State of Misery, Twin Spires Gone

[Fairmount1]

While Social Media drones on about the ability of influencers to attract fans and all the good and bad things about racing, Twin Spires took immediate action today to end their ADW being used by Missouri residents and in Missouri.  Action that probably negatively affects the game I\'d say.  I think New Hampshire had the same situation in November 2022 when TS quit their operations there.  

For at least the last 8 years or so, Twin Spires allowed Missouri residents to maintain a betting account with them through the Twin Spires app.  This afternoon they ceased such operation in Missouri.  The number of texts, emails, and phone calls that I received within that hour was more than I would have ever anticipated.  I only have speculation about what transpired and how people will adjust that can.  

No other ADW has ever operated in Missouri.  It seems very clear that it is not legal in Missouri but there is an ever so slight couple of words that would give one a belief there is a 1 out of 500 shot it is legal.  I guess that was enough for Twin Spires to play Catch me If you Can or I dare you to take us down.  My guess is that The Missouri AG office notified them to cease and desist immediately or prior to February 1st.  That\'s speculation.  I also wonder if it is due to the fact that sports betting is being considered here or maybe competitors of Twinspires decided to alert the authorities. I have no idea but it is a disappointing day for folks in this state that play the races.  

I would expect that while Fairmount is still open (for simulcasting and live racing again in April) that the Saturday afternoon crowd will grow somewhat.  Some in Missouri are too far to go there to bet but the STL crowd I already know is probably going to adjust by crossing the Mighty Mississippi to get their bets down in Collinsville.  

For those of you in a state where you can at least gamble on horse racing, things are better for you than you realized.  And for those seeking info on how to attract fans, probably lost more dollars per year today than Alix attracted to the game at Gulfstream on Pegasus Day.

[Roman]

Who is Alix?

[johnnym]

Middle weight champ in the 80s I believe

[Mickeycharles]

Alix Earle.  She’s an internet influencer who did the “Riders Up” before the Pegasus.

[Roman]

Got it, thought it was some dude , makes sense now, thanks. Never heard of her.

[ajkreider]

This is a fantastic reference to the golden age of middleweight boxing: Arguello, Pryor, Hagler, Hearns, Leonard...

[johnnym]

Well played sir.
Some great fighters for sure.

[richiebee]

Probably have to add Roberto Duran to this list. The \"Hands of Stone\" was champion
lightweight/welterweight/middleweight if I am not mistaken. He split two fights
with Leonard, was beaten by both Hearns and Hagler.

[toppled]

So glad I live in NYS, where I can gamble legally on just about anything I want.

[apindy62]

I remember listening to Floyd Patterson fighting Ingemar Johansson on the radio in the early 60\'s which is odd because I can\'t remember what I had for breakfast this morning. I haven\'t given boxing a thought for over 40 years now.

I just hope this isn\'t going to happen to horse racing which is dying a slow death. I guess I should be thankful that I won\'t be around to see it because this is such a wonderful sport with great athletes both human and equine.

[Kasept]

Interestingly, here\'s coverage in Women\'s Wear Daily (!) focusing on Alix Earle (who grew up near Monmouth) and the party: https://wwd.com/eye/parties/pegasus-world-cup-baccarat-calvin-harris-alix-earle-miami-1236161458/

1/ST\'s Pete Rotondo was on with me this week and noted that NBC\'s ratings were very good for the telecast and that they tracked audience increases corresponding to Earle\'s communication efforts on IG and TikTok.

I understand veteran players being irked by initiatives like this and the game being marketed as a \'lifestyle\', but it can\'t hurt. Many of the pro athletes in the game (Erik Johnson, Alex Bregman, Jake Ballis, Jake Delhomme, etc.) are bringing teammates in as owners and players through big day exposure.

Former Churchill head Bob Evans flew a gaggle of CEO\'s in to Louisville several years ago for a carefully orchestrated Derby Weekend experience that resulted in some of them getting into the sport as owners/bettors.

Does it really matter how we introduce racing to the uninitiated as long as we hook some of them on the game? At the same time of course, we can\'t lose sight of the everyday player by doing everything possible to offer an engaging on track product at a reasonable price.

[TGJB]

Steveâ€" since when is Rotondo with TSG? News to me.

There was a time when he, I, Serling and Heyward were the only Manhattanites in the industry. Back then he was with the Breeders Cup, and when they made the (then) permanent decision to keep it in California, he once met me specifically to ask me not to blast that decision in this space.

Good guy, one of the ones who gets it.

[Fairmount1]

Before I step out the door to re-ignite the Saturday afternoon simulcast tradition at Fairmount, I will try to briefly respond to Steve\'s \"it can\'t hurt\" point.

Racing needs to start reversing the trends they started by taking \"real\" action and using the dollars allocated to an \"Alix\" to chase the young, male sports bettors and start fixing the game.  It won\'t happen though.

1. TGJB\'s point that the BC in Cali every f*&*(ing year doesn\'t help is a good start.  After all, why would people in the other parts of the country want to see the championship races??

2. NYRA lists 20 states they don\'t provide NYRA Bets to right now.  How about allocating the Alix money to lobby for those easier states to make Online gambling and ADW action legal?  While Missouri might not be one, there are 19 other states to chase to find the right type customers.

3. Super-trainers.  How about we limit trainers to one entrant per race?  Esp stakes races?  Before everyone screams OMG, the field size is bad enough. . . the owners will be forced to spread out to other trainers.  A Derby with 20 different trainers is more interesting to me than one with Four Pletchers, 2 Chad\'s, 3 Steve\'s, and 4 Brad\'s.  MSW races have good owners that get excluded b/c the super trainer entered 3 that made the main body while little trainer is on the AE.  

If horse racing would start looking at REAL changes and these are just quick thoughts, then maybe the game could improve.  Alix ain\'t saving the game but while it doesn\'t hurt, neither do the ideas I just posed... but no one will even consider one of these 3 any time soon.

How about someone tackle the Cali problems with something besides higher takeout would be another spot to take some real change....list goes on and on.

[Roman]

They paid Alix to go to the races?

[Roman]

I might be getting old, I’m 48. I don’t use Tik Tok, neither do my nieces,nephews and my own son. While she may have 6 million views about her day at the races that apparently she was paid to attend, how many racing fans and bettors will be had from this promotion called “Alix”.

I read the article on woman’s daily, and it seems like the party was nice, but barely mentions anything about the racing except for her losing money until she hit the last race.

And this is all measurable, how many new fans were created by this promotion.
How many new accounts at Adw’s were created. How many are watching and betting the races this week. How many are not tuning in till next years Pegasus.

Sounds like it was a great party with some racing before hand. I understand since the renovation at GP limits the on track crowd, the attendance was only 12k .

Not sure the ROI on this event , is going to be positive.

Lifelong racing fan and love the sport, but the only parts of the broadcast I watched was the races, while flipping back and forth on the tele. Could care less about Iavarone’s fashion , what ever happened to the shirt and tie?, the racing is the product, not what people are wearing.

Is the Kentucky Derby about 20 three year olds racing for immortality, or is it about the hats.

Hate to sound old and grumpy, but I would bet 90 percent of racing fans would agree. Paying someone who is not a racing fan to be a racing fan for a day, and tell all her “follower’s” what a great day she had, because they are paying her to have a great day, is not a strategy that is going to bring more fans to the game.

If she went to the track every week , organically, maybe. I don’t see it happening.

Again with only 12k people in attendance, which I believe was sold out, what is there goal? To get 14k there next year and put tents in the infield and parking lot.

The whole event is overpriced and marketed to a small slice of the population, mostly people that are extremely wealthy, and could care less about the racing.