Probe of NYRA execs may be launched - NYRA may lose slots subsidies

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Indulto

What exactly do you agree with if you're suggesting those events aren't special enough to draw more than the following numbers at Belmont last week:

05/13: 6,907
05/12: 6,420
05/11: 2,761
05/10: 2,065
05/09: 1,608

How can anyone justify maintaining that plant for the level of attendance exhibited last wek?

When I lived in upstate NY during the '60s, it was never a problem to round up a carload of fellow racing fans to drive 150+ miles downstate to attend the above events.

The argument you're making is like saying the NFL should go to 28 games because the same people that attend 17 weeks worth will jump at the opportunity of an elongated season.

Saratoga, Keeneland and Del Mar are successful because they are short meets. Extending it would not have the positive effect you are implying.

[MadWorld]

Originally Posted by jelly

One little thing they can do is give away basic PPS(10 lines)to bring in new fans.Once you've hooked them you can then sell them the formulator,Ultimate pps etc..

Isn't that a suggestion for DRF? Tracks don't own or produce the PP's.

[MadWorld]

Originally Posted by Indulto

How can anyone justify maintaining that plant for the level of attendance exhibited last wek?
.

Because of the total handle numbers.

If you ran year round at Saratoga, you'd have similar numbers and nobody would care about the boutique meet in the summer. Who's coming out to Saratoga for a Wednesday in April?

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by MadWorld

Isn't that a suggestion for DRF? Tracks don't own or produce the PP's.

Maybe they should.

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by Canarsie

As one who butts heads with Mr. Goren on a very consistent basic this is uncalled for. He has the right to express his opinion no matter how wrong you and I think its flawed. He has taken positions that are in the extreme minority.

Far too many people have died defending that right and I find your comments tasteless.

I understand your point, but is there anything worse than trying to have a conversation, where one (or more) people involved is TOTALLY clueless about the discussion, yet keeps on talking?

Look at the last few pages here. I know Goren has his opinion, and he's entitled to it, but it'd help the discussion along if he'd be at least a little knowledgable about the events.

[Indulto]

Originally Posted by MadWorld

Because of the total handle numbers.

If you ran year round at Saratoga, you'd have similar numbers and nobody would care about the boutique meet in the summer. Who's coming out to Saratoga for a Wednesday in April?

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

The argument you're making is like saying the NFL should go to 28 games because the same people that attend 17 weeks worth will jump at the opportunity of an elongated season.

Saratoga, Keeneland and Del Mar are successful because they are short meets. Extending it would not have the positive effect you are implying.

I would not expect boutique-like attendance at spring and fall meets unless races were only run on weekends during those periods.

What I would expect is racing conducted to feed off-track betting appetites on-line, out-of-state, and at downstate simulcast centers without the expense of another costly facility that can’t pay it’s own way.

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by jelly

One little thing they can do is give away basic PPS(10 lines)to bring in new fans.Once you've hooked them you can then sell them the formulator,Ultimate pps etc..

I love the simplicity of this idea. Just give out basic PP's to people who have no idea how to intepret them.

That'll really help things out.

How is it that you aren't working in the marketing department for a track with ideas like this?

[Indulto]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/sports/new-york-racing-association-is-facing-loss-of-payments.html
New York Racing Association Is Facing Loss of Payments
By JOE DRAPE May 15, 2012

… “Unless NYRA immediately starts to act in the best interests of racing and the taxpayers of this state, we will pursue a course of action to re-establish the racing franchise with a qualified, ethical, and responsible steward of horse racing,” a letter sent to NYRA’s chairman, Steven Duncker, stated. It was signed by John Sabini, the chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, and Robert Megna, the chairman of a NYRA oversight panel. …

Are not Sabini and Megna appointed rather than elected officials? Do they really have the authority to break the State’s contract to augment purse money? Maybe those two should also be dumped as unceremoniously as Hayward and Kehoe. If I belonged to the NY horsemen’s group, I’d be getting their lawyers fired up. Clearly the NYSRWB is as arrogant and incompetent as the CHRB. If they think McClain is “dirty” as well, why didn’t they ask for her removal before the promotion?

[lamboguy]

you guys are all jumping the gun here. purses and breeders awards are still going to get paid.

what has happened is that the casino money goes directly to the lottery, they in turn will fund the purse and breeder's accounts. from what i understand, they are not going to fund the administration of NYRA until the problems are worked out approved by all parties involved.

[MadWorld]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

Maybe they should.

How is every track supposed to produce their own PP's? Is that what you would like? 35 different versions of PP's to interpret? If you think they are expensive now, how about if every track is printing them themselves?

[MadWorld]

Originally Posted by Indulto

I would not expect boutique-like attendance at spring and fall meets unless races were only run on weekends during those periods.

What I would expect is racing conducted to feed off-track betting appetites on-line, out-of-state, and at downstate simulcast centers without the expense of another costly facility that can’t pay it’s own way.

But you realize the Saratoga Summer Meet would suffer and it's on-track attendance would plummet too right? Belmont offers it's own "Boutique Meet" in the Fall with lower attendance than the Spring Meet.

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by Dahoss9698

I understand your point, but is there anything worse than trying to have a conversation, where one (or more) people involved is TOTALLY clueless about the discussion, yet keeps on talking?

Look at the last few pages here. I know Goren has his opinion, and he's entitled to it, but it'd help the discussion along if he'd be at least a little knowledgable about the events.

Your problem is that you don't think NY racing can not survive without slot money. You maybe right, but I don't think so. We find out soon enough because they aren't going to keep it very long. The expiration date on slot money for horse racing is nearing everywhere. The industry in NY and other places had better start planning what they going to without it.
Every time the industry ignores its problems like NYRA has had in last few months , that expiration day moves up. I am sorry you and other like you are too blind to see that. You are doing the industry no favors by ignoring that reality. You so tied to slot money being the only answer to racing's survival, that any mention of racing's problems sends you off because you scared it will cost the industry its slot money. Its not some newspaper story about NYRA 's problems that going speed the loss of its slot money, it is the problems themselves. But problems or not, that money is going to disappear sooner or later, probably sooner. That is reality of the situation.

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

Your problem is that you don't think NY racing can not survive without slot money. You maybe right, but I don't think so. We find out soon enough because they aren't going to keep it very long. The expiration date on slot money for horse racing is nearing everywhere. The industry in NY and other places had better start planning what they going to without it.
Every time the industry ignores its problems like NYRA has had in last few months , that expiration day moves up. I am sorry you and other like you are too blind to see that. You are doing the industry no favors by ignoring that reality. You so tied to slot money being the only answer to racing's survival, that any mention of racing's problems sends you off because you scared it will cost the industry its slot money. Its not some newspaper story about NYRA 's problems that going speed the loss of its slot money, it is the problems themselves. But problems or not, that money is going to disappear sooner or later, probably sooner. That is reality of the situation.

As usual, you have no idea what the hell you are talking about. I've never said anything resembling what you have posted here.

You show no understanding of the situation in NY, or throughout the country.

I'm sorry you don't like the sport and that you don't bet. But some of us do.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by jelly

Disagree,what racing needs is more horseplayers.

What racing needs is a unified governing body which can address the needs of ALL the parties involved in this game...horseplayers included.

The horseman is NOT the most vital component of this game...but he is currently treated as if he is.

[Robert Goren]

Originally Posted by MadWorld

How is every track supposed to produce their own PP's? Is that what you would like? 35 different versions of PP's to interpret? If you think they are expensive now, how about if every track is printing them themselves?

There are several ADW's that give them away now. That means the info must be pretty cheap. It means that race tracks are going to have to have them printing. As the person who was responsible for all of my company's printing, I can tell you it is not that expensive to something printed. The cost are not anywhere near what cost to go Kinko's and have it copied. Offset printing is really very cheap.