'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

Jeff Rosen NYPD retired — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:04:16 GMT

One of the biggest problems in my opinion is promotion. I remember in the 70's every single bus in NYC had a gigantic poster "The fastest animal in the world". People would argue if it was true or not BUT THEY KNEW WHAT THE PRODUCT WAS. Ask any person on the street of Manhattan where Aqueduct is (or even what it is) and 90% won't know. Commercials and racing shows on TV & Radio all the time. I can even still hum the Yonkers Raceway jingle and I don't even like the trotters.

One reason Saratoga gets such crowds still (other than the obvious racing fans from all over the world) is they still promote. Turn on any radio station in the Albany/Saratoga region and they're talking about the meet.

Did racing really promote Zenyatta vs. Rachel? In any other sport that would have been a natural. How many people even know who Zenyatta is?

I doubt with all the competition we will never return to the days of 50,000 plus on an average Saturday to see Forego but with some saturation advertising we can definitely at least try to build a new fan base.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

Everything Zen — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 03:04:35 GMT

I think tracks could take lessons from Keeneland. It is a short meet, always crowded, they have roaming tellers so you can make bets from your chair, they have drive-in betting so you can bet when you arrive, beautiful paddock, nice clean track. It is a beautiful track and a pleasure to go there. Nothing about Keeneland feels old or seedy.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

Bob Rosenthal — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:28:55 GMT

Gary Fenton..."BULLSEYE"

The best article I've read in recent years on the demise of racing nationally, and the shakey "fixes" that racing leadership??? is promoting. I've been a devoted fan, owner & breeder for over 60 years, and it breaks my heart what's happening to our beautiful sport.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

UCLinden — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:13:37 GMT

I'm sure most of you at one time or another have been to other sporting venues( MLB,NFL,NHL, NBA,etc.).How many times did you have to leave your seat

(exception of restroom call)? When you visit the track you may go to the paddock, stand in line to place your wager and stand in the concession line. All time consuming, who wants to stand in line & wait; you're there to watch horse racing. At the other sporting venues, I'm sure you've seen the person who goes up & down the aisles offering various food items. At the MLB stadiums, they have someone who'll take your order and bring you your food.

Why can't horse racing provide the same thing ? How about a roving teller who can take your wager while you remain in your seat, place your bet without standing in line ? Today's technology has Iphones& Ipads. Why can't the roving teller have something called " Ibet ", where they take your bet and a ticket comes out from the Ibet machine ? Isn't that what happens when you go shopping and use " plastic ", swipe your card and you get a receipt on the spot ? Without leaving your seat you can eat & place your bet. Perhaps that will cut down the amount of time between races. Make it pleasurable for the racing fan. It's the little things that make you happy.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

chromachris — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:56:05 GMT

Two words: Tampabay Downs. No slots needed. Full fields. Full stalls. One of the most popular simulcast signals. One of the top turf courses in the country. They have been doing almost everything right for years.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

rayctrac — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:18:35 GMT

one of racing's biggest problems is the fact the people running racetracks have no love for the game and have never bet $2 in their lives.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

The Kid — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:12:27 GMT

Good article, it gets right to the point. I have no super solution to all of the industry's woes, but it seems to me that we could learn a lot from the Japanese. Less is indeed more, as proven at Monmouth. Very few tracks have 10-12 horses in EVERY race, but they did. Made it a more interesting meet, that is for sure. Yes, there will be some bloodshed in the form of track closings and jobs, but if the goal is to save the sport and make it something people want, you first have to make it available to them - and weekdays is not the answer. I can't go to the track during the week, I have to work surprise !).

In regards to people watching/betting from home - if it makes it more convenient for a fan, embrace it. People watch TV shows in their phone while sitting at lunch - why can't we watch horseraces (for FREE) in the same manner ? No, we have to pay for everything. The sport needs to embrace the new technology or it will die. Do you want an industry with only a few major racetracks ? I don't think it's such a bad thing - and pooling advertising dollars would help them all.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

Pboo — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:02:11 GMT

Good article and on target comments. Those of us who have been around racing for a number of years ( I am one of those referred to above as dying out) I never cease to be amazed at the lack of insight brought to the game by racing commissions and "blue bloods". None seem to be aware of what I see nearly daily from my casual racing friends... they are still waiting for the Life At Ten situation to be explained....good job KY! They want to know how a trainer can train 100 plus horses at tracks across the county and really know what is going on with each horse. How does a horse race not for purse money or betting? When the talking heads on sat TV do their daily handicapping, why don't they have to disclose their own financial interests in racing and why isn't there a running talley of their successes posted daily for the fans? We all they are gifted talkers but are they really any better at handicapping then you and I?

Good luck for the racing industry... it seems to be hopelessly stuck in the 1950's or 1960's management style which isn't going to work. Crossover wagering is not the answer ( look at the TV spot for the Charlestown casino and note the furnishings and clothing worn by customers... really looks the part of a race track crowd doesn't it?)

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

Humphrey — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:42:17 GMT

As I walk to work each week dodging the walkers and wheelchairs while the IDIOTS put on wiener dog races and other extraneous baloney, I grieve for the future of the game. START to do something quick to instill the magic that infected me and many others when I was a youngster or there will not be a racing game in a very few years.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

bigjack — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:48:26 GMT

crooked jockeys--oweners wanting run UNFIT horses (life at ten)--

-trainers either doing MILKSHAKES OR SPONGES--young people want the speed of a computer NOT 30 min. between races--there are not 364 rookies of the year in any other sport--and of course the brake down of a horse on TV.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

Nancy — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:21:09 GMT

Go Gary....excellent!!!

As a counselor (and long ago retired exercize rider) who deals with addictions ...when an activity is done every day, complusively .. it's an addiction. Sorry folks.

The up side ... not all addictions are harmful. We eat every day (unless you totally tapped out on the late double).

If gambling has progressed to an addiction, it's fed by action. You receive "action" every time you pull a handle. Lets say every 5 seconds. That is a pretty high reinforcment schedule. So, action every 5 seconds vs. 45 minutes between races is no contest. Even if we did have cross over we bust the $2 better before the 5th race.

I DON'T know if this is true but I believe, like the claiming horse, the $2 bettor is the backbone of the racing handle. If tracks ARE looking for cross over, slots will kill them in the long run.

One more thought...again I don't know, a major reason we loose fans is that to win at the track you have to know how to read the form ... REALLY read the form, you have to watch past races and understand trip - recognize a rider who is not really asking a horse or a trainer who runs horses to fitness.

I believe the American MTV/i-pod/comuter game mind is beyond that kind of consentration and retention rate. It's much easier to graspe the odds of a football game where you've watched the quarter back for for years...than a 12 to 1 maiden in a specail weight.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

Kirk S. — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:14:05 GMT

Mr. Fenton gets right to the point. It is all about the basics, a strong foundation.

Think about all the sport cliches about "fundamentals." They are all true. If you don't have a basic foundation there is nothing to build on.

It doesn't help the sport when alledged leaders spend a fair share of time playing the "blame game." Blame greedy owners, high takeout rates, mismanagement and the economy.

It all falls flat when you look at history. Horse racing was one of the most popular sports when our nation's economy was at it's lowest point during The Great Deperession.

People can point fingers at each other all they want but until we get the basics right, we have no one to blame except ourselves.

re: 'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

MikeM — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:58:56 GMT

Always amazed at the CRT TV's at Saratoga.