Texas Thoroughbred Forum

[jrgators]

According to a recent series of articles in the Austin American Statesman,

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-pol ... 99264.html

there is an astounding amount of money being wagered on scratch off lottery tickets -- they are convenient, and offer an easy way for people to play. We know that your odds are much better at the track, so maybe we need to make race track betting easier for folks? Of course, ADW would do that. You don't even have to go to the convenience store.

I suspect that tellers need some kind of training, and maybe even a license? Maybe that is an area in which the tracks and TRC could cooperate? I cannot believe that there is any lack of people looking for part time work these days. I would think the local community colleges would even provide the job training in conjunction with the workforce commission, if it was needed.

I refuse to believe that we cannot find ways to make things better, and Texas racing work for everyone. It need not be slots or nothing.

I feel your idea, but I don't think he's not telling the truth, and it maybe that the problem is part time work. Some folks may not want to mess up their unemployment benefits or something like that. Also, customer service isn't easy, nor is it for everyone. Working with the public takes a special kind of person.

I would also imagine with money changing hands not everyone would qualify to do that job either. I personally don't like messing with anyones money but my own. I would do this for free to help the great cause none the less.

Theo

[jrgators]

I also agree on the comparison to the scratch off, and making our product more readily available to the general public. My fear right now is that the tracks, the track associations, and the media will fight this tooth and nail for the support of the slots or nothing agenda.

My belief is that the ADW's will work for our benefit beyond belief. I believe that they will add millions of dollars, and will help us get more racing opportunities as well.

I hope each of you had a good weekend.

Also, the THP board member that informed me of my $14.00 bill hasn't sent me a bill, or called be, so maybe my BILL is like the "secret meetings" maybe it just did not really happen! LMBAO

[keyranch]

It appears to me there is another valueable lesson from the weekend results at Retama Park. If you let people know when you are open they will come. The free press Retama received because of the race dates issues brought the folks out to the track. Now the question is that since Retama based their number of days on a 15% decline in handle and there is a sizable increase, will they step up and add some days to the meet? If they will commit to additional days surely a little more press or cheap creative advertising can be delivered. When you see Mr. Brown ask him what will it take to consider more racing opportunity for the Texans at the track. Look at the number of entries so far, field sizes are excellent, and the races provided generous payouts to indicate competitive racing. That should be touted to the betters that Retama is a good bet for them.

Talking points are coming together nicely and it appears there are some excellent ideas that can improve and enlarge our group of mushrooms. Try to stay on top of things and hopefully next week we will have a better look at the racing schedule for SHRP.

[jrgators]

As we get closer to the dates results, we can't get lost in the feelings of uncertainty. We must stay focused, and keep our eyes on the ultimate prize.

I've been thinking a lot about the loss of Manor downs to the racing industry here in Texas. This has left a large hole in our racing chances, and in our purse accts as well.

It's my belief that we need to do our best to get this track back opened, and the simulcast dollars back to flowing.

Also, the bridge that commissioner Ederer spoke of must be beyond 2011. If we don't get legislative relief this session, I don't feel that any amount of fighting we do will be relivant. The tracks will be in a position of real crisis, and we will be as well.

Good luck to all tonight and this weekend at Retama.

[keyranch]

Welcome to the wonderful world of how bad is your representation in Texas! The TTA has endorse the loss of 39 racing days in Texas while the Qh folks lose 2 days. Even better we have learned that the whole board of the TTA did not have a voice or vote on your racing opportunity even though you voted for these folks. The responsibiltiy all lies with the executive committee and the director of the TTA!!!

You have until monday to contact these folks and the TRC to explain why they do not represent the best interests of the industry in Texas!! The endorsement of the reduction of eight thoroughbred days at Lone Star park from 60 top 52 so that Lone Star can still be running at more money than SHRP is absolutely a sale out of its membership.

Call every member of the executive committee and Dave Hooper of the TTA ASAP and if you know, list their home phones so that other mushrooms can call them to have a full board meeting so that we know where each and every one of them stands!! Stand up and fight for your friends and neighbors that are being sold out for the slots or nothing crowd.

The HBPA including their president have all endorsed the loss of 28% of your race dates. Although it is an improvement over the 48%, it is still an assault on the industry. Call everyone you know and make a difference in the battle to the end to save Texas racing.

[tinners way]

Could there possibly be any correlation to Retamas numbers improving and the fact they have lowered their take out on exotic wagers? I would think so.

Could there possibly be any correlation to Lone Star being ranked 36th as most unfriendly to the gambler because of their high take outs? I would think so.

Once again, the Law of Diminishing returns in action. Fewer dates, consolidate purse money, but do nothing to attract handle. Maybe a few more trainers, but not handle. And also the definition of insanity.

It's all about slots.

I can assure one and all, that the facts presented on how to raise handle have been ignored by the tracks- although Retama is showing some common sense.

It's all about slots.

INSANITY!!!

Keep ignoring the facts, and common sense approaches to improving purses (ADW) and handle- full fields, competitively written races, fair deal for the gambler- and soon it will be 20 days. For no reason, except......

It's all about slots.

Mr. Shubeck stated Lone Star has a very healthy profit from Food and Beverage sales, i.e. when my doors are open, we make money. This is complete Tom Foolery to cut dates when the ways to improve the numbers are right in front of him. M1 signal is a joke and take out is too high. You are killing yourself, and the horsemen. But wait, I digress....

It's all about slots.

[jrgators]

Well Tinner, at least you aren't dillusional! That's a good thing!

The slots or nothing joke, would be funny if it wasn't so dang costly to all of us. I hope that we can stay the course, and pursue the fight on the grounds of common sense.

I have a strong belief that we'll get ADW to the floor this session. I don't know how well it will succeed, but we'll atleast have a shot. The other idea that's been floating around since I was 175 lbs, it's dead before you can say good morning.

We need to also keep focus on the other very important thing...and that's voting these rocket scientist out of office!! The TTA, and the THP alike.

These boards need to reflect more of Texas, and show the state that we aren't beggers, or elitist. We are hard working every day folks that only desire a fair chance to purse our dreams!

Have a great weekend!
Theo

[keyranch]

13% reduction in racing opportunity at Lone Star was endorsed by the Texas horsemen's associations without a whimper. Instead of the 108 Tb days that would have been reasonable with the available purse projections we are at an even 100 with no assurances to get the lost dates back. Instead of cutting us 48% in one year they have continued on the path of cutting us 10% at a time for more years and in the end we will still be in the same spot with the tracks maximizing their profits and the horsemen being shut out of racing opportunity.

1) Purse money belongs to the Texas horsemen to create racing opportunity for Texas horsemen.
2)Purse money should be invested in racing in such a way to maximize the creation of more purse money.
3) Any reduction in racing opportunity should be accompanied by an agreement that race dates will be returned before a single dollar is used to raise average dailey purses.

In the past meet, Lone Star had good attendance, on track handle, and simulcast handle. Their big drop was in signal export and that is why the purses dropped. We have been studying why this occurred and there are simply two glaring reasons and neither have a thing to do with purse levels or quality of horses.

1) Way to many favorites won, pushing the average winning odds down. This problem is simple to solve and it requires writing the conditions of the races so that they are more competitive. The average winning odds are great at Retama and look what is happening to the signal.

2) Lone Star and Magna has been raising the fees charged to outlets all over the country. We assume the HBPA has to approve this and should be aware of this going on. Since they have not addressed this problem, we can only assume they are more interested in Lone stars bottom line than the horseman's. Retama cut the takeout on a few exotics and they are generating some national excitement with their signal.

In one of the earlier TRC meetings Jan Jaynes goes into the story about not getting to bet on Lone Star from Vegas and blamed it on the quality of horses and purse levels. As president of the Thoroughbred HBPA she should have signed off on Lone Star raising to fees to these outlets. Shubeck chose his words carefully as usual when he was asked about the outlets and he said the same brick and mortar facilities were receiving the signals. This was true but many other outlets were being charged a higher fee for the signals and that drove down the purse money generated by the signal.

The truth of the matter is that even though less money is being bet, with the higher fees Lone Star is making more money for itself and I assume the HBPA. It is not making more purse money for you. So, again the TTA and HBPA are not looking out for the Texas horsemen.

Call your representatives on both boards to recall their support and e-mail the TRC to request them to intervene on the horsemen's behalf!! It is your purse money and your racing opportunity they are taking away from you!!

[keyranch]

I have never read this forum before, and may never again. Honestly, this stuff is not my cup of tea. But I’m putting in my two cents’ worth (probably more like a nickel) this one time. Our racing industry is trouble, and the TTA and THP are not helping.

The so-called negotiations between the so-called horsemen’s groups and the tracks are like bad scenes from high school. We have the kids who spend $30 on a T-shirt from Abercrombie and Fitch and think that makes them superior to those who wear a T shirt with the same look and quality bought at Wal Mart for $10. We have the cheerleaders who think they are more important than the team they are supposed to support. We have the kids who are afraid to stand up for themselves because either it’s not the popular thing to do, or they’re intimidated by that $30 T-shirt clique.

People – we are not in high school anymore!

Shortening the days at Lone Star to add $30k in purses will NOT put them on a pedestal, will NOT draw world-class horses, and will NOT generate additional handle. So what is to be gained from this? Nothing, except maybe a boost to Lone Star’s ego. What is to be lost from this? Racing opportunities and purse money that would be generated from those opportunities.

While I in no way mean to belittle Quarter Horse racing, or diminish its value to the industry, I would like to know how the THP and the TTA can justify precious little loss of racing days for Quarter Horses, while the more lucrative Thoroughbred opportunity gets butchered. Since the THP is apparently involved in the so-called negotiations, I have to assume that they are the drivers behind this disproportionate reduction in race dates, and are representing only the Quarter Horse aspect. We are in dire trouble if we are counting on the TTA to help out. In a Houston Chronicle article written a few days ago, when Dave Hooper was asked how much his organization participated in talks, he said "Not much." Thanks a lot, fella. Add to this the fact that only the Executive Committee of the TTA is in on the loop at all. The board of directors isn’t even allowed to know what is secretly going on there. Makes you feel real good about paying those dues, doesn’t it?

Lone Star Park is a vibrant and wonderful facility. With its cosmetic appeal and its advantageous demographics, it’s no surprise they generate a good live handle for their purse dollar. Lone Star’s 9.4% dip in live handle is in line with the 9.8% dip in national averages.
Their export signal took a nosedive this year, and Lone Star lays the blame on poor quality racing. Let’s see……

In 2009 and 2010, gamblers in Houston bet almost exactly the same amount of money on Lone Star and Monmouth combined. The difference is that in 2010, they bet 62% more on Monmouth’s “elite boutique meet”, and 25% less on Lone Star. Monmouth’s drain on export handle was felt everywhere. Stats on other tracks’ drops in handle elude to this, but the figures typically quote all source wagering which buffers it. Lone Star is the only track I know of that pointed out the drop in export and blamed it on poor quality racing.

The idea that cutting days to boost purses by $30,000 per day at Lone Star will noticeably increase handle is just plain dumb. Monmouth boosted its purses 140% - an increase of $370,000 per day to total $800,000 - to get an increase in handle of 113.04%. A chunk of that handle came from gamblers like the ones in Houston who chose to bet on the richest Thoroughbred meet in the world. Good for Monmouth? Sure. Good for the rest of the industry? Don’t think so.

If Lone Star would have switched to evening racing, they would have had little competition for their signal, and they most likely would have improved rather than declined. It works at Houston. If Lone Star would have lowered their takeout, their handle would have improved. It’s working for Retama. The Lone Star management is obviously not stupid, or they would never be as successful as they are. But face it – they are in a business to make money. Live racing is like selling gas at a convenience store. The store doesn’t make much on the gas, but they make a killing on the stuff they sell in the store. And Lone Star sells less stuff with evening racing than they do with day racing. So make a choice, Lone Star. Either make the adjustments that will help the handle, or quit bitching about it dropping.

I am proud to see that a lot of people who previously were silent have chosen to stand up for what they believe to be right. Those emails you sent did deliver a message. The fact that we are opposed to a reduction in race dates was emphasized, but was already a given. The message you delivered was that there are people out there who don’t care about hanging with the chosen few, and are not going to be intimidated by them.

I may be accused of preaching to the choir. But we all know that there are people watching this forum that are definitely not choir boys. I hope that we come through this with enough racing days to survive. That is my prayer. And we need all the prayers we can get because the devil is in our back yard, and he’s doing “not much”.

Sharon Kerby

[Bedouwia]

Thanks for the straight talk Sharon. You need to come here more often.

I would only add one small point. I recently read an article by one state newspaper columnist suggesting that the drastic reduction in foal production is another justification for needing fewer race days and higher purses to attract out of state horses and trainers. Isn't it amazing that they have worked for years to cripple our state bred program, and now use that against us? All this for what? Slots? What a crock.

Bedouwia

[tinners way]

Vicke, dead on. We open up the breed back rules, which did nothing to encourage breeding in the state. The steep decline cannot be blamed 100% on "lack of slots." That crutch and excuse is used for every ill. Instead of looking at what could have been done, we kept all the other options at bay because- 'if we get ADW or expanded OTB or IRM", the need for slots may not be as great. In fact, the amount of revenue lost by the TTA from foal registrations is huge. Hopefully we can begin learning from our mistakes.

I guarantee if we go back to the old breed back rule, or get creative as I have suggested and presented, within 2 years we would increase foal production by at least 20%. I am welcome any challenge on that.

We have systematically injured our industry (I would say destroyed, but the resiliency is showing.) It is time to start reversing the trend

Lone Star needs to stay at 60 days. No more erosion. Keep marketing your product, look at ways to be creative in the days and time of day you run, examine your take out policy, etc.

It's all about slots.

[Roger]

We all need to email TxRC one more time and ask that they require LS to run 60 days in 2011. Tinner made some good points when he mentiioned how little $30,000 a day would influence handle. LS is competing with regional tracks for horses and the $30,000 might bring a few more horses back to LS, but as long as LS competes with the big boys for the betting dollar, they will loose and handle will not increase. Paraphrasing Shubeck in the LS meeting," but it would be fun competing against them" It was like it was a big ego trip to run at the same time as the big boys. We need to consider mentioning the average overnight purse structure with the TxRC. Last year LS had 25% of its purse money in stakes and that money alone would provide enough money to compete for regional horses, but again paraphrasing Shubeck, "I didn't come to Texas to write cheap races" It seems to me that you write races to fit the horses that are running at your track.
We are running out of time to nominate TTA nominees. We have good people available in Victoria Ashford, Jazzette Hudson, Theo, Robert Pickford, Jack Shelton, Vicki and such we need to nominate whoever before Wednesday.

[jrgators]

That's the question I've asked myself over the weekend. Am I angry, or am I surprised? I've come up with the answer, and it's 100% anger!

This executive group of folks who don't owe $14.00 are a joke! To agree with still dates being loss is a joke! But it's a very bad reality for us.

You guys are priceless, and I hope each of you that agreed to this nonsense will find a new job that doesn't involve killing Texas Tbred racing!!

Theophilus Scales, Jr.

[jrgators]

We all need to email TxRC one more time and ask that they require LS to run 60 days in 2011. Tinner made some good points when he mentiioned how little $30,000 a day would influence handle. LS is competing with regional tracks for horses and the $30,000 might bring a few more horses back to LS, but as long as LS competes with the big boys for the betting dollar, they will loose and handle will not increase. Paraphrasing Shubeck in the LS meeting," but it would be fun competing against them" It was like it was a big ego trip to run at the same time as the big boys. We need to consider mentioning the average overnight purse structure with the TxRC. Last year LS had 25% of its purse money in stakes and that money alone would provide enough money to compete for regional horses, but again paraphrasing Shubeck, "I didn't come to Texas to write cheap races" It seems to me that you write races to fit the horses that are running at your track.
We are running out of time to nominate TTA nominees. We have good people available in Victoria Ashford, Jazzette Hudson, Theo, Robert Pickford, Jack Shelton, Vicki and such we need to nominate whoever before Wednesday.

Couple of things to note. When I sent in my form today I found out that only 2 of these folks mentioned are eligable. That would be myself, and Victoria Ashford.

Just wanted to share that with you guys.

I'll say a LOT more in a bit.

[Strategic Maneuver]

Thanks for the recommendation Roger, but I've thrown in the towel so to speak and my farm goes on the market next week. Besides I believe the best for Texas racing and breeding lies somewhere between the "mushrooms" and the "elitists". Cutting race dates dramatically hurts many people in the business but keeping all the race dates at our current purse structure is is also killing our industry.