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  #1  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:12 AM
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ALostTexan ALostTexan is offline
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Default Does Philadelphia Park Care About Racing Anymore?

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory...ce=enewsletter

Seems like all they want to do is push out horse racing and replace it with more and more slots. While I think that the slots have been a good thing in places like Philly, I hate seeing what it is doing to the racing there.

It is going to be interesting to see how this plays out here, and in Kentucky, where the issue is going to be pushed hard very soon. I am curious just how Churchill Downs will handle it, because I just cannot see the Twin Spires building a big slots parlor on site...

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  #2  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:14 AM
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It makes Penn National look a whole lot more inviting for race fans.

They are putting in a very nice facility, and still seem to care about the racing.
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  #3  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:17 AM
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ALostTexan ALostTexan is offline
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From what I have heard from people that play at Penn National regularily, I have to agree. I am a little bitter at Penn National right now, because the are closing the OTB in my old home up in Williamsport, PA.

I am sure it is not profitable, because there were just not enough regulars up there and very few, if any, high rollers to make the place profitable, but it is discouraging. It is on a high-rent piece of property, though, so I am sure that the bottom line is what is forcing them to close, and it seems that it probably would have made sense to close it a long, long time ago...

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  #4  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:24 AM
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Philadelphia Park and their ridiculous takeout can shove their garbage racing up their a$$. Horseplayers there are treated like homeless men.

Slots or no slots, the racing still sucks.
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  #5  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:30 AM
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saucon17 saucon17 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARyan
It makes Penn National look a whole lot more inviting for race fans.

They are putting in a very nice facility, and still seem to care about the racing.
Totally agree with you on PN seems like they are doing it correctly and I can't wait untill it opens.

Philly Park is a complete joke for horseplayers. Very small betting area, the machines suck, and horrible workers. I was there three times hoping would improve each time and they haven't done squat. Racing has been put on the back burner at Philly Park. It's all about the slots. Also hope you don't get a voucher stuck in the machine. It took Philly Park almost 3 hours for my friend to get his $200 voucher back to him after it goy caught in the machine. Philly Park brass should take a drive to Delaware Park to see how a Racino is run correctly.
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  #6  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:46 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saucon17
Totally agree with you on PN seems like they are doing it correctly and I can't wait untill it opens.

Philly Park is a complete joke for horseplayers. Very small betting area, the machines suck, and horrible workers. I was there three times hoping would improve each time and they haven't done squat. Racing has been put on the back burner at Philly Park. It's all about the slots. Also hope you don't get a voucher stuck in the machine. It took Philly Park almost 3 hours for my friend to get his $200 voucher back to him after it goy caught in the machine. Philly Park brass should take a drive to Delaware Park to see how a Racino is run correctly.
Rumour has it, Penn National will be going to 5 live racing days a week. Monday through Friday. That could provide a nice betting option for Monday nights.
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  #7  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:46 AM
eagles725 eagles725 is offline
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I have to agree Philly Park sucks now. My friends and I made our annual trip on Derby day. They ruined it!! It seems there were less tellers and every line was at least 15 people deep. Just to bet a race you had to get in line with at least 15 minutes to post not to get shut out. Boy I wish the old Garden State Park was still around.
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  #8  
Old 05-09-2007, 11:53 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ARyan
Rumour has it, Penn National will be going to 5 live racing days a week. Monday through Friday. That could provide a nice betting option for Monday nights.
Thats good, gives us another option besides the "Mountain" on Monday nights. They need to put lights on there turf course so they don't have to run the turf races before it gets to dark to run them.
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  #9  
Old 05-10-2007, 12:23 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALostTexan
From what I have heard from people that play at Penn National regularily, I have to agree. I am a little bitter at Penn National right now, because the are closing the OTB in my old home up in Williamsport, PA.

I am sure it is not profitable, because there were just not enough regulars up there and very few, if any, high rollers to make the place profitable, but it is discouraging. It is on a high-rent piece of property, though, so I am sure that the bottom line is what is forcing them to close, and it seems that it probably would have made sense to close it a long, long time ago...

ALostTexan

Even when I lived in Philly, I usually preferred to drive down 95 to Delaware Park rather than drive up 95 to Philadelphia Park. Now that I live in Chester County, Delaware Park is even more inviting. And the differece between the way the two places accomodate race fans is the difference between night and day. Never been to Penn National, even though I'm a stock holder (best investment I ever made), but I'm anxious to visit once the slots start up there. Not that I care about the one-armed bandits myself, but I can take my mom for the trip (who does enjoy the slots) which'll give me an excuse to go.

Incidentally, Tex, I lived in Williamsport for 4 1/2 years, so I feel your loss. The OTB was the third most popular diversion there (ranking right behind the Little League World Series and Clyde Peeling's Reptile World).
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  #10  
Old 05-10-2007, 12:32 AM
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saucon17 saucon17 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowRoll
Even when I lived in Philly, I usually preferred to drive down 95 to Delaware Park rather than drive up 95 to Philadelphia Park. Now that I live in Chester County, Delaware Park is even more inviting. And the differece between the way the two places accomodate race fans is the difference between night and day.

Totally agree, rather drive the extra 35 Mins to Del Park, then get frustrated and pissed off at Philly Park for how they treat the horse players.
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  #11  
Old 05-10-2007, 12:43 AM
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Scurlogue Champ Scurlogue Champ is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALostTexan
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory...ce=enewsletter

Seems like all they want to do is push out horse racing and replace it with more and more slots. While I think that the slots have been a good thing in places like Philly, I hate seeing what it is doing to the racing there.

It is going to be interesting to see how this plays out here, and in Kentucky, where the issue is going to be pushed hard very soon. I am curious just how Churchill Downs will handle it, because I just cannot see the Twin Spires building a big slots parlor on site...

ALostTexan
I can see the Twin Spires building a big slots parlor on site big time...
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  #12  
Old 05-10-2007, 12:45 AM
JJP JJP is offline
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Slots are only a temporary bandaid. Does anyone think the racing quality is top notch at Mountaineer, Delta or Prairie? Has it improved any more than marginally? Now you get a lot of bad horses running for inflated purses.
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  #13  
Old 05-10-2007, 07:44 AM
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herkhorse herkhorse is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philcski
Philadelphia Park and their ridiculous takeout can shove their garbage racing up their a$$. Horseplayers there are treated like homeless men.

Slots or no slots, the racing still sucks.
Agreed, What is the benefit of higher purses if the takeout is so sky high. I will never play tri's at philly. even if you win you lose
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  #14  
Old 05-10-2007, 10:49 AM
blackthroatedwind blackthroatedwind is offline
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Welcome to the future of racing.......where it gets completely pushed aside as slots roll in. Say what you want, if NYRA doesn't retain the NY franchise, disaster is looming for racing in that State.
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  #15  
Old 05-10-2007, 12:00 PM
Samm
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eagles725
I have to agree Philly Park sucks now. My friends and I made our annual trip on Derby day. They ruined it!! It seems there were less tellers and every line was at least 15 people deep. Just to bet a race you had to get in line with at least 15 minutes to post not to get shut out. Boy I wish the old Garden State Park was still around.
You and me both!!! First Class facility even without slots! I loved it there... and of course I would still be home with family and not all the way down here in Florida... not that Florida is a bad place to live but I would love to be closer to home. You could watch the horses in the paddock from 3 stories up! you didn't have to run downstairs to watch them saddle... The jocks room... total first class... everything was done right! So sad.... Thanks to former governer Christie Whitman the so called friend of the horsemen we got crapped on again.
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  #16  
Old 05-10-2007, 12:02 PM
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MisterB MisterB is offline
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Fair Grounds and Florida enjoyed the 13% higher purses, But the total handle was down.

No horsy players, just push button junkies
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  #17  
Old 05-10-2007, 01:27 PM
MISTERGEE MISTERGEE is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saucon17
Totally agree with you on PN seems like they are doing it correctly and I can't wait untill it opens.

Philly Park is a complete joke for horseplayers. Very small betting area, the machines suck, and horrible workers. I was there three times hoping would improve each time and they haven't done squat. Racing has been put on the back burner at Philly Park. It's all about the slots. Also hope you don't get a voucher stuck in the machine. It took Philly Park almost 3 hours for my friend to get his $200 voucher back to him after it goy caught in the machine. Philly Park brass should take a drive to Delaware Park to see how a Racino is run correctly.
wow this sounds just like what happened to gulfstream with there addition of slots, horseplayers are for sure on back burner if not maybe not even in the kitchen!
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  #18  
Old 05-10-2007, 01:46 PM
Samm
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MISTERGEE
wow this sounds just like what happened to gulfstream with there addition of slots, horseplayers are for sure on back burner if not maybe not even in the kitchen!
difference right now is that Gulfstream has started building more space... Philly is trying to have its present facility labeled as permenant... meaning no more building....

Gulfstream did screw up but realizes it and is doing something to correct the situation... Hopefully they will succeed.

Philly is trying to screw the front side and the back side... they need to be called to task!!
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  #19  
Old 05-10-2007, 01:48 PM
Bystander Bystander is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadowRoll
The OTB was the third most popular diversion there (ranking right behind the Little League World Series and Clyde Peeling's Reptile World).
Oh my God, Clyde Peeling's Reptile World- That is an amazing place!
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  #20  
Old 05-10-2007, 02:49 PM
Port Conway Lane Port Conway Lane is offline
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It's interesting for me to read the negative views about Philly Park. I attended for the first and only time in early April and enjoyed the experience. We sat upstairs and rented a cubicle with a tv for a buck,had large tvs with all the tracks in front of us as well. I was able to get a wagering machine (for lack of a better term) for free (in Maryland you pay $5 for it) and when the live races ran it was only 30 feet away to watch the races live. The people were friendly and helpful.
The simulcasting setup where I was sitting was better than Maryland tracks (try to locate a California signal in a number of simulcasting areas).
Since I have no frame of reference having never been there before I'm not endorsing Philly by any means. It goes to show ya if you've been fed crap all your life (in Maryland, which by the way has no slots) anything else tastes sweet.
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