Slots are in at Gulfstream

[Revolution]

The slots are working. Gulfstream is going to have some great racing in years to come.


http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36402

Originally Posted by Revolution

The slots are working. Gulfstream is going to have some great racing in years to come.


http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36402

So are you predicting a greatly improved condition book this meet(which sure wouldn't be too ****ing hard to accomplish)?
Are you predicting weekday cards that contain more than 7 claiming races and one allowance?
Are you predicting an increase in MSW's and allowance races?
And do you predict the Gulf purses for allowance races and MSW's will actually get close to or on a par with "the lowly inner dirt track" at Aqueduct?
Because last year the corresponding allowance races(non 1, non 2, non 3) and MSW's weren't even close and Aqueduct gave out higher daily purses.
I'm sure not rooting against these things. South Florida racing for years was the backbone of winter racing on the East Coast and eagerly awaitewd by both players and horsemen. Recently its been a disgrace.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by oracle80

So are you predicting a greatly improved condition book this meet(which sure wouldn't be too ****ing hard to accomplish)?
Are you predicting weekday cards that contain more than 7 claiming races and one allowance?
Are you predicting an increase in MSW's and allowance races?
And do you predict the Gulf purses for allowance races and MSW's will actually get close to or on a par with "the lowly inner dirt track" at Aqueduct?
Because last year the corresponding allowance races(non 1, non 2, non 3) and MSW's weren't even close and Aqueduct gave out higher daily purses.
I'm sure not rooting against these things. South Florida racing for years was the backbone of winter racing on the East Coast and eagerly awaitewd by both players and horsemen. Recently its been a disgrace.

I CREDIT THEM FOR TRYING ....and in a year or so they should be around that mark..

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

I CREDIT THEM FOR TRYING ....and in a year or so they should be around that mark..

I certainly hope so but there isn't any excuse for not having them there now.
Gulf's handle in the winter is just as high or in many cases higher than Ny's and NY doesn't have slots running at the the thoroughbred tracks and never has. So why the awful cards the last three years and why the small purses? If the handle is the same or higher that doesn't make much sense to me.
In reality the players and horsemen had to pay the freight for the remodeling. And I don't see how they are "trying". Gulf didn't get those slots in there, the state government and voters did.
Since the projected revenue is clear to see, why not just raise the purses and quality of the cards to a higher level this year? Why ca't they just estimate the revenue that is forthcoming and adjust the quality accordingly?

I rememeber when Gulf was THE PLACE in the winter and when the cards were great. Everybody has gotta make a living, I certainly realize that, and you gotta have claimers for the trainers who make a living with those races and for the owners who have cash tied up in those horses and who are paying he same 85 a day and shoe and vet bills as the guys with expensive stock(they all cost the same to feed and take care of regardless of what they are worth).
But last year the weekday cards were so awful as to be laughable. I'm willing to bet they set a national record for most maiden claiming races in a meet.
I WANNA see Gulf restored to its glory, and would like to pick up the DRF on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday and not hold my nose from the stench like I have done the last few years.
I don't see any earthly reason why they have to wait a year to upgrade the quality of the purses and races written there. Can't they put up anything form all that handle? Or do they have to wait until the free slot money comes in to do that and not go into their pockets for a quarter?
We'll see I guess, and I'm hoping they do the right thing and ante up.

Well Oracle I would like to see an increase in purses as well. But, Gulf has to make money to off-set the losses they have taken and also the remodeling on the new facility. Unlike NY Racing, Gulf has shareholders to answer to and that is the bottom line when it comes to purse structure. Horsemen comes after the shareholders and investors. I do think that racing is going to become secondary to the slots and other entertainment offered at Gulf. The purses will increase a tad but I dont see Gulf being like they were 10-15 years ago.

[Revolution]

I don't expect a great meet this year, but the slots in a place like south florida will definitely help, especially going forward. NY would have slots by now if it wasn't for the politicians and the mobsters at NYRA who don't want slots cutting into their bookmaking operation.

I guess you could always bed the great racing at the Big A, when they do race there. LOL. If you like bad maiden races the Big A is great. If you like sloppy tracks and cancelled cards, and racing in 10 degree weather, stick with the Big A.


Racing is changing. Live with it. 3 great things.

NYRA will soon be gone.
Polytrack is taking over and horses are safer.
Gulfstream is on it's way to becoming a great track.

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Well Oracle I would like to see an increase in purses as well. But, Gulf has to make money to off-set the losses they have taken and also the remodeling on the new facility. Unlike NY Racing, Gulf has shareholders to answer to and that is the bottom line when it comes to purse structure. Horsemen comes after the shareholders and investors. I do think that racing is going to become secondary to the slots and other entertainment offered at Gulf. The purses will increase a tad but I dont see Gulf being like they were 10-15 years ago.

They are trying to make it into a mini Vegas. I was told they are going to build hotels right near it, and eventually the racing will be better, but you are right, the entire facility is going upscale.

Horse racing can't survive the way it is now. People need more action than every 30 minutes. Saratoga and Del Mar can survive but that is only because their meets are so short. If you had racing at those tracks for as long as the Gulfstream meet or even Aqueduct those tracks would not be the same.

Short meets with good weather are the only ones that can really attract fans day in and day out. I love Belmont's fall meet, but nobody goes. Even on JCGC day with Bernardini there it was a ghosttown.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by oracle80

I rememeber when Gulf was THE PLACE in the winter and when the cards were great.

Boy, I'm getting old. I remember when HIALEAH was THE PLACE in the winter, and Gulfstream was the afterthought of the winter season. No Calder, no year-round racing; all the Northern horses came South for the winter, the late, lamented Tropical Park in Nov/Dec, Hialeah in Jan/Feb, Gulfstream in March/Apr. Then all the horses would ship up to fill races at northern tracks. Midwest still works that way, to some degree - Fair Grounds in winter, Oaklawn shading over into spring; FG and OP horses ship north to Kee/CD and AP/Haw, reversing the direction in November.

[ArlJim78]

Paging Nurse Ratched, please call your office. Emergency medication alert!