Racing has Problems, Racetracks Healthy?

[richiebee]

I am a racing purist. I go to the racetrack to look at horses and bet on
horses, to go somewhere I can turn off the phone for 4 or 5 hours. I do not go
to a racetrack for food or music.

[Whoever posted that Belmont day will feature top notch music -- LL Cool J,
Frank Sinatra Jr and the West Point Military Band --
still has me giggling. Can\'t find any of these on my musical devices, guess
I\'m not hip.]

Ended up at Belmont Saturday for the entire chalk infested card. A nice size
crowd, lots of young folks, lots of family, would guess maybe 12,000, didn\'t
see the attendance which NYRA seems to have started to post again. The
numbers show that about 1800 folks attend Belmont on the average weekday.

The eye opener was Monmouth today (Sunday). As we were leaving after the third
race, all parking fields were filled. I would not be surprised if Monmouth had
between 18K - 20K through the gates, maybe more. Again a young family crowd,
the lines at the food trucks were considerably longer than the almost non
existent lines at the mutuel windows.

The racetrack model for the future -- young families drawn by non equine
entertainment making the facility seem alive while anonymous offshore whales
and the denizens of Living Room Downs drive the bottom line?

Did my best to introduce some new blood to horse racing as my 87 year old
mother in law made her first appearance at a racetrack.

[Fairmount1]

http://gettingoutofthegate.com/meet-ben-colebrook/

[smalltimer]

What are you doing for Memorial Day? Has she ever been to Pimlico?

[Fairmount1]

And this one isn\'t as on point but wanted to post it anyway.  My favorite line:

\"You don't see a veterinarian wandering around the barns there [Europe] the way you do here on the backside."

https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/strawbridge-racing-denial-about-image-problems

[P-Dub]

richiebee Wrote:
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> Did my best to introduce some new blood to horse
> racing as my 87 year old
> mother in law made her first appearance at a
> racetrack.


Richie,

You never disappoint. I\'m still chuckling at that one.

[FrankD.]

5,119 at Belmont on Saturday & 23,278 for Monmouth on Sunday.

[richiebee]

FrankD. Wrote:
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> 5,119 at Belmont on Saturday & 23,278 for Monmouth
> on Sunday.

Wow, totally off on the Belmont #. 2nd floor grandstand seemed crowded, maybe
because they have closed 90% of third floor.

[moosepalm]

FrankD. Wrote:
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> 5,119 at Belmont on Saturday & 23,278 for Monmouth
> on Sunday.

I\'ve been to Monmouth at least a half dozen times.  My experience with Belmont was one and done.  Both are slightly over six hours from where I live.  Apart from the fact that the Shore is a more pleasant destination with its immediate surroundings, though sadly some of my favorite spots did not survive Sandy, I found the \"social\" experience of Monmouth more inviting.  Parking\'s easy, and the track ambiance, while no Saratoga or Del Mar, was certainly a step up from the dark and cavernous vibe I got from Belmont (perhaps it\'s changed -- it\'s been twenty years).  Yes, the money\'s shifting to Living Room Downs, but you can still make a case for the live experience being the gateway drug for the sport.  Obviously, Monmouth has its red flags as far as the live product, but there are very nice simulcast facilities, or just bring your iPad and the racing world\'s at your fingertips.

[joekay]

AS a former member of the USMA Band (\'65-\'68) and a weekend warrior at the track, I think you should smile when you say that.  By the way, that was a great time to be at West Point, knew Bill Parcells and his good pal Bobby Knight and used to run into Arthur Ashe for a beer on the weekends. Never played at the racetrack on those days though.

[richiebee]

Joe:

No offense intended, especially on Memorial Day.

Of the three acts listed the USMA Band certainly is the headliner in my opinion.

Do not really know why musical entertainment is necessary on a great day of racing
when history might be made; the sideshows might be better deployed on a weekend
later in June or early July when Belmont will struggle to draw 6,000 people.

To me the best appearance by a musical celebrity was by MC Hammer in the winners
circle at Belmont in 1991 after his top notch filly Lite Light won the CCA Oaks over
bitter rival Meadow Star. Hammer and a large entourage accepted a trophy from Ogden
Phipps; I seem to recall Hammer was wearing a tux, but alas, no shirt.

[joekay]

No offense taken.  Just joking with you.  I could care less about who is performing.  Let\'s just hope the weather is good.  Nobody is going to top the the recording of Frank Sinatra Sr. on \"New York, New York\" anyway, I make him 1-9 over the competition.

[TGJB]

You should hear the Sex Pistols version of that song. Great, though clearly not for everyone.

[Deadrockstar]

Jerry --

So much credibility built up over the years, only to lose it all with this post.
The Pistols did not cover \"New York, New York.\" They did a song entitled \"New York\" which was a tear-down of Johnny Thunders and the New York Dolls. I don\'t recall Frank Sinatra ever singing \"You\'re hippy tarts hero \'cos you put on a bad show.\"

Perhaps you\'re thinking of Sid Vicious covering \"My Way.\"

[TGJB]

You are absolutely correct, it was My Way. I\'m gonna go shoot myself, after I stop pogo-ing.

[Silver Charm]

Sports is about entertainment anymore for those who are going to sit, stay and watch. And people nowadays  in this generation are always on the go. Do you go to McDonalds or Wendys for the atmosphere or the food? I think the answer is \"that\'s why they built the Drive-thru.\"  

Ray Kroc when he owned the San Diego Padres was the first owner to introduce Big Bird as a mascot. The purist\'s chringed. Kroc was on to something. There needs to be more entertainment going on than just the game.    

There are like 29 Dog Tracks left in America and about 15 of them are in Florida. Not a single one of them in Florida made money last year.....Derby lane is DEAD!!! You have to keep evolving because the peoples lifestyle and personality change.....try going a week without your cell phone!!