GOODBYE TO AN ERA - IT SURE WAS FUN

[Linda_d]

My point about NASCAR was that people are attracted to racing as a competitive sport whether there's money bet on it or not, whether it's cars or horses or school buses or go-karts, and if it's marketed smartly, it can be very popular. Motor racing uses corporate sponsorship and horse racing uses parimutual and casino gambling. The difference is that NASCAR markets itself a whole lot better as family entertainment than horse racing does. It continues to attract new fans. Horse racing is largely failing to do that.

Horse racing could learn a lot from the motor racing folks. Laugh all you want about the drivers' plugging their sponsors, but the fact is that NASCAR drivers have squeaky-clean images. The surest way for a driver to get canned is to get in trouble off-track for something like substance abuse or domestic violence (but NOT speeding ). Horse racing's image is not nearly as good.

BDW's correct about limiting the product, too. Maybe more tracks should go to Friday night/Saturday-Sunday afternoon programs. Maybe there should be more 4-6 week meetings rather than 4-6 month ones. Maybe there shouldn't be racing in NY or PA or other places from December through February.

[ratherrapid]

horse racing will never "market" itself in the manner of NASCAR because there's zero appeal to an anti segment of society in the manner of NASCAR.

NASCAR is a temporary phenomena and fashion trend already waning in terms of wide popularity and is completely dependent on a few fashion auto races. How hard would it be for horse racing to market only the Derby, BC, TC and a few other well timed regional races thrown in? We can certainly shrink the sport to that degree, if that's the aim.

For myself I truly hope the boutique meet/rich owner crowd that is trying to coopt the sport (see Barry Irwin and his ilk, Cot Campbell, Fred Pope etc.), that the great majority on the horse side can find a way to stop this. While certainly under the marketing structure as it is (virtually non-existent but changing) there are more tracks than bettors, the solution for regional tracks are their own ADWs advertised on the internet, or regional ADW compacts of the type that would compete with Twin Spires combined with TV marketing of pick six and like betting products.

What's happening right now with the small tracks is that they r so understaffed that what occurs is the Stewards and a few racing office employees show up shortly before a meet and try to run things assuming people will just suddenly appear and bet just as in the old days. Something has got to wake up the people involved on the horse side to understand that things are unable to continue in that manner.

[Joltman]

What's happening right now with the small tracks is that they r so understaffed that what occurs is the Stewards and a few racing office employees show up shortly before a meet and try to run things assuming people will just suddenly appear and bet just as in the old days. Something has got to wake up the people involved on the horse side to understand that things are unable to continue in that manner.

that summarizes Colonial Downs perfectly.

jm

[Shammy Davis]

http://law.shu.edu/Students/academics/j ... -Glory.pdf

[bdw0617]

horse racing will never "market" itself in the manner of NASCAR because there's zero appeal to an anti segment of society in the manner of NASCAR.

NASCAR is a temporary phenomena and fashion trend already waning in terms of wide popularity and is completely dependent on a few fashion auto races. How hard would it be for horse racing to market only the Derby, BC, TC and a few other well timed regional races thrown in? We can certainly shrink the sport to that degree, if that's the aim.

For myself I truly hope the boutique meet/rich owner crowd that is trying to coopt the sport (see Barry Irwin and his ilk, Cot Campbell, Fred Pope etc.), that the great majority on the horse side can find a way to stop this. While certainly under the marketing structure as it is (virtually non-existent but changing) there are more tracks than bettors, the solution for regional tracks are their own ADWs advertised on the internet, or regional ADW compacts of the type that would compete with Twin Spires combined with TV marketing of pick six and like betting products.

What's happening right now with the small tracks is that they r so understaffed that what occurs is the Stewards and a few racing office employees show up shortly before a meet and try to run things assuming people will just suddenly appear and bet just as in the old days. Something has got to wake up the people involved on the horse side to understand that things are unable to continue in that manner.

as much as people dont' like that type of owner, they really are necessary. I mean, not very many people can spend 150 thousand dollars for a so so yearling at keeneland then spend another 3 grand a month to train it. what if it needs to be put up?

in fact i think you can find a direct correlation between the ilk of the owners and the bad / shady stuff that has really tarted to go on behind the scenes. the meat factories getting out of control, back in Rokeby days your horse raced even if it wasn't good it had a home. but the guy who makes 90k a year and is getting by that horse has to go.


just like there are a lot of horses that dont' need to be training, to be 100% frank there are a lot of owners who have no business owning a horse if you can't do it with class and do it the right way.

that really is the sole reason i have not bought a horse yet. i could if i really wanted to. hell i have tried. but i wont' be that guy that turns his head when his 50k yearling he spent his money on and gets claimed for 5k and is running at mountaineer and just drops off the radar screen and i am lying to myself telling myself he's at a good home somewhere. i won't be that guy.

I"m not saying you have to be a millinoare or even i hve to be a millinare but i need to be in a place i can make sure that anything i own has a home for life. and while i can comfortably own a horse, i don't want A horse. I want a few and to be able to do that right and to make sure they can all have a home and start my own little broodmare band, i would rather wait and do it right than to turn my head when the horses can't run anymore.

[wilf]

For crying out loud bdw etc will you please check your spelling before you press "send" it drives me insane and I feel like the dyslexic,agnostic,insomniac who lies awake at night wondering if there really is a dog. Apart from that your last post reveals a sensitivity that I must have missed in you also it shows a sweeping misconception of this game that you have but is no fault of yours either. It is an appearance of the good the bad and the ugly throughout this great industry/sport that is defined only by facts and stats but really can only be verified by those that toil at the "b" tracks and see how the game is really played. The reality is that even though the lower levels of racing are constantly the whipping boy of the sport a closer look will show that there are far more caring ,concerned horsemen and women in the "blue-collar "end of the game than you may think. They quietly,diligently go about this life trying to balance making a living in this sport with their own humanitarian views of animal abuse. I could never understand why more owners that lost a horse through a claim did not go right back and claim it again or even take it back down the road . If you liked the horse then it must be worth it again? So what if the last trainer/owner made a profit? Get your feet wet in the game bdw and then give us your impressions after the first year, I for one would like to read what you have to say.

[Joltman]

I concur that the personnel at the B level are often quite caring for their animals, and you will find that Canter and other groups routinely work to resettle the culls from there. But sufficient income must be made with those that aren't culled - and that it's always tight for everyone even at the A tracks. You can hemorrhage money even faster there because the 'professionals' at that level can sock it to the owners because of the high-end players.

I actually think there is a ray of hope coming out of all places, Stronach's Santa Anita. In hiring Mark Verge he's opened the possibility of real change, especially with the fan interaction/marketing and with owners (which he is one). He is engaged and invested - now - and if he flames out it may be a sign of the forthcoming end. His style may run some people wrong, but it will be different - that's for sure. I think he may do for Santa Anita what Meeker did for ChD 25 yrs ago.

jm

[casallc]

For crying out loud bdw etc will you please check your spelling before you press "send" it drives me insane and I feel like the dyslexic,agnostic,insomniac who lies awake at night wondering if there really is a dog. Apart from that your last post reveals a sensitivity that I must have missed in you also it shows a sweeping misconception of this game that you have but is no fault of yours either. It is an appearance of the good the bad and the ugly throughout this great industry/sport that is defined only by facts and stats but really can only be verified by those that toil at the "b" tracks and see how the game is really played. The reality is that even though the lower levels of racing are constantly the whipping boy of the sport a closer look will show that there are far more caring ,concerned horsemen and women in the "blue-collar "end of the game than you may think. They quietly,diligently go about this life trying to balance making a living in this sport with their own humanitarian views of animal abuse. I could never understand why more owners that lost a horse through a claim did not go right back and claim it again or even take it back down the road . If you liked the horse then it must be worth it again? So what if the last trainer/owner made a profit? Get your feet wet in the game bdw and then give us your impressions after the first year, I for one would like to read what you have to say.

It is always easy for those that don't have a clue to come up with solutions in the horse industry. BDW is not a horseman but he plays like one from watching TV (and internet forums). Aside from his spelling, grammar and misunderstanding of word meanings - he is usually completely wrong in his posts. It is easy to develop "sensitivity" for horses when you have never owned one and there is probably no chance of it ever happening. What BDW doesn't understand is that "cheap claimers" carry about 75% of the load in the horse racing business. The 2% of stake horses that get all the glory - get that glory on the backs of the 98% that make up the day to day economy of the track.

People that make conclusions from what they see on TV or what they read on forums usually only have an idea of what is going on - as often as not that idea is false. There are lots of good people on the backside that no one will ever hear about but spend their life working their ass off for the love of the business. Those wealthy owners that get all the publicity (except for a few) would never make the cut if they had to make the same sacrifices and work the hours that people do on the backside. They are more concerned with their egos than horses or racing - yet they are the ones that call the shots. That is why the business is screwed up - they are not REAL horsemen. They have either inherited their wealth or made it in some other business that they DO know something about.


I don't have the solution because for the most part horsemen are not very good business men, so putting more decision making in their hands is not the best idea. As with most things let the market dictate and keep governments out of it as much as possible and it will work out on its own.

[Sylvie Hebert]

As you said Casallc if there is 10 horses per race that is 9 loosers and 10 races on a card is 90 loosers per card.And most of those ten races are low or middle level claimers...so here is your 99%...