The future of New York racing

[Ollie]

I\'m very satisfied with Panza\'s appointment, and what changes he\'s made (except for moving the Metropolitan mile, that was just a sacrilege). Creating a turf Triple Crown would be a wonderful achievement, and would probably attract even more European/foreign horses.

Now if we can only get rid of the unwanted guest, Chris Kay, and sell the franchise to someone versed in actual horseracing, rather than somebody who visited a racetrack 35 years earlier, and it made so much of an impact on him, he never went back until his NYRA appointment. The running joke at NYRA now is: Never try to get between Chris Kay and a camera, otherwise you risk life and limb.

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/blog/_/name/ehalt_bob/id/11221595/nyra-changes-not-include-triple-crown

[FrankD.]

Clueless Kay was front and center Saturday morning as the gates opened up on the clubhouse side of the plant. Grab handing and chit chatting \"about the experience\" with anyone he could stop.

TGJB why don\'t you invite him to one of the seminar\'s since he\'s so interested in improving on every ones guest experience?

Ollie as far as a sale and privatization;  FORGET IT!  Miff has mentioned it several times here, there is ZERO interest and ZERO profitability for anyone operating a racing only model without casino\'s or slots.

It will continue to be a political hot potato in NY with the talking heads continuing to dip into the honey pot.

Good luck,

Frank D.

[richiebee]

The most aggravating thing about Chris Kay as far as I am concerned are the sound
bites. Reminds me of my brother\'s quip about Led Zeppelin, that everything was
fine until Robert Plant\'s vocal kicked in.

The hiring of a Chief Experience Officer who has no experience with Racing a huge
waste and indicative of Kay\'s major misunderstanding of the future of Racing,
that it is somehow tied in to attendance.

My current view of the future of NY Racing would be, in alphabetical order

Aqueduct: Races November 1 -- March 31. The facility is managed and renovated by
Genting as an exclusive private club for members and horse owners. Genting would
be given the option to operate upscale OTBs year round in NYC.

Belmont: April 1 -- July 20/ September 1 -- October 30 (no racing on Halloween so
as not to interfere with trick or treat). Although he is 82 and it might not make
great business sense, I do not think Frank Stronach would be able to resist the
opportunity to own/operate the most historic track in NA and to host the Belmont
Stakes.

Saratoga: Administered by a state commission staffed by people with lifetime
racing experience--JB, Steve Crist, etc. Marquee names like Flay/Repole need not
apply.

[Ollie]

I must be honest. Some of the thoughts and ideas expressed here are absolutely, without a doubt, just brilliant. Boscar is correct. You should be getting paid.


The idea of reducing the takeout for those patrons attending is incredibly simple, yet would be superbly great at increasing attendance at NYRA racetracks.

P.S. - I thought so much of the idea, I did contact NYRA to make mention that somebody else, (not me, wouldn\'t take credit for something I wasn\'t responsible for), had an absolutely terrific idea to increase the attendance, and it made so much sense.

I did get an e-mail response, thanking me for the suggestion, and relating that it \"has been forwarded to the racing office and the mutual department for consideration.\"

Whether the New York State Gaming Commission would approve such a idea, is another story, and I related that part to NYRA as well.

I know the overall chances of anything being done are remote, but the idea and concept are just brilliant --- to increasing attendance, and making it more profitable for the racetrack to be solvent/profitable.

[miff]

Ollie,

They had to raise admission prices to stave off red ink, there is little chance that any scenario that reduces NYRA\'s hold(takeout)will be enacted.When NYRA looked at reducing takeout, the results, WITHOUT meaningful increase in overall handle,were financially ugly.Talk to a top NYRA Official about reduced takeout and they offer idiotic reasons about their rates being competitive with the industry while never acknowledging the \"industry\" rates are too high to begin with.

NY racing is OFF TRACK,period! and there is little if anything NYRA can do to grow meaningful on track attendance.Spa and big days the only exception.


Mike

[richiebee]

Boscar\'s suggestion brought to mind that NYC OTB wagers were surcharged, and that
the surcharge did not drive OTB patrons to the track in any significant number.

Agree w/ Miff,  live gate a dead issue not worth pursuing, and will repeat that all
resources dedicated to live gate and customer experience should be devoted to
selling the sport to those who have shown a liking for other types of action.

I mean is there really anything wrong with distributing betting vouchers at GA
meetings?

[Ollie]

Still, if such an item were to approved & enacted, it could almost act like a reverse OTB surcharge. To have 15% and 20% takeouts, as opposed to 18% and 25%, I believe would/could be attractive to a good many people.


Love your recommendation, Richie!

[jerry]

Take out, race scheduling and bonanza days aside, who really feels comfortable wagering what they used to wager with so many unknowns regarding medications? I don\'t. For me now, it\'s a for-entertainment-only hobby until they put the \"f\" back in \"pharm\".

[FrankD.]

In the words of my uncle\'s cronies who have been parked in bars, bowling alleys and OTB parlors for almost 40 years losing 5 & 6 % daily on every ticket they cash.

The surcharge only matters if you win and we don\'t win that often or bet enough to notice it!!!! Brilliant.

Thank God these are the people we compete against but they are all dying off fast.

Frank D.

[Boscar Obarra]

True that, about otb.

 But the dynamic of attracting serious bettors to the track for HIGHER payoffs , vs morons (and those that can\'t get to the track) who are price insensitive, is completely different.

 I think the idea is golden, and there\'s NO downside.

 The only impediment would be if they somehow could not do it legally.

[Boscar Obarra]

Frank, you need 2000 of those OTB types to compensate for 1 whale.

[FrankD.]

The Spa gets 20,000 or more of them every weekend day = 10 whales LOL