This is from their web site: (Sounds like a reasonable plan of action to me -- all tracks should have such clear thinking, intelligent management; I remember so many cancellations in NJ where the races were lost forever into some black hole never to be seen again!)
\"A combination of a frozen racing surface and continued adverse weather conditions in the area have forced Oaklawn officials to cancel racing for Sunday and Monday, February 19-20. Oaklawn will be open for Simulcast and Instant racing only on both days. Doors will open at 11:00 a.m.
\"We had hopes for some cooperation from Mother Nature in forecasts earlier in the week\" announced general manager Eric Jackson on Sunday morning, \"But that relief never occurred. We now face a day where the temperature will not get past the freezing mark and a forecast for additional freezing rain throughout the day. Our decisions are always based on safety to horses, jockeys, fans and employees, so there was no questions how we had to decide. The roads in Hot Springs this morning are pretty good, so we hope by opening for simulcast and Instant Racing we can provide some entertainment to the many fans who were already here for the big weekend.\"
\"Our plan now,\" Jackson continued, \"Is to get the track back as soon as possible and have it in great racing shape by Thursday. The weather forecasters indicate that we will have fine weather conditions by midweek and return to sunshine and warmer temperatures by Thursday. We will open with eleven-race cards on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 23-25. The extra race on each of those days will be the stakes races we lost this weekend. We will race the Pippin Stakes (originally scheduled on Saturday, February 18) on Thursday, the Martha Washington Stakes (originally scheduled on Sunday, February 19) on Friday, and the Southwest Stakes (originally carded for Monday, February 20) on Saturday. These are races of national importance and we want our horsemen to have the chance to prepare their horses safely for all the major events coming up in the next few months.\"
the reading sounds noble...but the truth is that you can\'t race (it\'s a rule)on a surface that has been closed for training 2+ dyas in succession.
If you don\'t like Frank S, what\'s to be made of the joker who runs Oaklawn? He\'s never bet a horse in his life and was part owner of a liquor store, before he got the big job. They\'ve done great harm to the business and Hot Springs.
can\'t go with you here on this one...Oaklawn is setting records each season for handle and attendance last seral in a row...instant racing brings in more than double the live handle (I don\'t get it), but it raises purses, attracts more folks, larger pools...what is it exactly you arent\' happy with? I like it so much I bought anouther house there...
I\'ll bet mine is closer. Why do you think a house in the Spa is so cheap?
just back from the simulcast action ...hey, I\'m going to raise hell about something I learned today involving instant racing, employee pay, and the ridiculous double standard going on there...keep you posted.
Shanahan....I told you soooooo
Spa Your comments are basically totally inaccurate in your description of the owner of Oaklawn. Where do you come up with these type of comments. I\'m not commenting on your third sentence but your second sentence. I know the owner personally for 40 yrs. and your staement is totally inaccurate.
Rando....I never made a comment about the owner, did you say you were his friend?
Are we talking St.Louis or Hot springs......
rando you are correct, obviously spa meant Mr. Jackson, not Mr. Cella. But that does not address questions/promises that have to be addressed surrounding instant racing...before I spill the beans to everyone else, have the two of you been inside \"instant racing\"?
Know him from St. Louis my and his home.
No I\'ve been to Oaklawn 15 times since but have naver walked inside that room on the way to tha Carousel or on the way back down to the paddock ,apron,or for shrimp or oysters on the first floor. $$$$ for $$$$ the best town for horse racing experince in the U.S.
well, I\'m an STL guy as well, & here\'s the \"skinny\" in a nuthsell:
1. Instant Racing is great way to raise purses and finance what can be world class racing for more than just one week (Festival of Racing).
2. Instant Racing brings in @ $225 Million. The track brings in @ $75 million by itself. Total borught in now is @ $300 million.
3. The recent vote just barely passed (by a nose, as the website states) to expand instant racing. Makes good sense - for everyone (at least I thought that two months ago, even two weeks ago).
Let\'s continue with more facts...
4. The Instant racing room has a different pay scale for employees - yes that is correct, a bartender/security person,...makes more in the game room than the same job 40 yards down the hall...why? They are not even aware of this - till now.
5. Two promotions were scheduled last weekend (when live meet cancelled due to weather - simulcast remained open) - one in the game room, one for the live meet. One promowent on as advertised, the other was cancelled - not postponed, simply cancelled \"till next year\". Horsemen are not amused.
6. Last fact - the Instant Racing would not even exist if not for Oaklawn Race Track itself.
Conclusion - the track / ownership has lost sight of the horseplayer and the horsemen who are the ones responsible for Instant Racing in the first place...promises made, promises not fully kept...but as long as the people have their eye on something else, it\'ll continue. Ignorance is bliss, and they have pulled a fast one on the town and the horseplayers. If the vote comes up again, I won\'t be hoodwinked like last time - I\'ll oppose it, as the others who made it fly \"by a nose\" will also...stay tuned.
Shanahan....great expose.....but only the tip of the iceberg.
spa, please chime in...I don\'t want my track to become Stronach Midwest....and I\'m sending this also into the local paper this weekend.
Shanahan...they\'re in on it,too.
OK SPA, now I have to dismiss your comments...what\'s next, the grassy knoll?
Shanahan...you are in the eye of the perfect storm.....total political and economic control in the hands of a few. Who owns that little local paper? The only statewide one!!!! Do I believe in the \"grassy knoll?\" I think I do. The longer you stay there and ask questions, the more you\'ll understand.
wow who cares they have wonderful value in the begining of the meet.
I don\'t know. I read this thread 3 times and still can\'t ascertain a real controversy or what the threat is. Is it just me? Do I not comprehend the menace that is Instant Racing or how disproportionate employee compensation will destroy Oaklawn and perhaps the entire Thoroughbred Industry?
I\'d rather trust Cella on this than the White House on who to sell our Port Authority to and just where to draw the line upon the so called: \"War on terror.\"
The White House says, \"We trust them, they are our friends.\" Just thought I\'d broach a genuine threat and a real controversy, in case anyone is having trouble identifying one.
shanahan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> well, I\'m an STL guy as well, & here\'s the
> \"skinny\" in a nuthsell:
>
> 1. Instant Racing is great way to raise purses
> and finance what can be world class racing for
> more than just one week (Festival of Racing).
>
> 2. Instant Racing brings in @ $225 Million. The
> track brings in @ $75 million by itself. Total
> borught in now is @ $300 million.
>
> 3. The recent vote just barely passed (by a nose,
> as the website states) to expand instant racing.
> Makes good sense - for everyone (at least I
> thought that two months ago, even two weeks ago).
>
> Let\'s continue with more facts...
>
> 4. The Instant racing room has a different pay
> scale for employees - yes that is correct, a
> bartender/security person,...makes more in the
> game room than the same job 40 yards down the
> hall...why? They are not even aware of this -
> till now.
>
> 5. Two promotions were scheduled last weekend
> (when live meet cancelled due to weather -
> simulcast remained open) - one in the game room,
> one for the live meet. One promowent on as
> advertised, the other was cancelled - not
> postponed, simply cancelled \"till next year\".
> Horsemen are not amused.
>
> 6. Last fact - the Instant Racing would not even
> exist if not for Oaklawn Race Track itself.
>
> Conclusion - the track / ownership has lost sight
> of the horseplayer and the horsemen who are the
> ones responsible for Instant Racing in the first
> place...promises made, promises not fully
> kept...but as long as the people have their eye on
> something else, it\'ll continue. Ignorance is
> bliss, and they have pulled a fast one on the town
> and the horseplayers. If the vote comes up again,
> I won\'t be hoodwinked like last time - I\'ll oppose
> it, as the others who made it fly \"by a nose\" will
> also...stay tuned.
>
>
CTC - it\'s the fact that the \"horseplayer\" end of the bldg has been forgotten and dissed, htat\'s all...while anything the little old ladies who play the instant racing machines get anything they want - 1/2 price drinks, free giveaways,...all kinds of stuff. The horseplayer gets nothing new, in fact he/s he gets less than we used to...even a simple \"players card\" would be nice. Does this make it simple? The racing is pretty good here - witness the route of recent triple crown contenders - vs. how it was in the past.
I don\'t think \"W\" plays the horses...
I\'m quite certain W lacks the cognitive ability to understand playing the horses.
Your point is noted. Mabye I\'m jaded. I\'ve come to expect little from the powers that be. All I want are full fields and undoped horses. Thats even asking a lot.
shanahan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CTC - it\'s the fact that the \"horseplayer\" end of
> the bldg has been forgotten and dissed, htat\'s
> all...while anything the little old ladies who
> play the instant racing machines get anything they
> want - 1/2 price drinks, free giveaways,...all
> kinds of stuff. The horseplayer gets nothing new,
> in fact he/s he gets less than we used to...even a
> simple \"players card\" would be nice. Does this
> make it simple? The racing is pretty good here -
> witness the route of recent triple crown
> contenders - vs. how it was in the past.
>
> I don\'t think \"W\" plays the horses...
I hear ya...at least we have that here...but still looking forward to a trip to GP next weekend. Have a profitable weekend.
CTMC nailed that thread PRETTY good! PRETTY,PRETTY good...tell me chuckles..why do i feel that you have either vented on a topic not worthy of such research,or maybe you,(like I,sadly enough),become annoyed when another party writes in such an earnest way?
In the past Iv\'e been given the boot for responding in kind....but I gotta admit the thread sounded juvenile....just not enough for you to disect in an unflattering way.
Still you do some great investigative work!
I didn\'t think organized crime was doing that bad a job running the ports...
Pretty funny, Richie.