What is Racing's Biggest Current Hurdle?

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The 'sticking around' schtick makes for a nice argument, but it's a canard in this conversation. Stars may matter to 'fans', but they don't matter to gamblers. CJ has always been right on this subject, and was banging that drum before anyone. People who will make the difference at the windows contributing to handle in a meaningful way couldn't care less how long some high profile horse is around... (unless they are a money-burning favorite type of course).

Wow . What do you mean by this? As a gambler AND a fan, I would rather watch Go for Gin against Curlin 10x (for example) and bet each and every time then wait until I knew one of them had tied up the week before and then scoring.

[cakes44]

Betting and watching stars race are two different entities to me. I'll be interested in watching a 6 horse GI with a "star", but that's not going to make me want to bet another 6 horse field.

Give me more 9-10 horse Aoc $50000 or even 10 horses running for a $20000 tag if you want more $$ from me. The sport needs more gamblers, and do a better job of keeping gamblers. Gamblers want an opportunity to make $$, which happens with less takeout and some tracks falling by the wayside(or maybe less racing days per week for some).

[2Hot4TV]

Each state that wants to keep Horse racing needs to to give tax incentives to the owners and find some way to subsidize the purses to the point that you have a chance to make some money as an owner.

Reduce the take out.

Make it a level playing field for all gaming within the state. The Indian Casinos in California have it all over Horse racing.

Workmans comp insurance alone will run you out of business in this state.

[chucklestheclown]

I had time to think about this today. Track marketing departments need to buy the mailing lists and whatever else they can get from the nearest defunct dogtracks and sports teams, along with whatever data they can bribe away from their state and local health departments, and BLAST those people with as many promos and junk mail and phone calls as they can. This is the demographic you are trying to reach if you want GAMBLERS. In a perfect world, there WOULD be a lottery tie-in also.