Colonial 09 - same 2 bit operation

[Joltman]

Had a chance to go to Colonial last night to watch a few up races up close and personal. Racing was very good - big fields, competitive.

My mistake was not printing off the PPs before going down. I actually wanted to pick up a DRF for the Beyers and read a few Belmont post mortems after the fact. WELL FORGET THAT. There wasn't a single DRF to be found. Actually you supposedly could print one off a printer. But what in the world is going on? Last year on several occasions they had either run out of on-track programs, the DRF or both. Went to one 'big stakes day' and they were photocopying their programs feverishly at 1 per minute trying to keep up as people scampered the other way out the turnstiles. DRF printer machine was down too that day.

OK, so, I pick up the on track program. Race 5 $16K claimer, nonwinners of 2. Fourteen entries. There are a total of 2 - count 'em - 2 past performance lines per horse. (2 pg spread) They had room for about 5" of ads at the bottom of the page. 2 horses had 19 starts. If there was back class somewhere you certainly weren't gonna find it there.

Now I just dabble and like to look at basic info, but if perchance there was a serious horseplayer who happened to be vacationing in Williamsburg and didn't haul his PC and printer with him, how in the world would he be able to get any REAL information ON TRACK to make an informed decision. The program was fine with 10 + pages about how to bet and info about Cnl, plus another 8 full pages of ads. BUT a handful of actual PPs could be useful maybe. The DRF would have been nice! does anyone sell a DRF anywhere in VA any more? Maybe the OTBs don't even have them anymore.

Its just this kind of thing that has been consistently bad about the Cnl operation since they opened. Its as laughable as it is pathetic.


jm

[Shammy Davis]

Thanks for the very sad commentary on CD. I was going to be in Richmond on Friday and thought about heading to CD for a little live racing, but you've convinced me not to waste my time.

As far as the DRF, I know of no one selling it.

At last count, I think there are only 8 OTB's. None of which I can reach in less than 2 hours.

I was reading the VRC site two nights ago. Apparently 2009 will have the largest handle ever. You could fool me.

[Joltman]

Well, like I said, the racing was very good and there's nothing like being there in person, so I'll trek back there again - with my own PP print outs. Its just the collapse of customer support in some key areas like this that makes it so aggravating. The sellers were better this year at least.

jm

[winds]

That's a shame, I've only been there on the other side, the backside. They have that set up so horsemen friendly it's wonderful. The turf course is to die for and as I said, they can't make it any easier to run horses there.

But, in order to keep things going they need to make it customer friendly too. They do have a website, why not get on and express your concerns? Just a thought.

winds

[Shammy Davis]

I want to do more than watch the horses run. I can go to Foxfield and do that. A matter of fact, if I want to see horses run, I can go out my front door and lean on one of our pasture fences. How can you or I make an informed bet without at least 4 or 5 PP lines. The VRC has no concept of what a poor job CD is doing. It's a beautiful facility, excellent turf course, and well constructed backstretch, but there is nothing about the track that encourages on-site participation by the betting public. Very disappointing.

On a lighter side, how about CASANOVA MOVE in the Acorn? I watch a replay of it and it looked like she had a troubled stop and go trip.

[griff]

Why not print them and take em with you???

griff

[Joltman]

Call me old school. But its nice to go down a little early, pick up a form, look at the various tracks running for other things of interest, read an article or two, then plow into the handicapping game.

The DRF was a treasure chest of info that could be learned by reading the articles on breeding, racing, handicapping, etc. by Joe Hirsch et al. There's more to it than just looking at numbers.

jm

[Shammy Davis]

Griff posted:

Why not print them and take em with you???

I'm like Joltman. You don't hear about the 2-bit operation of other tracks. I've been to some pretty low rent down in the dumps operations including Rockingham and Fairmount and they don't treat their customers this way. They (Rockingham and Fairmount) need to upgrade their facilities, but you can get a DRF, a program, a beer, and some good racing and you don't have to pre-print or pre-organize your trip.

It's at the very least a two hour trip to CD from Central VA. It makes sense to go either to MD, PA, or WV where you get the full treatment. Sittting at the computer and printing PP's is a waste of my time besides while at CD, I might want to bet another track.

I can watch CD on TVG and bet there too. Are you running any horses at CD? Congrats on Civil Disorder, but from your previous posts it appears to me that you know that your bread gets its butter in WV. I like what I'm seeing in CT. It won't be long before we all ditch the WV redneck jokes for VA dumb jokes.

[griff]

CD is an excellent facility and certainly the best grass track I have ever seen, and I did have a horse there a couple years ago. And I would like to race there this year but the purses suck unless you are a VA Bred. And 40 days of racing per year does not tempt me to make any of mine VA BRED..

Still I think two bit is a bit harsh.

griff

[Hold Your Peace]

Had a chance to go to Colonial last night to watch a few up races up close and personal. Racing was very good - big fields, competitive.

My mistake was not printing off the PPs before going down. I actually wanted to pick up a DRF for the Beyers and read a few Belmont post mortems after the fact. WELL FORGET THAT. There wasn't a single DRF to be found. Actually you supposedly could print one off a printer. But what in the world is going on? Last year on several occasions they had either run out of on-track programs, the DRF or both. Went to one 'big stakes day' and they were photocopying their programs feverishly at 1 per minute trying to keep up as people scampered the other way out the turnstiles. DRF printer machine was down too that day.

OK, so, I pick up the on track program. Race 5 $16K claimer, nonwinners of 2. Fourteen entries. There are a total of 2 - count 'em - 2 past performance lines per horse. (2 pg spread) They had room for about 5" of ads at the bottom of the page. 2 horses had 19 starts. If there was back class somewhere you certainly weren't gonna find it there.

Now I just dabble and like to look at basic info, but if perchance there was a serious horseplayer who happened to be vacationing in Williamsburg and didn't haul his PC and printer with him, how in the world would he be able to get any REAL information ON TRACK to make an informed decision. The program was fine with 10 + pages about how to bet and info about Cnl, plus another 8 full pages of ads. BUT a handful of actual PPs could be useful maybe. The DRF would have been nice! does anyone sell a DRF anywhere in VA any more? Maybe the OTBs don't even have them anymore.

Its just this kind of thing that has been consistently bad about the Cnl operation since they opened. Its as laughable as it is pathetic.


jm

That is sickening.

Pretty much all along the vast majority of their handle is from off track out of state venues because players love the big fields and grass racing there. As of last weekend though, on a busy day at OTB's because it was Belmont day, the signal was not available anywhere in Florida due to a dispute. Colonial told me they hoped to have that worked out by this weekend but I haven't hear anything yet. With such a short meet you can't afford to lose a big days worth of handle like they could of had last Saturday. Especially when you do such miserable on track business which is not likely to get any better with the experience Joltman described. Racetracks could do so much better if they were run by people with any sense.

[Joltman]

Yes, HYP, Cnl wasn't available on the weekend in Va. either. I assumed it was because it had been blacked out or something in Va. It was so rare that Cnl was actually open on a major weekend then they manage to lose the opportunity in mismanagement - case in point. Then they wonder why they are light on revenue.

jm

[zinn21]

Joltman wrote:

I actually wanted to pick up a DRF for the Beyers and read a few Belmont post mortems after the fact. WELL FORGET THAT. There wasn't a single DRF to be found.

That's like going to a Catholic church and finding no candles. Unbelievable..

[Shammy Davis]

Two bit may not be the right term. I think "disappointing" sums it up.

[Shammy Davis]

TVG has been listing CD races, but rarely shows them live. What's up?

[griff]

I can live with disappointing

griff