Aqueduct Casino and Other Issues

[HP]

This is in today\'s New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/nyregion/01racing.html

Seems like we are moving in two different directions...and one direction is...the casinos are having a hard time and if they cut those subsidies we are going to see big changes.  

Money quote - "You're propping up a dying industry," said Richard McGowan, a Jesuit priest and an economics professor at Boston College who specializes in gambling. "The only thing that will revive horse racing is if you banned all other forms of gambling, and that's not going to happen."

HP

[Bigredgoer]

After reading the NYT article...it just illustrates further proof that the politicians and \"self proclaimed experts(professors)\" feel that racing is an industry that should just die on \"it\'s own sword.\" Are they kidding when they compare where this extra money should be spent? Do they even research to see how many people are employed in the racing industry and the endless branch offs of racing?  I am not employed in this industry, but it sickens me when people who have probably never set foot in a racetrack facility, or have even watched a race on television except for the 30 sec clip on sportscenter after the derby, deem themselves to be the resounding voice of reason and opinion.

Everyone likes to wish that racing will return to the days of yesteryear...it\'s not going to happen, but if the racing industry and its executives can somehow unite and create a product that has a national flow to it culminating with maybe a couple of championship meets at year end, and then take a year end break from mid November to Jan 1 or Dec 26(Santa Anita opening)...we might see things get better.  Just too many individual entities all competing at once.

[HP]

I think the biggest problem is that horse racing does nothing to develop a younger/new audience.  Unless your dad or a relative takes you to the track...how do you get into it?  It\'s much different than the initiation experiences you have in other sports, and the herd is thinning out.  

There is no regular network TV show covering horse racing.  I\'m not talking about \"replay\" type shows...more like a regular news-type show that could have features on specific areas...interviews, etc.  People aren\'t going to get interested just by watching a race - you need a backdrop to illustrate the details of what you\'re seeing.  You get coverage on the big days but that\'s preaching to the choir.  You\'re only hitting the existing fans w/replay and \"big day\" shows.  

There needs to be a \"way in\" for people...I don\'t think horse racing has exploited its full potential on TV, nor do they do this online...why don\'t they have a website...sponsored by racetracks...about what goes on at racetracks?  Plenty of industries have websites with education-type modules...why not show some details about racetrack life?  Have trainers talk about and illustrate what exactly they do?  What do people look at when they want to buy a horse?  Something where players could get insight and newbies could catch on - I\'ve heard this referred to as \"edutainment.\"  

Horse racing to some degree exists in this \"shadow world.\" Information is closely held.  There are quite a few things I never would have heard of without having worked in the business a little (like \"runups!?\").  It doesn\'t seem impossible to conceive of a presentation that could have this kind of focus...online or on TV...but I\'ve never seen any entity make an attempt at it.  

HP

[P-Dub]

Being a sports nut, I have been a fan since I was a young child.  But it wasn\'t until a friend took me to the racetrack in my early 20\'s that I became hooked.

Seabiscuit was a finalist for Best Picture, Jockeys was a weekly reality show.  Neither of these sparked any additional interest in horse racing. Horseracing is gambling. Shows about the backside and all that are nice, but they don\'t get people to gamble.

Poker has exploded due to television, and the focus is on gambling. There are no shows about Daniel Negreanu and what he does away from the poker table. Nobody cares. However, people watch his every move at the poker table. Poker players learn how to play the game by watching these guys play on television, as well as other tutorials (books, videos, etc..).

They then take these lessons to the internet and card rooms to play poker and gamble. They improve their games through information and learning.

Also, when they go bust they don\'t come back for awhile. Education is a good thing, it makes for better players, winning players make for repeat customers. Yes, there will always be losing players. But having MORE winning players is good for business.

Horse racing is no different. You want people to visit the track and wager, they need information on how to gamble, and how to gamble successfully.  Losing isn\'t any fun.

Before the internet, there was the DRF. Try giving that to a newbie and watch his/her head spin. It takes a long time to really understand what to look for. There are many products out there that make it easier for someone to understand racing information and give them a fighting chance to win.

Young people use computers, there is software out there that breaks down races. I know several people using software with good success.

Whatever the product..Thorograph, software, etc... information is the key. Information that is relatively easy to use.  The internet has changed how people get and use information. Racing needs to take advantage of this.

[HP]

I agree with most of this...especially your point \"horseracing is gambling.\"  

Maybe horse racing could take a page from the poker book and have a show about a professional horseplayer?  

Or a consolidated version of the big tourney in Vegas...tracking a few players and summing up their plays?  Showing what they\'re looking at and how they make their choices and then showing the race(s)?  An hour on the biggest tourney of the year might make for a somewhat interesting program.  

I hope they think of something.  

HP

[TGJB]

P Dub-- agree completely.

HP-- HBO has a series starting in a few months starring Dustin Hoffman as a pro horseplayer, written by David Milch (Hill Street, NYPD Blue, Deadwood). Milch is a also a self dscribed degenerate gambler, spends an awful lot of time at the track, and has owned two winners of the BC Mile. He knows the game.

[HP]

That sounds great!  What\'s the series called?  Do you know?  HP

[moosepalm]

HP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That sounds great!  What\'s the series called?  Do
> you know?  HP


\"Luck.\"

It co-stars Dennis Farina, who\'s been around forever in cop/criminal roles.  The pilot episode was directed by Michael Mann, whose resume reaches back to \"Miami Vice\" through \"Public Enemies.\"

[HP]

Thanks for the info.  Looking forward to it, as well as the larger crowds at the track that will inevitably follow!  HP