The Health Vs. The Handle

[randallscott35]

I see so many articles about the handle being the important thing when discussing the health of the industry. I don't know that I share that belief. Simply based on increases in income over time and more wagering outlets, you'd expect to see increases in overall handle, especially for the Breeders Cup. When I go to the track what I see is an aging population of horse players. I don't see any young people and the ones I do see go to the free concerts or go to Preakness day to get hammered and bet 2$ at the window. This is a simulcast sport and the typical bettor will be dead in 30 years if not sooner (tongue in cheek). But honestly, I think handle is not the best way to talk about the health of the industry. And please don't tell me the 0.7 rating wasn't bad. It was awful considering the great promotional hump job that ESPN did for weeks.