Oaklawn Cancellation (Again)

[spa]

Shanahan...they\'re in on it,too.

[shanahan]

OK SPA, now I have to dismiss your comments...what\'s next, the grassy knoll?

[spa]

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.

[basket777]

wow  who cares they have wonderful value in the begining of the meet.

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

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.
>
>

[shanahan]

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...

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

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...

[shanahan]

I hear ya...at least we have that here...but still looking forward to a trip to GP next weekend.  Have a profitable weekend.

[davidrex]

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!

[richiebee]

I didn\'t think organized crime was doing that bad a job running the ports...

[TGJB]

Pretty funny, Richie.