A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Katsan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:48:33 GMT

Actually from what I heard from trainer friends, the post by Angela was pretty accurate. Also Shawn P said the same thing and said he was a 20 something who was there.

Dahoss, true the horses don't sleep through the night, but,like humans they sleep at different times. Racing and barn activity going on up until 1-2 a.m. when you figure you get them back from the test barn, cooled out etc. Then if you feed late for the one, you sometimes get a bunch pitching a fit or you end up feeding at 2 and again at 5 (the last race was ending at 11:20 on the first Friday at CD, earlier post on the other two days) Been a long time since Sunland had that late night racing so I don't recall too much. Los Al is different because it's always late at night.

It's EVERYONE in the barn who is affected. Not EVERYONE who trains, makes a fortune. There was an issue addressed about this in Saratoga last year and back pay was paid. Thing is, a LOT of salaried employees out in the real world work WAY more than 40 hrs per week. Heck I have a relative who says she figures she earns $2.75 an hour working on salary 12-18 hrs a day. But the flexibility is part of the compensation. Like some said last year, they thought they could pay workers a weekly salary and as one trainer said "Also, if trainers are required to pay backstretch workers by the hour, they’ll be stricter about workers not taking breaks. Grooms now typically get paid by the horse they work on, so they have a more flexible schedule and can work at their own pace.

There will be a different framework in place, he said. “The same money will be paid.”

Figuring the majority of workers are from the Latin American countries since our American society is less agrarian in nature, a lot don't understand the way payroll works and many have said they feel fortunate to have a job in this country. I really think very FEW trainers consciously try to cheat their workers. Most of ours have been with us for years, get a good wage and bonuses/percentages.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Dahoss — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:31:10 GMT

CRob87, night racing is only truly hard on the barn help. The horses really only sleep 3 to 4 hours a day, maybe an hour or two more if they are exhusted from a hard day of racing, training, shipping or from an illness. This sleep or rest period is spread out throughout the day and night.

Most ticket sellers dont have to work in the mornings. Their job isnt all that hard to begin with.

But the barn help (grooms, hotwalkers, pony riders, etc) are already putting in long days working from 4/5am to 5/6pm. Now they are asking them to be on call and/or working from 4/5am to perhaps as late as 12/1am every race day? That is getting extreme.

These people are already well underpaid(many putting in 40/50 hours a week of overtime, yet, not getting paid for any overtime), and now they want them to work even more? Amazing!

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Art — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:42:14 GMT

A terribly misguided and false post from Angela.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

joe — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:37:16 GMT

Why doesn't the Meadowlands work anymore ?

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Angela — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:32:29 GMT

Night racing at Churchill is just a novelty, it only got 30k because it was new, and highly talked about. Sure there were 30,000 people there, but did anyone notice that the betting lines were short? There wasn't an increase in wagers, just in attendence, and purses don't come from just people in the stands. Night racing is certainly no saving grace.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Katsan — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:33:31 GMT

I remember nearly 40 years ago we had night racing at Sunland Park.

It was hard on the horses, the barn help and the workers at the track. (ticket sellers etc). It kept not JUST the horse running up, but the whole barn. As an occasional thing, it's fine. But think what will be found out is the people coming out are just coming to party. When the next 'big' club or thing comes along it'll be forgotten. I understand it didn't help the handle that much and THAT is what will make the money consistently, like someone said.

Racinos? Depends on how your State government structures them. We're doing just great here.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

CRob87 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:17:11 GMT

Untill ALL Racetracks have Night Racing...it has NOT been blogged to death.

Right now, in todays world, Night racing "IS" going to be the new Savior for Thoroughbreds.

Racino's "WE'RE" the temporary Savior of it.

But, as the States who've had it for the last 10-15 years are now learning, the Casino side of it isn't planning on continuing to fund the Racing side any longer than they have to.

So...at least for the near future, Night Racing "Will Be" Racings new Savior. Especially "After" the Casino's are allowed to break free from funding our industry.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Somethingroyal — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:27:14 GMT

I think the time has come to move onto another topic. This issue has been blogged to death.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

berttheclock — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:29:32 GMT

Yes, night racing has been around for quite awhile at HP as well as Los Alamitos has run night racing, both the quarters and the very cheap claimers. Years agao, Los Al ran a meet called the Orange County Fair. Kept moving it from June to early October. It ran for a couple of weeks. When, it ran in August, I saw a carload of stoopers loading up at Del Mar to trek north for the night races at LA - Then, one year, they held it at the same time as Oak Tree in October. So, the punters would head south on the San Gabriel Fwy to catch some fine racing - No cheapos, either - Nostalgia Star, one of the foundation horses of Lava Man won a 25 added for Stute. Lovelier Linda flew around the track with Pincay aboard.

However, my most cherished moments were standing at the rail at old Longacres at the time of Summer Solstice, around 9:30, with The Mountain dominating the track, a soft breeze, no skeeters or chiggers, picking the get out race. They were smart to start late racing. No, not the heat, but to be able to bring in the Boeing worker's money. First two races, you never had to worry about getting shut out, but, when Boeing, Boeing arrived, the lines became very long.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Jack — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:34:33 GMT

I remember back in the 60's and 70's attendances of 30,000 on weekday afternoons at Aqueduct or Belmont and 50,000 or more each Saturday. This was pre-OTB, of course, but what were the wagering options? Win place and show - and the result was a greater percentage of people went home winning a few bucks. Now you've got everybody chasing pie in the sky Pick-this payoffs, and going home a loser and not coming back. Racing flourished for years with just Win Place and Show,

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Ted from LA — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:04:44 GMT

I think when the novelty of night racing wears off, they should have after bar closing hours races. First post 3:00 AM post. $1 burritos and foot long chili dogs. It will require more cost in toilet paper, but the long term gain would be worth it.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

Shawn P — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:25:56 GMT

A relative told me a story about a track, believe it was Sunland Park like 30+ years ago had night racing.

Having BEEN at CD for the nite racing, I'm not sure about it.

It brought out more 'people', not more 'fans'. The comments ranged from: well people aren't betting but they're here,to, average cover charge and cheaper beer. Most of them seemed to be there to be seen, for cheap beer and hook ups.

I'm not sure its a long term solution. Sort of like the giveaways at Saratoga. People come for the 'stuff' then don't stay for the races or don't gamble if they do stay. The fee to get in to the track helps, but the gambling and advertising is what will save racing ultimately. Not sure a bunch of plastered 20 somethings on the prowl will help KEEP the real fans of racing either.

As soon as the new wears off of night racing at CD it'll be back to the smaller crowds.

re: A Beautiful Day for a Night Game

ROBERT — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:55:44 GMT

Correct me if I am wrong, but hasn't Hollywood Park had night racing before, as has Ruidoso Downs, Turfway Park, and several tracks in Louisiana? This is not a new thing, but rather a new thing for Churchill Downs. I have lived in Louisville for 42 years and for the life of me I don't understand why people like going to the races when it is blazing hot out and the sun is shining so hot you fry in your seat. During the summer months, it makes no sense, other than the weekends, to hold racing during the day. This is a no brainer! People are at work and cannot attend unless their employer holds a day at the races or a meeting there. Having 30,000 people attend your event when you have been averaging 8000 for over 20 years, can you say wake up call??? Churchill Downs is headed in the right direction with night racing. I am in the horse business, but cannot attend the races during the day because I am at work. This will certainly make it easier for thousands more people to attend. Lets not let traditions that were suspect at best deter us from moving forward with this. This industry is needing money and this is a big present dropped into our laps.