Rachel, handle, exposure... it's all there

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Like giving the FATman his trackus
and letting me bet on the net.

letting you bet on the net is a states rights issue, unless the federal government were to step in but that is never going to happen IMO.

now if they repeal the internet betting law then you can wager overseas, its non pari-mutual and the state wont have any real say legally.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I guess my point was while despite all these issues and "woe is us" mentality so many people in racing have, there is plenty out there to grab a hold of. Yesterday's Preakness is a prime example.

The same heart attack argument has a lot of merit because the negative-minded individuals have been singing the same song ever since I read my horse racing book. But at the same time, society is changing, interest and entertainment values to general society are changing as well. So I am concerned of an industry sitting back on its heels, hoping for a slot machine to save it, while not proactively attacking the fronts which could provide the longevity the sport needs.

We're on the same page, which is why I didn't want you to think your original post specifically set me off. I should elaborate more but can't right now... Most of the industry's issues stems from its' age and longevity. It's complex but is steadily being addressed. Those looking for a panacea will be disappointed. Yesterday was a huge win for all that's good about racing.

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

letting you bet on the net is a states rights issue, unless the federal government were to step in but that is never going to happen IMO.

now if they repeal the internet betting law then you can wager overseas, its non pari-mutual and the state wont have any real say legally.

Yep.
I would rather lose my money to the tracks here though.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

completely disagree, hockey poorly negotiated with ESPN and they finally walked away from the table and left them on a no name network. It has killed the game.

Racing should be doing everything it can to get on any platform that will shown them, TVG and HRTV should be on all mediums and the tracks would be wise to try and make that happen with the funds to do so.

Direct TV has additional channels to support HRTV, the only reason is poorly negotiated contracts with TVG.

The NHL's greatest injury was self-inflicted by undermining its' own fan base abandoning core and niche markets for what they thought were greener pastures in non-ice sport markets. Morons.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Kasept

We're on the same page, which is why I didn't want you to think your original post specifically set me off. I should elaborate more but can't right now... Most of the industry's issues stems from its' age and longevity. It's complex but is steadily being addressed. Those looking for a panacea will be disappointed. Yesterday was a huge win for all that's good about racing.

I just hope people in my generation understand how 'huge' yesterday was, and not take it for granted. The older generation had horses like Personal Ensign and Ruffian and RA is my generation's horse

I am already salivating at seeing RA versus Zenyatta in California.....

[Heels1989]

Originally Posted by Scav

I just hope people in my generation understand how 'huge' yesterday was, and not take it for granted. The older generation had horses like Personal Ensign and Ruffian and RA is my generation's horse

I am already salivating at seeing RA versus Zenyatta in California.....

Are you sure its not for your margarita girl?

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Heels1989

Are you sure its not for your margarita girl?

Her too but I am guessing the margarita girl industry has a high turnover....

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The NHL's greatest injury was self-inflicted by undermining its' own fan base abandoning core and niche markets for what they thought were greener pastures in non-ice sport markets. Morons.

exactly-they tried to appeal to other than their fan base...a good point that racing should pay attention to. i think some people feel if it isn't on espn, it doesn't matter. with espn seemingly abandoning horse racing, hopefully nbc will pick up the slack-like they did with the nhl. ratings yesterday were the second highest in two decades for the preakness. that is a good sign. increased handle was another. it shows that the attempts to get record crowds at the track was NOT the way to go. crowdsize was way down, but i think that helped. it certainly didn't hurt.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Scav

I just hope people in my generation understand how 'huge' yesterday was, and not take it for granted. The older generation had horses like Personal Ensign and Ruffian and RA is my generation's horse

I am already salivating at seeing RA versus Zenyatta in California.....

it was huge. she's a throwback to days gone by for sure.

[Suffolk Shippers]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

completely disagree, hockey poorly negotiated with ESPN and they finally walked away from the table and left them on a no name network. It has killed the game.

Racing should be doing everything it can to get on any platform that will shown them, TVG and HRTV should be on all mediums and the tracks would be wise to try and make that happen with the funds to do so.

Direct TV has additional channels to support HRTV, the only reason is poorly negotiated contracts with TVG.

You're way off. The NHL went downhill with Gary Bettman's pipe dream of removing the game from niche markets and regionalization and into areas like Arizona, Florida, etc. Hockey can work in SOME non-niche regions, like LA, Dallas, Anahiem even.

However, doing so at the expense of franchises in core areas, like southern Ontario, or Quebec, Minnesota (until the Wild), or even a second team in Toronto is terrible business. It's the thing that plagues the NHL most today. Oh, and the labor strife a few years back didn't help.

Horse racing can learn a lot from the NHL. The NHL did not need to expand it's horizons beyond a regional niche sport to be successful. Like any business, if you can carve out your percentage of the market, and maximize profit and revenue within that percentage, you're doing a lot better than most. Racing doesn't need to try and grasp at straws to burn money to find ways to bring in more casual fans. It sounds a lot like the NHL moving teams to Phoenix. A waste of money (as is being proven out) to foolishly expand the market.

I would be furious if racing foolishly spent money to get on ESPN, at the expense of much needed improvements within racing itself. All too often, those of us who make up the market for horse racing get stepped on and ignored. Why on earth would we want racing to try and foolishly spread it's wings where, we, the consumer, become even more irrelevant?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

You're way off. The NHL went downhill with Gary Bettman's pipe dream of removing the game from niche markets and regionalization and into areas like Arizona, Florida, etc. Hockey can work in SOME non-niche regions, like LA, Dallas, Anahiem even.

However, doing so at the expense of franchises in core areas, like southern Ontario, or Quebec, Minnesota (until the Wild), or even a second team in Toronto is terrible business. It's the thing that plagues the NHL most today. Oh, and the labor strife a few years back didn't help.

Horse racing can learn a lot from the NHL. The NHL did not need to expand it's horizons beyond a regional niche sport to be successful. Like any business, if you can carve out your percentage of the market, and maximize profit and revenue within that percentage, you're doing a lot better than most. Racing doesn't need to try and grasp at straws to burn money to find ways to bring in more casual fans. It sounds a lot like the NHL moving teams to Phoenix. A waste of money (as is being proven out) to foolishly expand the market.

I would be furious if racing foolishly spent money to get on ESPN, at the expense of much needed improvements within racing itself. All too often, those of us who make up the market for horse racing get stepped on and ignored. Why on earth would we want racing to try and foolishly spread it's wings where, we, the consumer, become even more irrelevant?

i think racing would be best served by not competing against itself. two racing networks are a perfect example, with attempts at exclusive contracts, etc. racing would do better at getting the two channels on ALL cable channels, and on directv. you have two channels with all racing, all the time. why go after an all sports channel, who is better off feeding the masses with football, basketball..and cheerleading competition ,etc.

[tanner12oz]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

How many times did you hear or read how going to the Preakness was not in her best interests, or made no sense, or there was no point.

Imagine if she was never bought by Jess Jackson. Mine That Bird would not of had the pace to close in on, Musket Man would have likely been the Preakness winner and the buzz surrounding this year's Preakness would be non-existent.

Handle on the card yesterday was exceptionally strong - this stuff works. Having big match-ups, big names, stars - it works.

Now I read in various locations how going to the Belmont makes no sense with Rachel Alexandra. Huh?

Kudos to Jess Jackson for putting her in a spot where she belonged. And provided she is healthy and no worse for the wear, I hope it's the Belmont next.

It's weekends like this which prove horse racing still has a place.

wouldnt have heard a complaint from me

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

You're way off. The NHL went downhill with Gary Bettman's pipe dream of removing the game from niche markets and regionalization and into areas like Arizona, Florida, etc. Hockey can work in SOME non-niche regions, like LA, Dallas, Anahiem even.

However, doing so at the expense of franchises in core areas, like southern Ontario, or Quebec, Minnesota (until the Wild), or even a second team in Toronto is terrible business. It's the thing that plagues the NHL most today. Oh, and the labor strife a few years back didn't help.

Horse racing can learn a lot from the NHL. The NHL did not need to expand it's horizons beyond a regional niche sport to be successful. Like any business, if you can carve out your percentage of the market, and maximize profit and revenue within that percentage, you're doing a lot better than most. Racing doesn't need to try and grasp at straws to burn money to find ways to bring in more casual fans. It sounds a lot like the NHL moving teams to Phoenix. A waste of money (as is being proven out) to foolishly expand the market.

I would be furious if racing foolishly spent money to get on ESPN, at the expense of much needed improvements within racing itself. All too often, those of us who make up the market for horse racing get stepped on and ignored. Why on earth would we want racing to try and foolishly spread it's wings where, we, the consumer, become even more irrelevant?

This is a separate discussion, but when you have a shrinking base you need to find ways to grow. People are saying keep the core, core people rarely leave, whether its hockey, horse racing, or political parties etc, but you need to find ways to expand that core, and that is what the NHL did in LA Phoenix, Dallas, Tampa, and I would not say that was a total failure, I believe they had some really bad ownership, bad salary structure, and the final nail was bad tv deals.

Originally Posted by joeydb

Thanks for reminding everybody that every silver lining has a cloud. Don't you ever get tired of the negativity? I sure do.

Well until we all start cutting out the bulls.hit I'll be the one to put a dose of reality into the conversation.

Originally Posted by Kasept

The NHL's greatest injury was self-inflicted by undermining its' own fan base abandoning core and niche markets for what they thought were greener pastures in non-ice sport markets. Morons.

And how is this not happening with the situation in Kentucky with Indiana in the process of gutting the product?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

And how is this not happening with the situation in Kentucky with Indiana in the process of gutting the product?

It is.. I've brought it out extensively on the show with the 'Kentucky in Crisis' special... And Maury Wolf told the ATR two years ago how a site like Prairie Meadows was in the process of undermining Chicago racing.

Originally Posted by Kasept

It is.. I've brought it out extensively on the show with the 'Kentucky in Crisis' special... And Maury Wolf told the ATR two years ago how a site like Prairie Meadows was in the process of undermining Chicago racing.

Oh...I missed that one. Was that before or after the Dusty Rhodes call?

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Scav

I just hope people in my generation understand how 'huge' yesterday was, and not take it for granted. The older generation had horses like Personal Ensign and Ruffian and RA is my generation's horse

I am already salivating at seeing RA versus Zenyatta in California.....

Just basically wrote about that.

Very cool stuff to be seeing.

[pgiaco]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The NHL's greatest injury was self-inflicted by undermining its' own fan base abandoning core and niche markets for what they thought were greener pastures in non-ice sport markets. Morons.

The NHL will never get beyond "niche" status (this from an avowed hockey nut) because the game doesn't translate to TV. There is too much going on away from the puck that takes away from the nuance of the game on TV. The league attendance is up this year in the regular season as well as playoffs, and apparently season ticket renewals are ahead of last year's pace in most markets.....even Long Island. I also happen to think Versus does a terrific job.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by pgiaco

The NHL will never get beyond "niche" status (this from an avowed hockey nut) because the game doesn't translate to TV. There is too much going on away from the puck that takes away from the nuance of the game on TV. The league attendance is up this year in the regular season as well as playoffs, and apparently season ticket renewals are ahead of last year's pace in most markets.....even Long Island. I also happen to think Versus does a terrific job.

i prefer vs coverage to nbc. but that sport absolutely is best watched live. i will get nhl center ice come fall, so much better to watch than to listen to the radio.