Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

coyotebait — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:34:38 GMT

One Racino’s Reality

Just how much trouble are we in?

Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort attendance for the West Virginia Derby was reported at 21,218; on-track handle was $355,265.00. …So wagering averaged less than $17.00 a head?

The erosion of fan base is startling. Using pre-slot traditional betting averages of $100.00 per head, that means the attendance of *racing fans* would equate to 3553 ($355,265.00 divided by $100.00). Instead of "saving the industry" it is obvious that slots and casinos at racetracks are destroying the fan base.

Racetracks have proven they don't know how to use the immense reach and potential of TV and Internet technology (and the windfall of profit thereof), to bring new fans to horse racing.

Racetracks run racing and have sole responsibility for its presentation and promotion. The problem is, because they have too little appreciation for their partners (horses and horsemen) they have run it into the ground beneath the bottom-line of slots and casinos.

Unless racetracks learn to see the sport through the eyes and ears of horses, horsemen and fans, their efforts to grow the fan base will continue to fail, horse racing will be reduced to the top 5% or 10% of a once glorious pyramid of public support, where racinos will thrive long after horsemen are stripped of unsustainable life support.

With on-track horse wagering at $17.00 per head at Mountaineer Park, you have to wonder how much per head was bet on the alternative forms of gaming by the 21,218 in attendance. It's time for a wake-up call, or the end of a glorious era.

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

linda in Texas — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:58:52 GMT

Just now seeing Bloodhorse.com reporting Mine That Bird takes third in the WV Race. You know, he comes from a smaller race track in New Mexico and not a lot of folks get down to his home track. So win, lose or draw, Mine That Bird did indeed win the Kentucky Derby, no horse at any of the racinos, or big tracks can say that this year and he is in a class all by himself. I hope his appearance at Mountaineer gave a lift to the good people who cannot always get to the bigger tracks. I really appreciate and respect Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby was exciting, and unexpected and a welcome surprise to most.

So Mine That Bird and his owners and trainers, thanks for sharing him with some great folks in West Virginia. We in the sister states of Texas and Oklahoma will welcome him back to New Mexico and to our 'smaller tracks' whenever he and his decide its time to come home!!!

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

Maggie — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:27:54 GMT

I don't live in West Virginia as I live in Virginia, but neither am I able to frequent Colonial Downs very often due to money. However, I've always rooted for the little guy, especially those race tracks that are seen as inferior to the more prestigious ones. Despite anything else, I try my honest hardest to watch the West Virginia Derby. Just knowing that a Kentucky Derby winner visiting the track feels just as electrifying to me as it does to anyone else who lives around that area. All I can seem to think about is this particular song: Country roads/ take me home/ to a place/ where I belong/ West Virginia/ mountain momma/ take me home/ country roads. Go Mine That Bird!!! Wish I were there. One of these days, I'm going to visit Mountaineer when at college (as I go to a college not that far from the West Virginia border), and just go there with a bunch of friends to have fun =).

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

Bellwether — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:33:08 GMT

THEY PICKED A GREAT SPOT & THE FANS WILL SHOW UP N RECORD NUMBERS...GREAT EXPOSURE FOR THE STATE & OUR NATIONAL TREASURE...LONG LIVE THE RACINO!!!...

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

Quinella Queen — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:53:30 GMT

Wow! The passion in so many of these comments seems to help make my point: folks respond to a well-known runner at a smaller track. It's really great hearing that smaller venues have fans, too!

And Gunbow: good luck this Saturday! The undercard should be entertaining, too. I'm trying to figure out how to see Race 2, featuring Mountaineer's very own iron horse, Bernie Blue.

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

John T. — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:02:46 GMT

I think it,s just great for horse

racing when a track like Mountaineer Park attracts a Kentucky Derby winner.May the folks in that area enjoy their day in the spotlight.

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

GunBow — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:13:58 GMT

I will be driving from Ann Arbor Michigan to Mountaineer to see Bird and the rest of the WV Derby card. I've made the trip twice before for the 2004 and 2006 WV Derbys, and it's only about a 4 hour drive. But Bird is the main reason I'm going this year. From what I've read, the buzz in the Pittsburgh/Tri-State area over Bird's appearance at Mountaineer has been huge. I'm expecting a crowd at least double the average for a typical WV Derby day, and hope that some of those people will be new faces to the game.

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

safe4all — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:35:52 GMT

Hey Patti d, The West Virg. Derby is televised on Fox Sports Net; the time is 5:00-6:00 pm your time.

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

holly leigh — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:51:06 GMT

It's wonderful when great horses get taken out to the other than mainstream venues. The WV Derby offers a significant purse & fits the horse. I applaud the owners & trainer.

When Suffolk Downs outside Boston runs ts Mass Cap,they try to lure a big name horse in fr an easy win but it's exciting for fans to see some of the greats up close like Brass Hat, Commentator & Cigar.

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

patti d — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:34:38 GMT

i only wish i lived near mountaineer racetrack this weekend! we had the privilege of watching funny cide run in the wadsworth at a "racino" racetrack (fingerlakes in central new york) on the 4th of july 2007. what a thrill to see a kentucky derby winner up close and personal! the track attendance and handle broke records and it turned out to be his last race before his retirement.

with all 3 triple crown winners running this weekend, you'd think espn would be covering the west virginia derby and the haskell. tv coverage for those of us who do not get tvg or hrtv is appalling.

i love mine that bird, and i know the west virginia fans won't be disapponted!!

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

AMY ROONEY — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:21:54 GMT

thank you, thank you,

many people get caught up in living by within a distance of a racetrack and then roll their eyes at those of us who do not, or a horse that is going where fans can enjoy him. whether an easy schedule or not, how wonderful for those people to get a horse like that to come.

i remember back in 1995 here in the heartland, a bomb killed 150 people in the federal building in okc. many race fans were shell shocked, but soon people were talking about the derby, especailly about dazzling falls who had won at remington park in okc and was derby bound.

despite the fear and sadness, on derby day at remington park, there were many people there, penthouse was full of corporate parties who were betting on the derby, the atmosphere was so uplifting!

i have no problem with mtb running in a grade 2. i am going to watch the race anyway. even though mtb may not win, as dazzling falls finished far back in the 95 derby field, sometimes it really does make a person feel good just to see something so special up close.

west virginia, wish i was there.

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

jamie — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:39:29 GMT

long live bigggggg drammmmma

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

lynnhurst1@peoplepc.com — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:37:08 GMT

I worked the Derby Room overlooking

the finish line this year's Kentucky Derby. Mine That Bird's run was one of the most exciting I

have witnessed having been to the

last 8 Derbys. This horse, win or

lose, Saturday is not a "fluke". He

is gutsy and exciting like the old

man I visited often while working at Fort Knox, the great John Henry at KHP. Had Bird not gotten hung up in traffic he would have beat Rachel in the Preakness. She had a perfect trip. I am proud the owners and trainer gave the people in WV a chance to see the Kentucky Derby winner. After all the Kentucky Derby is the ONE RACE every owner and trainer wants to win!

re: Racinos: Delivering the Big Horse for the Little Guy?

lobieb — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:30:21 GMT

Lets put it this way. $750K is nothing to sneeze at. Sure, $1.250 is better but hey this is the prep that Mine That Bird is taking and more power to his owners and trainer. All I can say is I wish MTB and Rachael the best this weekend and hope that they both cross their wires for first.