[theiman]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I should NOT be doing this, but the importance of Steve Crist's column in today's paper is too important to be restricted to DRF subscribers. Anyone who has formed any opinion on the NY situation based on the lies and misrepresentations of the slot money salivators try to gain the franchise needs to know the facts.. Here they are presented by someone who speaks independently and with authority and first hand comprehension of the situation.


New York bidders twist reality
By STEVEN CRIST

NEW YORK - The four-ring circus in Albany, N.Y., last week that passed for public hearings on the New York racing franchise was above all else an illustration of how fiction becomes accepted as truth when repeated often enough.

The three private-equity groups seeking to replace the not-for-profit New York Racing Association - Capital Play Ltd., Empire Racing Associates and Excelsior Racing - are motivated primarily by the prospect of operating lucrative slot-machine parlors at Aqueduct and perhaps Belmont Park. To get that opportunity to shower themselves and their investors in public money, though, these bidders have to pretend that their real interest is in racing, and that they have quick and easy solutions that will make the sport wildly popular and profitable.

Their arguments boil down to three massive falsehoods:

Big Lie No. 3: Slot machines on the premises will attract and convert the masses into racing fans.

Perhaps between now and its Memorial Day deadline for naming a new franchisee, the panel could try to locate a single racino operator in the country who has found Wynn's scenario to work. They won't find one. Slots provide a welcome subsidy to racing but they do not create racing fans, ando in the long run the sport and its customers become increasingly marginalized and squeezed off the casino floor.

I am only addressing Mr. Crists comments regarding his "Big Lie" #3. Specifically, his comment

the panel could try to locate a single racino operator in the country who has found Wynn's scenario to work. They won't find one

Mr. Crist apparently has not done his due dillegence in this matter. There is one track that has worked on cross promoting slots and racing. The first years results showed substantial gains. In fact they be the "only" track that has tried something to cross promote racing and slots.
Below is the article and link. I have bolded significant numbers

Posted: Friday, December 01, 2006

Remington Park concludes live meet with double-digit increases


Remington Park concluded its 68-day live Thoroughbred meet on November 28 with double-digit mutuel handle increases spurred in part by the track's casino, which opened just over a year ago.

The Oklahoma City track reported an all-sources handle of $68,736,967, a 47.5% increase compared to 2005. The average daily mutuel handle of $1,010,838 increased 43.1%.

Total simulcasting export handle was $53,260,506, a 71% increase compared to last year. Remington's on-track live handle increased 17.7% to $5,337,990.

Wagering at the track's Oklahoma off-track betting parlors also increased 17.7% to $822,283.

"We've had a great season," said Scott Wells, Remington's vice president and general manager. "It's been extremely gratifying to see the public's response to the racino concept and to the improved quality of racing we've been able to offer."

The meet also featured a record $12,153,670 in purses. Daily purses averaged a record $178,730, which topped the previous mark of $106,842 set in 1996.

The track ran 625 races that drew an average of 9.6 starters per race, a slight increase over last season's 9.2 average.

"Thanks to our horsemen, we've been able to set a record in terms of field size, which has paid off not only in live on-track handle but also in simulcast export handle," Wells said. "Bettors across the country have recognized the improvement of our racing product in terms of both quality and quantity of horses."

Live racing at Remington drew 324,088 fans, a 209.4% increase over a year ago.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nat...increases.aspx

Now I also sent an e-mail to the GM, Scott Wells to ask him about his concept and why he has succeeded where others have yet to show results. Here is his response.

Dear Ira,

Thank you for your kind words regarding the recently concluded Remington Park meet. As far as an explanation goes, you were right on target. We do try to incentivize our slots players to play the races by sending them betting vouchers in our direct marketing mailouts. The values of the vouchers are in relation to the Guest's level of slots play. Perhaps the most important aspect to our achievement of crossover is the design of the racino itself. Nearly all racinos are designed like Las Vegas casinos in that there are no distractions from those focused on the electronic games. I insisted that we have an area of the casino (next to the video poker machines) which overlooks the finish line and the winner's circle. The Lookout, as it is called, is a very comfortable simulcast area on which the curtain is kept close when there is no live racing. But when the horses are coming onto the track for the first race (we race almost exclusively at night), the curtain is raised and the simulcast players AND the slots players see the excitement of live horse racing.
Regarding our big increase in simulcast export, the vastly improved quality of our racing product has been largely responsible for that. Bettors across the country now see many more familiar names (Storm Cat, Deputy Minister, Seeking the Gold---Nelson Bunker Hunt, The Vinery, Will Farish, Pin Oak, etc.) than they have in years past. And of course that is all a result of the increase in purses. As you know, 9.6 starters per race is a great number and is attractive to nationwide players accustomed to short fields and short prices.
We have been successful in getting into the California market with our Thoroughbred signal only occasionally. That's something I'm working on but the people who control the importation of signals there are very limited in what they can do and nearly always opt for more races from better-known tracks, despite the short fields.
Again, thanks for your comments. They certainly brightened my day even if they never reach my bosses at MEC.

Best of Racing Luck,

Scott Wells

Vice President & General Manager


Now I am not saying that this concept will work everywhere that slots are put in. Nor am I saying that that Wynns group is right for the job. However, I dont think there has been a racino added to a track that has even tried to cross promote. What a shame that there "might" be something that can work to attract new fans, its right in front of them and managments cant see it.

On a side note, I noticed an article this week that Magna gave out large bonuses to some executives, even retired executives, I didnt see Mr. Wells name on the list. What a shame.