Recurring Theme?

justindew · #1 06-10-2007, 05:24 PM

During the movie "Ruffian" last night, I heard more than one character say "We have to get people back to the race track."

Has this really been a problem for over 30 years? If so, have the "powers that be" been TRYING to get people to come back to the track the entire time? Because if this really has been a problem for over 30 years, and no one has solved it, maybe it's time to try some new ideas or put some new people in charge. For instance, maybe we could get some new people who can figure out how to show the Acorn live on national television AND get people back to the races.

I'm sure there are some Nobel Prize winning mathmaticians or physicists who can solve the complex issue of post times and network coverage.

Scav · #2 06-10-2007, 05:27 PM

One of the most serious issues is breeding, early breeding. Fact is that when a horse like Cigar was shipped around the USA, he brought people to the track. I'll never forget that Saturday. I was 2nd in line at 8am in the morning, only a winnebago from Minnesota beat us, lined up on Euclid Ave. Scav was a bit aggressive in those days and actually opened up the gates himself, thus letting the 50 cars sitting on Euclid Avenue in a bit early.

Arlington was packed that day, impossible to move, and some people didn't leave the finish line for the whole day. Brought more people then the Million.

2Hot4TV · #3 06-10-2007, 05:36 PM

Horse racing is doomed to be a small fan base sport because of all the gaming that is avalibale to the gambler. Handicapping races is a skill game and playing a slot does not require alot of home work.

pointman · #4 06-10-2007, 05:57 PM

The decline of people going to the racetrack imo has more to do with the increase of options of entertainment choices over the last 40 to 50 years. In the days before television the racetrack offered entertainment value during a time when options were very limited. OTB's then helped the decline in attendance giving people the option to bet off-track giving even less reason to go. The increase of channel options from about 5 to hundreds and now the option of watching and betting on horse racing from your living room further gives even the biggest fans less reasons to go to a racetrack. The solution to these problems are obviously difficult, but clearly NTRA has not provided real ones.

Dunbar · #5 06-10-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

One of the most serious issues is breeding, early breeding. Fact is that when a horse like Cigar was shipped around the USA, he brought people to the track. I'll never forget that Saturday. I was 2nd in line at 8am in the morning, only a winnebago from Minnesota beat us, lined up on Euclid Ave. Scav was a bit aggressive in those days and actually opened up the gates himself, thus letting the 50 cars sitting on Euclid Avenue in a bit early.

Arlington was packed that day, impossible to move, and some people didn't leave the finish line for the whole day. Brought more people then the Million.

I agree with Scav. It was a very different sport 50 years ago, when horses ran much more frequently and in general stayed around longer. Now, as soon as a star is born it's whisked off to the breeding shed. Real stars, like Cigar, come too seldom for a fan base to be sustained.

I think if the best players left the NFL or MLB every year, people wouldn't be nearly as interested in those sports, either. How popular would golf or tennis be right now if you had to learn a whole new list of contenders every 2 years?

--Dunbar

justindew · #6 06-10-2007, 07:33 PM

Either way, it seems there has been a problem with the popularity of the sport for at least 30 years, regardless of actual track attendance.

It doesn't seem right that poker and NASCAR can both see massive surges in popularity, while horse racing drops year after year.

I'm not trying to be a smartass, but I would really like someone to give me examples of what the NTRA has accomplished besides the "win and you're in" Breeders' Cup nonsense.

pointman · #7 06-10-2007, 07:42 PM

Go Baby Go?

jman5581 · #8 06-10-2007, 09:42 PM

How about, "Who do you like?"

SilverRP · #9 06-10-2007, 09:59 PM

The day after a big race day like the Belmont, I am stunned at how many people really have no clue (and don't care) about what happened. I'm amazed how this sport has so little impact on people. I'm in OKC. My home track (Remington) opened 15-20 years ago. For 5 years or so the track attendance averaged around 8,000 a day. It now is maybe 2,000 a day. (I know there are many more tracks like this) Now, something had to happen, or not happen, to have attendance drop like a rock so quickly. There could be many reasons as to why this happened, but I believe the one key aspect is how you have to THINK in this game, and there are a lot of people who don't care to do that. You HAVE to do some homework. You HAVE to keep yourself updated as to what is going on, even when you can't get to the track or you will not succeed in this game. I don't know, maybe people are just too busy anymore, maybe there is a better form of entertainment, but there has to be a reason why so many don't care for this wonderful game. I guess that is the million dollar question that won't be answered anytime soon. It really makes you have to wonder, 25-50 years from now, will Horse Racing even exist?

Pedigree Ann · #10 06-10-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justindew

During the movie "Ruffian" last night, I heard more than one character say "We have to get people back to the race track."

Has this really been a problem for over 30 years? If so, have the "powers that be" been TRYING to get people to come back to the track the entire time? .

The short answer is 'yes.' And the 'graying' of the spectators has been a worry, as well, for forever. Of course, the fact that most people work on weekday afternoons so that retired people will make up more than their share of the crowd on those days was never mentioned. The Jockey Club types and track management types have very limited vision about what to do about interesting more people in the sport and always have.

Swale84 · #11 06-10-2007, 06:36 PM

The problem may be in defining track attendance as a measure to whether the sport is successful or not. Only $8 million of the $54 million bet on the Belmont card was wagered at Belmont. On line wagering (Youbet, Brisbet etc) allows race fans the opportunity to wager and watch races via the computer without ever showing up on a turnstile count.

Many people neither have the time to spend a day at the track nor live in close proximity to one. Thus they are relegated to wagering on and following the sport on the internet. For racing to be successful in the future it must recognize that there is a "new breed" of fans and that attendance at tracks will never return to the glory days.