What's Going On Here - All Comments

re: Contract Heat - by Dan Liebman

Ed Zepplin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:07:01 GMT

Ellis Park will never become the Saratoga of the midwest even with slots. Area casinos in Indiana have the lowest AGR per machine of the 11 casinos and 2 Racinos located in Indiana. Adding Ellis to the mix and it will dilute it even more. Churchill realized Ellis would always be a financial drain (even with slots) and that is why they were willing to sell it for a Ham Sandwich to Geary. Welcome to the bottom of the gaming world Mr Geary.

re: Contract Heat - by Dan Liebman

the geekster — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:46:20 GMT

after reading dans latest ive come to the conclusion that tracks that offer everyday regular length meets have given up on trying to increase live attendance and handle. its hard to imagine just how unpopular everyday racing is. track management will never ever get it and horsemen really dont care. we need free grandstand gate, lower take outs, handicapping in school curriculums and get more people who are curious about horseracing on the end of a shank to see hoe great a job it can be. i hang it on the press, who slurp at the trough of press box benevolence, on the trainers who drive through the stable gates in new suvs all the while saying that they wouldnt want their kids to go on to training and track management who are scared to walk through their epmty grandstands.

re: Contract Heat - by Dan Liebman

Shamfan49 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:07:32 GMT

My wife and I had booked 3 nights at an Evansville motel in order to attend the Ellis Opening. Instead we took our money to Chicago to visit Arlington Park. I don't know how many other people were forced to change their Ellis plans last weekend, but I have to think that the region suffered a big economic hit from the loss of a holiday weekend of racing.

Unless the folks running (ruining) racing wake up soon, the scenario that just played out in Henderson will be repeated many times over the next year or so. Many tracks unable to make a deal similar to the one Mr. Geary cut will simply close up shop. Unless something is done to help all the tracks which are being clobbered by the casinos, horse racing will go the way of the dodo bird. Unfortunately, in many states, such as Illinois, the very people responsible for creating the mess in the first place in order to satiate their lust for casino dollars - the state legislators - are charged with cleaning up their own toxic spill. Even the more successful operations will have trouble surviving if forced to do without the revenue they earn from simulcast wagering. How many tracks other than Saratoga, Del Mar and Keeneland can afford to keep their gates open with only the revenue generated by the fans in the stands?

Ellis has to face competition just a few blocks away from an Ohio River casino along the Evansville riverfront. I realize the Kentucky legislators can do nothing about that casino, but they can assist Ellis in order to keep it above water. Henderson and Kentucky would lose really big if Mr. Geary is forced to shut down the track more permanently. Since my wife and I were planning to spend most of our travel budget on food, lodging and gasoline in Indiana, I would think that those legislators would recognize what an asset Ellis is to their state and be willing to help keep it in business. But I really don't expect much in the way of intelligent thinking from politicians.

re: Contract Heat - by Dan Liebman

C Bea — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:46:09 GMT

If Bloodhorse really wants to provide a service to the Industry it would do a bit of "investigative journalism" and not just regurgitate simple statements. Understanding what was or wasn't agreed to here is vitally important to this Industry and Sport.

While the Horsemen have a right to try and correct what they believe to be low payments to purses, it seems to me that they've got the chase upside down.

How in the world does it make sense to shut-off domestic ADWs and chase players to lower (Host Fee) fee'd off-shore providers who haven't been shut-off? Chasing domestic handle to these off-shore sites can only be making matters worse.

re: Contract Heat - by Dan Liebman

JustTheFacts — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:34:24 GMT

Ellis Park did not agree to the THG model. According to the Evansville Courier-Press and the Louisville Courier-Journal, Ron Geary satisfied the KHBPA in a fashion which few, if any, other tracks can afford to follow.

Ellis Park seems to have negotiated standard ADW contracts with a Host fee around 5%. Ellis Park gave up its share of the Host Fee (and then some) to satisfy the KHBPA's non-negotiable 6%. Ron Geary says he did this because Ellis Park needs the ADW exposure to survive long term. What sort of Source Market arrangements are in these contracts is unreported. Will Ellis Park receive any revenue from the ADW handle or will Ellis Park close before next year's meet if the national situation is unresolved by next spring (and KY does not approve slots for Ellis)?

To my limited knowledge no ADW has fully satisfied the THG contract criteria. Youbet, in its contract with Louisiana Downs, seems to be the only ADW to strike some sort of deal with any track that is otherwise ADW dark, but how much of that deal is promotional placement(i.e. not replicable on a national scale)is unreported. If any other ADW has struck a deal, I've not seen it reported.

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

Megan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:19:31 GMT

god bless Harry, he deserved a horse like the Fog, my personal fav. wherever he is, im certian his beloved Fog is there with him

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

Jack G — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:53:21 GMT

Harry Aleo and I were friends for over 60 years. We were born a block apart and both went into the horse business in 1979. I was lucky enough to have a horse in 1996 Kentucky Derby, Matty G. Harry asked how I could be so lucky because I bred this horse myself. I told him your day will come and boy did it? He deserved every good thing that happened to him and the best part of Harry was that he was the same as the day I met him 67 years ago. We were both born in Noe Valley and we always knew,"You were already special when you were born there, Harry sure was!

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

nina — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:59:28 GMT

A true gentleman.

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

D4BROWN — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:04:58 GMT

He is the touchstone of what breeders and owners should aspire to.

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

Greg R. — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:21:28 GMT

If all race horse owners and breeders were in "the Racing Business", it would most likely end 90% of all breakdowns.

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

Shelley — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:59:52 GMT

I will never forget Harry beaming over at me every time one of his horses was running at Golden Gate Fields... I would yell, "go, Harry!", and that broad smile and big hat would surround me with the very best of horse racing. Harry, a man who cared about his horses, who loved life and the people who reflected his integrity. No one was more willing to share his success and his wonder at the magic of Lost in the Fog, Smokey Stover, Vicarino, Victorina, Wild Promises... he was a gracious, beautiful man who exemplified the best in life, not just in the horse racing world. As someone recently said, we only regret we didn't meet him earlier.

If there is any justice in heaven, he'll be winning lots of races with Fog.

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

Bellwether — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:39:02 GMT

LONG LIVE HARRY & THE KING!!!

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

Bob — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:47:02 GMT

You have to love a true horseman like Harry Aleo who told all the big money owners to take a hike when they tried to buy the one horse he had been waiting 30 years for.

I remember him walking past me after Smokey Stover won the Sunshine Millions at Santa Anita and he was one of the happiest owners I've ever seen.

There aren't too many like him anymore and the worst part is there aren't too many left to take his place.

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

FernieFernFern — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:56:51 GMT

Thank you, thank you, thank you for a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man and a life well lived. How fitting that he passed just one day before his beloved Golden Gate had it's last day.

God speed Harry...

re: An Original - by Lenny Shulman

Alison — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:43:37 GMT

Two great Harry Aleo quotes that still make me chuckle.

A reporter asked him what he would sell Lost in the Fog for, if he were to sell him. Aleo's response: "there ain't no price tag."

A reporter, standing in the winner's circle with Aleo, asks him to describe Lost in the Fog. Aleo: "well, he's fast."