What is Racing's Biggest Current Hurdle?

[randallscott35]

Interested to see what people here think is the biggest current issue facing horse racing in the U.S.?

[jms62]

Having to open multiple accounts to bet all the big tracks due to signal battles.

[MISTERGEE]

might be simply expanding the fan base?

[Gander]

Probably the polytrack/cushion surfaces ruining the game and rendering meets that were once looked forward to and cherished, pretty much insignificant... a la Santa Anita and Keeneland.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Interested to see what people here think is the biggest current issue facing horse racing in the U.S.?

Other then getting Byk to toughin up on ATR's.. Too much racing which is encouraging bad horses being bred.

The "Stars" of the game avoiding each other.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

might be simply expanding the fan base?

I think that's where I am on this as well.

[Kasept]

The Host/Guest simulcast revenue model. It is as much a source of the game's ills as anything. It's repair would go a long way to righting the wrongs.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The Host/Guest simulcast revenue model. It is as much a source of the game's ills as anything. It's repair would go a long way to righting the wrongs.

How would you go about fixing it Steve?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The Host/Guest simulcast revenue model. It is as much a source of the game's ills as anything. It's repair would go a long way to righting the wrongs.

It isn't that easy in my opinion. Right now, most of the handle is coming from people betting with a rebate. If you "repair" that model so the host track gets more, all you are going to do is cut the rebates of the biggest bettors.

The biggest hurdle to the game is declining handle. Now, there are a myriad of reasons for this. The economy is a convenient excuse, but far from the only one. There are too many races being run at too many tracks. Fields suck, so people don't bet as much. The takeout is certainly a factor. Even those that say they don't care about takeout can figure out they are going broke quicker. Signal wars don't help either. How many accounts do you need to bet all the North American tracks today? Three, four, five? It might be more next month.

Until the handle is addressed, fighting over the current shrinking pie is short sighted and a colossal waste of time.

[Gander]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It isn't that easy in my opinion. Right now, most of the handle is coming from people betting with a rebate. If you "repair" that model so the host track gets more, all you are going to do is cut the rebates of the biggest bettors.

The biggest hurdle to the game is declining handle. Now, there are a myriad of reasons for this. The economy is a convenient excuse, but far from the only one. There are too many races being run at too many tracks. Fields suck, so people don't bet as much. The takeout is certainly a factor. Even those that say they don't care about takeout can figure out they are going broke quicker. Signal wars don't help either. How many accounts do you need to bet all the North American tracks today? Three, four, five? It might be more next month.

Until the handle is addressed, fighting over the current shrinking pie is short sighted and a colossal waste of time.

I agree. Gamblers will always find money to bet. Much in the same way drug addicts and alcoholics do the same. Recession or no recession...Vices are always "recession proof", if you will.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

It isn't that easy in my opinion. Right now, most of the handle is coming from people betting with a rebate. If you "repair" that model so the host track gets more, all you are going to do is cut the rebates of the biggest bettors.

The biggest hurdle to the game is declining handle. Now, there are a myriad of reasons for this. The economy is a convenient excuse, but far from the only one. There are too many races being run at too many tracks. Fields suck, so people don't bet as much. The takeout is certainly a factor. Even those that say they don't care about takeout can figure out they are going broke quicker. Signal wars don't help either. How many accounts do you need to bet all the North American tracks today? Three, four, five? It might be more next month.

Until the handle is addressed, fighting over the current shrinking pie is short sighted and a colossal waste of time.

Think we're on the same page on this generally. 'Declining handle' is a broad-based issue that cuts through a wide array of the more mundane to intricate issues.. Agree wholeheartedly about too many races at too many tracks. The boutique meet philosophy continues to stand as the example to be emulated: Less racing of full fields for better purses = solid handle. From what I read and hear, adjusting the revenue split reasonably does not have to take away from rebates. And if the top level bricks and mortar operators had an appropriate 'modern era' revenue stream from the simo model, they could more easily approach state governments with plans for takeout reductions.

There is no simplistic 'fix-all' here is the message I think... There are so many inter-related issues that depend on almost a domino effect. That's why in the "Our Industry" segments I'm doing with Satish Sanan, we keep coming back to his 4 point program that tries to address things comprehensively AND specifically:

1. Overall Industry structure and governance
2. Re-sizing game and repairing the revenue model
3. Integrity (Medication; Safety; Tote; Sales)
4. Horseplayer/Customer-centric Marketing/Service

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by Gander

I agree. Gamblers will always find money to bet. Much in the same way drug addicts and alcoholics do the same. Recession or no recession...Vices are always "recession proof", if you will.

Dont know about that--"discretionary income" is way down for many

[Riot]

Lack of one overall industry organization = Fractured fifdoms with no national coordination of major issues: drugs-perception, wagering, calendar-scheduling-excess racing/disposable horses

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Think we're on the same page on this generally. 'Declining handle' is a broad-based issue that cuts through a wide array of the more mundane to intricate issues.. Agree wholeheartedly about too many races at too many tracks. The boutique meet philosophy continues to stand as the example to be emulated: Less racing of full fields for better purses = solid handle. From what I read and hear, adjusting the revenue split reasonably does not have to take away from rebates. And if the top level bricks and mortar operators had an appropriate 'modern era' revenue stream from the simo model, they could more easily approach state governments with plans for takeout reductions.

There is no simplistic 'fix-all' here is the message I think... There are so many inter-related issues that depend on almost a domino effect. That's why in the "Out Industry" segments I'm doing with Satish Sanan, we keep coming back to his 4 point program that tries to address things comprehensively AND specifically:

1. Overall Industry structure and governance
2. Re-sizing game and repairing the revenue model
3. Integrity (Medication; Safety; Tote; Sales)
4. Horseplayer/Customer-centric Marketing/Service

Steve is there anywhere that we can go to see the specifics of how Satish feels the 4 points can be addressed.

[philcski]

#1 Takeout too high
#2 Taxes on windfalls causes jackpot-style wagers to be no longer attractive

[Indian Charlie]

#1 Idiots in charge of tracks, BC, etc making one bad decision after another, for years now.

It's like they are hell bent on destroying the industry.

[MISTERGEE]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

#1 Idiots in charge of tracks, BC, etc making one bad decision after another, for years now.

It's like they are hell bent on destroying the industry.

yes Ive seen hot dog carts have much better management than Calder or Gulfstream down here in Fla for example

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

yes Ive seen hot dog carts have much better management than Calder or Gulfstream down here in Fla for example

Also look at how the BC has been handled the last few years. They are trying to appeal to a select few rich and famous celebs and they have no regard for the typical fan. Their decisions really make no sense at all.

The CHRB decision to mandate synthetics? Don't get me started.

CD management just a year or so ago saying they don't want to host the BC, due to some made up nonsense? Now they want it?

The constant bickering with signal feeds?

Stronachs dismantling of GP?

It's really like they are all in a race with each other to see who can destroy themselves the quickest.

Maybe the Breeders Cup has some sort of secret race. It's restricted to racing management types and the first ones to destroy themselves are the winners. Purse, $100 mil.

Though, come to think of it, racings approach to running their businesses is pretty consistent with the normal way of doing things lately across the board in big companies these days.

[Stickhorse]

We need to draw more fans to this great game.

The ITW that I attend in Cali has fewer patrons every year. Those in attendance average at least 55 years old.