re: Clearing House for Racing Signals

David — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:58:47 GMT

It’s like this – despite constant cries for unity and standardization to enable synergy and more efficiency, most players in the game aren’t about to cede any influence over operations. The reason(s) used to be that US racing was once a patchwork of small businesses operating at the pleasure of respective states’ approval and oversight. With consolidation (Churchill, Magna, NYRA) there is less parochialism but each remains fiercely independent. In order to protect leverage that has/could lead to franchises for that which actually make money, projects like the one suggested simply won’t fly. The future is probably the Keeneland, Del Mar model where racetracks are non-profit co-ops allowing related interests (breeding, training, owners, vets, sale companies, etc.) a showroom of sorts to sell to its various publics.