to the end product that we the customers are 'buying'.

The dynamic changed tremendously from the origins, when there were the tracks and horsemen only, to now. And the tracks suddenly getting in the business of bet-taking via the platforms is an added wrinkle... A period of hard negotiations and decisions is a necessary part of the evolution going on, and the process is a lot closer to having firm foundations from which to work forward than there was even one year ago.

it just seems so often that the industry, or members in it, do more to hurt than to help. disagreements about signals, cutting them off completely-which drives down handle...making it harder on bettors to give up their money is not a good thing. i was speaking more about in general than about this specific instance. no one wants to see anyone get short shrift just for the 'greater good'. it seems tho on practically every occasion, that the best answer would be a national governing body-but we're not any closer it seems to getting to that.

as for this particular case, here's hoping the judge has infinite patience and wisdom.

[Cannon Shell]

While I agree it is a very important case, it will be crippling for horseman and eventually will lead to the demise of racing if CDI wins. Without veto power over the signal, the tracks can basically shove any terms they want down our throat and we will have no recourse which surely will lead to further purse reductions and worse conditions for the horsemen. Especially in light of the real reason that this lawsuit has proceeded as far as it has. That is that CD owes the KY horseman over $5 million dollars which we have sued to recover since they dont seem to be inclined to pay that out. They filed this lawsuit as a response to that lawsuit and their lawyers liberal interpretation of antitrust violations. If we dropped that suit, this suit would be dropped also. While many dont realize the implications of this those that do are quite afraid of the outcome. Not having to bother with horseman CDI will start to point its guns at other tracks with huge rate hikes especially tying in the Derby and that will ultimately lead to higher takeout rates overall or the continuation of signal disputes except this time it will be among tracks as opposed to horseman and tracks.

[Scurlogue Champ]

At least they are gonna have a Derby Barbie and Chief Party Officer.

[steve]

are the troubles at Magna going to effect Kentucky and why wasn't more scrutiny paid when cdi bought winticket?