Live 'Streaming

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EJMitchellKy — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:39:40 GMT

Be sure to read W.S. McGee's rebuttal of my column. He makes some good points. Read it on "The Racing Hub" blog.

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EJMitchellKy — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:25:16 GMT

C Bea, Good point about the subsidizing of sports stadiums and arenas. I used to work for the Sports Business Journal covering facilities and got to visit the Staples Center while it was being completed plus Conseco Fieldhouse, Pepsi Center and Philips Arena. Every time I walked into a track, I think of the amenities stadiums and arenas now offer--better food, better seating, and better customer service.

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Chris — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:48:11 GMT

I have worked at a racetrack for 15 years, and I have heard every complaint.

Horse players don't want to pay $20 by the time they get to their seat, let alone tipping employees, buying very expensive food and drink, etc. Then they see poker players and slot players have the red carpet rolled out for them. How is that fair? They are all gamblers right? And many horseplayers attend the track daily...talk about customer loyalty!

The horse players deserve to be greeted with smiling faces and excellent service, which unfortunately isn't happening much. I do my very best but not many others do.

The bottom line is that the product is getting worse, yet all the prices are going up, especially with the racing forms.

On a side note, Pedigree Ann is one of my favorite posters. I think it's the same Pedigree Ann who told anyone who would listen ten years ago that Unbridled's Song progeny were weak-boned, and boy was she right! This woman knows her stuff and her opinions should be respected.

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C Bea — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 04:18:56 GMT

Eric,

I agree with your assessment of Woodbine. Clearly one of the class operations in our sport anywhere. Perhaps the Woodbine model should be investigated further by both regulators, track owners and horsemen.

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EJMitchellKy — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:21:59 GMT

DEEJAYCEE, I hear you and I loved the old Gulfstream Park track. And I also hear the other criticisms about the seating. I didn't go into the clubhouse, so I would agree a tiered floor makes a big difference. I was there on a Monday so the crowd was modest. I can see how on Florida Derby day it would get congested.

Having said that, do you really need seating for 13,000 during the rest of the meet? With eyes wide open I look around and see: attendance at all racetracks down, handle down, and Thoroughbred racing facing a lot more competition from other forms of entertainment. Racing can't keep the old facilities and expect growth. If the choice is to do nothing and wait for a resurgence in the sport or try something new to attract fans, I would try something new.

If you really want to see an innovative track that is outshining all the others, go to Woodbine. A bright and clean facility, good racing surfaces, and good customer service.

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Claude — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 02:06:43 GMT

Gulfstream is no longer an old fashion race track but it sure is a beautiful horse racing facility. Of course I liked the old grandstand and clubhouse but I am happy of what they built at Gulfstream and I enjoy each time I go.

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Amy — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:50:02 GMT

Great article, and it touches a nerve. I hate to critize the two tracks in Maine (Scarborough Downs & Bangor Raceway), both harness tracks, BUT, they are dismal. I know, I know, Maine's horsemen are hanging on by a thread, and trying hard, but in today's glitzy's age, the tracks need to be clean, comfortable, with amenities. It was so cold at Scarborough, last Dec., that I didn't even take my coat off! There is a tiny restaurant, with few choices, and a small bar. Well, small, because so few people attend. Bangor is worse. At least Scarborough is clean.

Maine almost lost racing entirely, until Hollywood Slots rolled into town, and that is a decent facility. A % of profit goes to the track, and supposedly, a new barn (desperately needed) is to be built.

I rarely see people in their 20'3 or 30's either.

I went to Calder recently, and was very pleased, compared to what we have in Maine.

I don't have any answers. Sure wish I did.

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Terri Z — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:35:06 GMT

Gulfstream Park is indeed a beautiful venue to enjoy horse racing. It attracts a much younger crowd than Calder.

And it attracts a talented field of horses, trainers, and jockeys.

The management is responsive to customer complaints. They also have initiated a 7 am breakfast with a trainer or jockey on Saturday. And the public is invited to watch the horses work out with the clocker.

The only drawback is the lack of an adequate seating at the track; this makes going to the Fla Derby a difficult experience much like NY subways during rush hour.

In comparison, Calder Race Track, owned by Twin Spires has poor management of horse racing. There is no longer any live handicapping prior to each race; one must get there early for handicapping prior to the start of racing. There has been nonfunctioning tote boards outside for placing bets (near the paddock). Whenever, I bring up these issues with track officals or track employees nothing gets addressed.

Calder has a lovely indoor seating area for owners which is open to the public to purchase seating. In the previous years, those seats were from $5 to $20 depending upon the level of stakes; now that same seating is $100 and is mostly empty. They don't even effectively promote horse racing at Calder; after 2 Calder Race Track Florida breds (Big Drama and Awesome Feather)won the Breeders Cup, there were no banners, announcements, or advertisements about this.

Twin Spires officals seem unconcerned with horse racing and more concerned with the casino.

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C Bea — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 03:55:19 GMT

C Bea, not one penny of taxpayer money bult the Patriot's Gillette Stadium...owner Robert Kraft built it himself in 2002, plus 72 million in payback to state for road and infrastructure improvements...

Rachel - your single example may be true but it is clearly the exception these days. There were 13 stadiums built with 50% or more public money between 1989 and 2001. Through 2006 spending on new Sports Stadiums cost taxpayers $7-billion. A typical sports facility costs local taxpayers more than $10 million a year.

To my point where would racing be if we had taxpayers paying $10-million per year to keep our facilities current. Or how much more competitive would our facilities be if alternatives weren't subsidized they way that they are?

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DEEJAYCEE — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:13:31 GMT

eric: one question : while at gulfstream, did you even once open your eyes and see the ruination of one of the finest racing facilities in the country ? stronach has't been right in florida, maryland, ohio, california or ANYWHERE else !!!! when will GP next host the Breeder's Cup ?? {only a multi million dollar impact on local economy} you've obviously never subscribed to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it mentality" as a florida resident, i spent many a day at the old gulfstream as well as attending all three of their Breeder's Cups. if you think that any of the smoke and mirrors that this guy has thrown at racing comes within a light year of Easy Goer and Sunday Silence roaring down the stretch, then you, my friend are another one who doesn't know which end of a horse eats !

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steve from st louis — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:51:21 GMT

You can't be all things to all people BUT if you're a racetrack, you sure damn well better take care of racing fans first before you hope to attract a new crowd.

Yes, racetrackers are an older demographic than tracks are targeting with their racinos, but if you don't capture the die-hard fan first, you sure aren't going to grow by attracting the casual fan. Getting 20 somethings to drink 'till they're drunk with any track's "Party in the Park" will just cause added problems when they are leaving the parking lot and not rushing to the wagering windows.

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Mike Nyman Racing Marketing and Admissions — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:54:36 GMT

FYI.The $10 seat in Silks Simulcasting room is now $5. We heard the fans and we reacted. We are committed to doing the right thing for the customer. My motto is "Changing the Racetrack Culture One Customer at a Time" Stop by and see me any time. I am always reaching out to all of the customers and welcome any and all input.

Mike Nyman Racing Marketing and Admissons

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apajax6 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:44:58 GMT

No, Gulfstream tried the right thing, but got it wrong at the end. While there does need to be a hook to get the younger crowd in, the hook doesn't involve diluting the racing part of Gulfstream to the point where they can completely forget there's some horses competing there.

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Brian Russell — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:55:34 GMT

Maurice is 100% correct about the self service machines which are so old they still run on Windows 95 (I'm not kidding). There is apparently no one in charge of the TV's as there were 2 yesterday showing a 20 year old rerun of "In The Heat of Night" within 12 feet of one another. This is sloppy and could, and should, be corrected by management. That said, the redesign worked. I personally know many people in their 20's and 30's that now attend at least once a week when they had previously not been in their entire lives. The Tiki Huts in particular seem to attract a younger crowd.

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Gerald Bortolazzo MD — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:18:12 GMT

Love Gulfstream. Great racing with real nice horses, excellent jockeys, and great trainers. Simulcast area is very nice as is the staff. The buffet upstairs quite nice as is the service. Love the roving ticket sellers like Steve. All in all, I have totally enjoyed my numerous visits to the new Gulfstream. Now, all I need is a few of those $54 winners!

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Rachel — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:41:54 GMT

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Phil — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:56:21 GMT

Maurice has it right....$10 fee for a seat to watch simulcasting? What are the slots players charged for planting their butts in front of the machines?

A $10 fee for a seat to watch simulcasting with a 25% takeout.

slot players are not charged for sitting their butts in front of the machines with a 5% takeout.

Who's got the better deal?

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Waquoit — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:30:05 GMT

Maurice is correct. If you want to spend a day watching and wagering on live racing, Gulfstream is not the place. The Northampton Fair had a better set-up than Gulfstream has now.

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ML/NJ — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 23:28:39 GMT

It's nice that you like what Gulfstream has done. But I wouldn't walk across the street to enter the place. (I'll fly to Keeneland in April though.) Any track that thinks I want to watch their races on a TV monitor has lost me. I don't care what kind of races they run. I want them to go bankrupt, close down, and make way for a Hialeah resurgence.

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Zenyatta John — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:36:04 GMT

To Pedigree Ann -

The only reason the Sunshine Millions exists is Frank Stronach's ego. You are correct it's a shame they purge runners from graded races for weeks.

Just another reason Fabulous Frank needs to give up his racing ventures before he ruins racing in both states.

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PomDeTerre — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:57:19 GMT

To Jon- regarding your question about the Life at Ten debacle;;; what happened was that Pletcher got voted Trainer of the Year and was given another Eclipse Award. No comment.

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C Bea — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:02:47 GMT

I've made this comment before. Imagine where NBA, NFL, MLB would be if the OWNERS of the teams were 100% responsible for building and outfitting their stadiums and facilities. But they have taxpayers footing the bill!

And imagine where horse-racing standing MIGHT be if we had nothing but the fanciest nicest entertainment facilities to take your friends and family!!

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Pedigree Ann — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:37:54 GMT

I would be happy to see the Sunshine Millions go down the tubes into the ashbin of history. All this group of races does is dilute the fields of similar graded races in the weeks surrounding it. Why run in the San Antonio, for instance, against open company when you can run for more versus Cal/Fla-breds only? Why not put the purse money into beefing up the better stakes and the overnight purses?

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Loosehorse — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:52:05 GMT

Gulfstream did get it right. the first time I visited the South Florida track I too was fully prepaired to hate it. But is it just cool.

I see where it might upset the old time simulcast horseplayer like Maurice but unfortunately that is not the future of horseracing. While the die hard old time horseplayer needs to have their place at the racetrack, we need to attract a younger crowd or the sport will die. Gulfstream is doing just that. I love how the restaurants and bars wrap around the paddock to incorporate the racing with the nightlife.

If lining up TV's and showing all the simulcast signals like Laurel is what would attract new people the industry would not be in the trouble it is in.

It is unfortunate that Gulfstream can't host a Breeders' Cup but what people don't realize is that the host racetrack doesn't make a lot of money on the Breeders' Cup so Gulfstream probably had other priorities when redesigning.

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Jacqui — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:23:43 GMT

Here's hoping this is not the same "JimF" who is a supposedly unbiased reporter for both the BloodHorse and Miami Herald? How many payrolls can one person be on? The completion of the mall makes all the difference, aesthetically, it's that simple, otherwise it's the same (boondoggle) as it ever was.