Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

witness to death — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:24:21 GMT

Philly Park has become so filled with smoke, you could choke. Where's the health department? The reason being that smokers aren't allowed anywhere else but casinos for the most part. Then you walk outside and there are no odds boards working, but plenty of portable hot dog vendors. The whole place is all about slot machines. They wouldn't race if they could have slots and not race. They hate horsemen and race fans. They took the tellers out from downstairs (except live), as if it costs them more to have one teller downstairs at all times. They stopped selling programs downstairs too, except on race days.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Bellwether — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:43:02 GMT

GET THE PASSION BABY!!!...

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Bellwether — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 10:16:52 GMT

HORSE RACING "WON Oh! WON"(TRADEMARKED)...EDUCATE THE MA$$E$...LONG LIVE THE KING!!!...

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Jennie — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:41:07 GMT

What is most disturbing about Philadelphia Park is that management does not care about its employees, fans, horsemen ... and certainly not the horses. Otherwise, why would they subject all of the equine residents on the backstretch to an obscene display of fireworks and loud music on the 4th of July, all in order to announce that the name of the new casino is "PARX"? I would like to know what genius thought of the new name for this casino - it's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen!

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

sara — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:06:44 GMT

bobby, philly park displays hte triple crown races on 2 big screens as well: one in the infield and one in the picnic grove.

but im not gonna lie...the place is a dump. us bettors only have hte 5th floor and a teeny tiny strip on the 1st floor that is cramped to bet...until the casino moves out. its been terrible for the triple crown the past few years. i look at monmouth park and saratoga, and philly park reminds me of an industrial building. philly park is the UGLIEST racetrack. maybe the fact that you cant byob anymore to the picnic area will draw people away from philly park.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

sara — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:46:23 GMT

im a 16 year old horse racing enthusiast. i go to philly park almost every weekend. i enjoy horse racing. i dont care what the racetrack looks like, i love hte sport. thats the reason i travel to the track. as a matter of act, i am currently in saratoga springs for hte travers. the younger generation is more into texting and checking their facebook then reading the daily racing form or blood horse magazine.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Evan Hammonds — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:10:26 GMT

In the area, no doubt Delaware Park is the best for the horses. On the other hand, say what you want...Philly Park still holds a special place in my heart - home to the biggest ticket I have ever cashed.

Long live the Pha!

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Bobby Wine — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:30:13 GMT

Delaware Park has a beautiful facility, and when one of the triple crown races is on, they play it on the infield jumbo screen with sound. Hopefully Philadelphia Park will try to emulate Delaware Park. But even with this huge amount of money, they haven't done anything for this most despicable of racing venues comparable to the slums in New Delhi.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

JerseyTom — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:39:48 GMT

Jason: You know I have a tin cup on my desk for contributions. ...

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

T3HORSES — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:11:47 GMT

I have to disagree about Penn National's grandstand. The third floor is beautiful. Nice, warm colors, clean and modern. The box seats looked great. Leather (ok fake) with new flat screen tvs in each box. Right by the finish line there are boxes with couches, end tables and really comfy chairs. I'm not sure if you have to pay for any of those - but I'm a thirty something and it worked for me. The old place was a concrete hell hole.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Jason Shandler — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:10:03 GMT

Tom: Are you talking about John's comment too? lol

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

JerseyTom — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:45:18 GMT

Thanks to all who have commented thus far. ... Some really good observations and suggestions.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Moira — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:08:56 GMT

I applaud the effort, and agree with Elise about a website not being enough by itself. It is an important part of any marketing/ad campaign. As for young people's websites? This would have to have cell phone photos of d-list celebs without their underwear to qualify,so thank god it doesn't.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Superfecta — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:45:07 GMT

OK - full response up now, with some tips I hope they try to actually follow up on:

http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Amanda — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:26:46 GMT

I live in York PA and visit Penn National fairly regularly. Honestly, for racing fans, the old grandstand was nice. As someone above mentioned, there is no grandstand now. Aside from that flaw, the public areas of the track are very nice -- paddock, betting area, small refreshment area, decent bathrooms, etc.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Jennie — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:26:37 GMT

Let's face it ... how much impact could a web site make? How will young people find it? Are they going to run ads in mainstream media to direct potential fans to this site? Unless someone Googles "racing in Pennsylvania" or something to that effect, this web site will be swallowed up in the big black hole that is the Internet. Sorry, but it's going to take more than this to get new fans to the racetrack.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Eilise — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:03:38 GMT

Agree with the comments that TrackPackPA looks like an older man's version of what he thinks young people like. The outdated language in an attempt to be cool smells suspiciously like somebody in my generation (baby boomer) cooked it up. Besides that, maps, a calendar and a mailing list are not web wise by any stretch.

Sorry to be critical but you asked. On the bright side, at least PA is doing something to attract new fans. Keep trying -- the site just needs more input from the target demographic and a little tweaking.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Twin C Stables — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:17:31 GMT

I have horses racing at both Presque Isle and Penn National. It does seem as though the racing is second to the casino and it annoys me that there is no grandstand to watch the races at either track. I do feel as though they could have made these places more racing fan friendly. I can say that the surfaces in both places are well cared for and it is nice that Penn has a turf course. It is certainly attracting trainers from all over the country with it's lucrative purses but again, there is NO seating for racegoers. I do have to wonder how much these places really care about the racing.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Virgil Fox — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:22:51 GMT

Jim P.

Nice idea about the "small team".

I'm glad to see that ZIA Park is upgrading their surface.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Jennie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:09:13 GMT

This is to Susan W - the place still looks really bad, maybe worse than when you last saw it, and no, the state hasn't stolen the money yet. Stay tuned.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Jim P — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:12:49 GMT

From the sounds of comments they should have got a small team of young people involved in helping design the project. Just those vested people alone could have been a small help in promotion. RACING, MEET YOUR COMMUNITY!!!

I'll say it again, combine some of these efforts and others with the Portland Meadows "People's Horse" promotion where you get to be an Honoray Owner with all rights and privileges. Our program donates of match of the horse's winnings to the Oregon National Guard Relief Fund. The $32,000 donation was the largest donation they had ever received.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

Steve — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:38:49 GMT

I showed the site to my college age sons (19 & 21). They were unimpressed. Not to be insulting but their critique was that the site looks like it's been designed by an old guy who is desperately trying to act young...and failing.

And we're not from Pennsylvania but is it normal for younger people there to say things like "dressing to the nines" and "hopping in the roadster"? I haven't heard those phrases since my grandmother died 20 years ago.

And then there's the word "gal" to describe young females. Who says that anymore?

While the site is a good idea perhaps the webmaster should ask some young people how they talk, etc, and then do some updates.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

SusanW — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:24:17 GMT

I worked at Philly Park, and everytime I go back, I see the same old. It was an ugly building to begin with, like a warehouse, and the backside wasn't much either. Since I haven't been back in two years, wondering if they made any changes and did the state steal that money from the HBPA? Now they want to interest people?

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

MikeM — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:16:25 GMT

I'm sure North Dakota is a nice place but it probably doesn't have anything near the competition for the entertainment dollar. Of course everything is relevant.

re: Trying to Make Racing Cool in PA?

TJLuvsTizs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:46:46 GMT

It makes me sad to see the comments above regarding the sentiments of the patrons at Philly Park.

I am 24 and three years ago was introduced to racing out here in Minnesota at Canterbury Park. Just in those three years I have seen a vast improvement in marketing towards a younger crowd. "Buck night" on Thursdays attract close to 8,000 people and 70% of them are college age, mid-twenties or young families. If Philly Park wants to start attracting younger audiences they should see the comments made by their patrons first, address those, then contact Canterbury Park's marketing department as I see on Saturdays now a much younger mix of patrons.