Issues and gripes about racing:

[ken]

What are your biggest racing or handicapping issues you want to see changed?
_____________
One of mine is improving the view by the publiuc of racing being just waiting 30 minutes to bet by dumb luck on a hors to watch run for less than 2 minutes.
I wnat to see the statues of at least me and a few other handicappers upped and the public to understand that you can win at least a race and maybe the races by intelligent study using several areas of learning.

[Tony Rose]

When I was a kid you'd go to Penn National on a Sunday afternoon and the place would be jam-packed with horseplayers and their families. Now the second-tier tracks have tumbleweeds blowing through the grandstands. Can't figure it out - this is a game where a person can learn new tactics, betting strategies, gain experience and knowledge, it's a true thinking man's game. People will get arthritis yanking the handle on the one-armed bandit (personally I would have more fun throwing my money into the river) and if you have a good day at your friendly OTB parlor, they say that's nothing but luck. Sure it is.:p

Just like in real life, it takes knowledge, skill and discipline to be a successful handicapper. I guess people want the whiz-bang non-stop bells and whistles, instant gratification, as opposed to something you have to invest time in to become good at.

[ken]

My understanding is that when racing got big (1930's) state gvernments backed it and taxed it. Radio was the only form of outside home entertainment. Major sports covered only the Northeast and Il. The KY Derby horse usually ran the next year also. Airline travel was new. Entertainment,whether music, movies,or sports, was bland, not very fast moving, and colorless. Much of the USA was rural.
Then movies became extravagent; Rock and Roll was born; sports teams got faster and more colorful. And horseracing was 1 race in two minutes, no off track betting, black brown or gray horses, and slow.
That is when people got the brilliant idea to speed up the racetracks because that was easier than adding more color, motion, and sound to the races.
Ask yourself what your local track has- how big and loud are the monitors? How much information is put out over the PA system? Why do the walls and floors look all green and grey? Where is the color?
Whether you are buying a toy for an infant. skateboard for a teen, or taking a senior to the slots, what draws human interest is color, sound, motion.
How much of that is offered daily at the track?
Tom just asked about trainers. What % of trainers are dressed daily to meet the public? I hear it is so rare that people bet if the trainer is wearing better than manure-shoveling clothes. (personally I would dress better to take the wife to slots than to the races, but I still fit in)!
The general public has no idea what a handicapper does. They think you just go to bet wildly on a name or number because they are never told different.
Personally, I wear ny GGF cap everywhere and smetimes get asked about racing or meet anothert handicapper or horsemen. Because they know I am into it.
That is the reason I would like someone to come up with a test and acreditation. But I do not have the money or standing to do it.

[Rudy]

Racing needs new blood......As a regular at Tampa Bay Downs the majority of the attendance is comprised of older people, can't somebody there make it more fun and interesting..At least Beulah has the twins ( nobody cares about what horses they pick) they're fun to look at...Tampa has free admission for seniors............whens the last time they had free admission for 65 and below......About the best thing to happen this year is Pat Day visiting,maybe
next year they can get Bailey...it interests me a whole lot, but not the younger generation..Lets talk about concessions ..can't we have lower prices across the board instead of a stampede on hotdog and beer day. I beleive if they lowered their prices just a bit they'd sell a lot more . First timers to the track might come back again ..instead of having to mortgaging the house to feed the family.......Enough about TBD for now...But it might help.
I think racing needs to have uniform rules for coupled entries,consulations on p3/pick 4s if a horse scratches .....and lastly why doesn't someone get Greyhound,Harness,and Thoroughbred Racing all to use the same number/color clothes...just maybe people won't look foolish shouting for the wrong dog or horse. Players might crossover to bet something other than what they normally play.....

[ken]

I think Rudy is right about the tracks havng big deals on special days but not daily. Those days in Northern Ca seem to be geared for college kids Friday nites and Kids' days a few Sundays. Seems to be a halfway effort.
College kids may bet, but kids do not. There must be a better effort to draw not-betting fans to live, tv, and print racing activites.
I would go for a regular reduction in prices of non-alcoholic drinks and reduced admission for females and kids.

[derbydan]

A Ken mentioned, racing used to draw huge crowds and nationwide enthusiasm. But it was simpler then; win, place, show, one daily double. That was it. For those of us who have grown with the sport it's not difficult to part-wheel a trifecta, box an exacta, or spread a pick three, but to the novice this all can seem very complicated. Even reading the Racing Form seems like deciphering a foreign language. If you're new to the sport it can seem as if you are the dumb guy just waiting to get plucked by all the sharpies around. The racing industry somehow needs to educate the interested public that ours is a fascinating sport where even a limited amount of knowledge can lead to great enjoyment, maybe even some profit. Web sites such as Trackwinners can go a long way in this regard

[ken]

IMO it is a matter more of reaching out and educating the public as to the various levels of interest one can find in racing. A basic W/P/S ticket is still $2 and the programs are easy to read.
Racing makes things more difficult than they are. Reading the basic purse level and race type and 1 running line is not. For me the problem was not being showed how I could just use some information a slide into learning the rest instead of all in one gulp.
One major problem I had to overcome is screening the rumor and non-verifiable information from the real stuff. Then I went on to discover what information was dispensed by the racing industry that was inaccurate and conflctory or was just not being put out.
For example, every regular scheduled racing contest above middle school (jr high) in the USA requires timing of all participamts. That included yatchs, airplanes, pigeons, Maine dog sleds, Mules, greyhounds, Qtrhorses (at least 7 tracks time all QTRHS runners but not all TBreds), harness runners, and land vehicles. The only 3 exceptions are "racing pigs" (sports entertainment!) where the winner will be timed in the near future; worms (they each crawl to a certain time mark and the actual distance is measured, unlike thoroughbred racing where it is estimated) and horseracing. Pig racing is the only racing in the USA we are not on a lower level than! (Equal level shortly).
There has been many beginning handicapping books written, and the ones I have seen gives 1 sample past performance with lots of lines going to certains trhings but it is rarely explained why the info is used; and I have yet to see on any tv program instructions on how to bet or read a publication.
Most of the time I cannot make out the numbers until the stretch if I am at the track.
As far a pure education there may be a video in existance on watching and wagering, do not know.
IMHO fans are drawn to a "new" sport by ease of participation on an entry level, peer acceptance, action to follow. I think that is why basketball is popular and why snowboarding is an Olympic sport.
In major or college team sports there is a home turf type attitude that gives a fan a personal stake in the event. It happened in 2005 a little bit with LITF.
______
What do you think it would take for someone to feel a personal connection with some part of racing?

[Eifel]

One of the things I would like to see done is have the takeout lowered on all wagers to give the betting public a fighting chance to win. Winning bettors are happy bettors, happy bettors return. The tracks that have lowered their takeout seem to attract more bettors than those that stick it to the fans.I always check to see where the takeout is favorable, like the Monmouth Pick 4. I'll take my business where track management doesn't rip me off and I suggest others do the same. Another thing I think could attract fans is night racing, especially younger fans. Why is night racing so rare? Do the horses have to be in bed before 8:00 pm? Most people can't go to the races during the day so night racing would seem like a good idea. I can't talk about other tracks but here at Tampa the service could be better and the accommodations need serious improvement.If it rains I need a canoe to make it from the parking lot to the track. One time I bought a simulcast program and it had zero running lines for the horses! And I'm not talking about unraced 2yo maidens here. Unreal! I can't count how many times it was left up to me to show a new patron how to use the betting machines, no customer service whatsoever to help them!Track management has to think about customer service, and also find creative ways to attract new fans. I like the idea Rudy had about the Beaulah twins, why can't we have have something like that? I think horse racing is great but needs to be more flexible(nightracing.etc) and creative, and more fan friendly. There are just too many ways people can spend their free time for tracks to sit still and do nothing to keep the fans they have and find ways to get new ones.

[ken]

I think a "floating" hostess who knows her way around the track and shows how to use the machines is a good idea.
Live attendance is down at least in some areas; Having said that, racing needs not just bettors, but real fans that would follow live, radio, TV, in the news, everywhere.
Takeout- To me this subject is a real bear because it is set by and approved by many levels- I think some state's houses or legislatures set them and changes are with approval of boards or commissions, and you are messing with their tax base!
Having said that, I think you are onto something when you mentioned shopping for a pick 4.
1) Rebate shops are being clamped down on.
2) In Ca, most USA online bet shops are outlawed (allows only Xpress, TVG, and YouBet).
3) My suggestion is to lobby various large state entities for a reduction in the takeout for exotic bets.
EIFEL you should begin a poll on Trackwinners to see what support there would be for emailing to ask that they reduce the exotic takeout. You can write up a letter, post it, and ask members here to cut and paste and email copies to the state commission, state politicians in the track's districts, and to DRF, T.Times, Bloodhorse, and the NTRA. PM me after the poll is up and I will get you the proper email addresses.
Just email as an individual, not as a member of any group.
--------------
TAKEOUT RATES- http://horseracing.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=horseracing&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horseplayerdaily.com%2Fstats%2 Fvig%2F
(It looks like they go by the track)- PHA (Philadephia) is the one I would suggest looking at!WOW!

[mop38]

Amazingly, we joined about same time, and have 15 posts each (to date).

You make interesting statements about things like customer service.

(Customer Service...does that exist anywhere, anymore? I work for the Postal Service. All they care about is getting the mail out and helping along a complex, screwed-up automated system, where they should care about what shape the mail arrives in to the public!)

A long time ago, I purchased a large book at a bookstore in Manhattan. I still have it. It lists all race tracks going back several hundred years.

What has happened is that race tracks get replaced with housing whenever the land it sits on gets valuable. So, like everything else going through consolidation (or downsizing), you end up with fewer and pathetic race tracks and lots and lots of rinky dink shacks known as OTB's...thanks to simulcasting.

The animal itself has changed a lot as well. No longer durable, if he wins a few big ones, he goes to stallion duties where once he would be tested to see how really good he is.

I base my last statement on the fact that no runners today come close to the times of a Secretariat. In other words, the breed has not been improved in recent years, only more of many, many average horses.

And No, Eifel, horses don't have to be in bed at 8.

Some like running at night under lights, some don't. Similar to mudders vs. turf/dirt...etc.

The problem is, less tracks around and many far from reach, night racing also went away.

In sum, race tracks are no different than the trend that business keeps going through, of downsizing and making everything smaller and cheaper to the point of outrageous insignificance which it is today.

Good luck to you!

[Rudy]

I think Kens idea is grand...As a group we should target tracks with high takeouts and inform them that they will not be supported in our betting,if there rate is out of line with the rest of the tracks..I beleive Momouth has a high p4 takeout ? % and I know Laurel has the lowest,perhaps we could E-mail Momouth before the start of there meet and ask why its so high...I also compliment the idea of night racing..it helps to bring in working people.At Tampa Bay I dont think it could work due to the aged attendence of its patrons (car accidents would probably be more frequent)...Another idea that works well for Calder and Ca tracks is late start times on Fridays in the summer brings in younger people getting off from work to catch a full day of racings

[Eifel]

Rudy the takeout for the Pick 4 at Monmouth is 15%, for Laurel 14%, and Tampa 25%. I have no idea why the takeout is so high here at Tampa. I suppose they need the money. I read where the track is making record revenues, where is the money going? I haven't heard about any purse raises lately. Maybe a horseman or woman can inform me if I missed something. I don't know how the rate is set only that I doubt anyone cares what I think. The best thing to do is take your business to the tracks that offer a fair takeout rate. Ken has supplied a useful link to a takeout table for all tracks in Noth America, it's very good for comparing takeout structure at various tracks. Getting back to the subject of improvements a couple of things I'd like to see here at Tampa are rolling Pick 3's and quinellas every race. Actually every form of wager should be offered each race. It can be confusing for newcomers to the track when in one race they can play a certain type of bet (quinella,etc) than in the next they can't. In short everything should be done to make playing the races as easy and enjoyable as possible, which can't be said now.

[jchach]

Just a couple of ideas to get some fans to the track:

1) Meet the Jockeys/Trainers Day
2) Get your photo taken in the Winners Circle with a Thoroughbred
3) This 1 could be good:

Many bettors have the choice of sitting at home & placing wagers with TVG, Youbet, online sportsbooks, etc. Many of these bettors get a % back on LOST WAGERS once a week from the online books. If the tracks start offering something like this, maybe you'll get more of them to go to the track if the offer is enticing.

How about offering a $1 Exacta Day, $1 Trifecta Day, $1 Superfecta Day where you get a full payout for a buck & half for 50 cent??

The thing is, if you don't try something, how do you know it won't work.

Its just my opinion.

John

[ken]

My idea was to post to the group and download the same sample letter (like political groups do), but to send them as individuals instead of saying
"We are 100 gambling addicts from 1 group who want you to gives us some of our losses back". Beter PR if you say:
____
SAMPLE-
"I am an individual who is a member of the Public Handicapper's Association and I just happened to see this on the internet and decided to send it to you at Philadelphia track, since your exotic takeout is 30%. and others as low as 20%.
While we appreciate that a basic W/P/S ticket is still only $2.00, we believe if you lower your exotic takeout to a reasonable amount on par with other tracks, we can spend more money by coming to tracks more often and buying food or goods and helping the service employees".
"CC to: PA gaming commission, Governor Ed Rendell, NTRA, track employees union, DRF, Bloodhorse, Thoroughbred Times, Philadelphia Enquirer".
_______________
By the way, anyone who wants to can start a Public Handicapper's Association just by having people from all over the internet, at tracks, wherever give their real names and addresses or email addresses and keeping the list private. Just put the numbers out.
If it gets rolling it can get publicity. It can be no cost to join (as proof of economic feasability!). Anybody like me with access to free websites (my webtv email addresses each get one) can post minimal news.
The best part of all is there only needs to be a very basic bland upbeat motto like "More fans and heathy horses" as a statement of purpose. Agenda(s): "Plans for flexibility in agenda to meet the needs of a changing industry as well as the needs of the horses and of the fans and bettors."
That should scare the hell out of somebody; they do not know what's up or if you may be working with PETA, Gambler's Anonymous, or just want padded bleacher seats at the tracks!LOL!!

[Rudy]

Ken, thanks when I mentioned contacting tracks as a group,,yes it is better for the tracks to get e-mails from each one of us from TrackWinners.Not as a single voice but many voices...

[madmartha]

Sometimes when the current race is going on
at Lone Star's simulcast pavilon -
the speaker sound is too loud for me to
handicap another race.
I've told many of the staff up there - but too
no avail.
This is just one of the issues that have kept
my friends from ever returning again.
Yet, Lone Star, themselves have wondered
"where have all fans gone". (The latter
said from several newspaper accounts of
Lone Stars attendance and handle drop).

[Jerfi]

It's always interesting, to me, when folks are GIVEN the straight word, and then just don't hear it.

Doesn't matter if it's track officials or spouses ... you say something as straight as you can say it, and it doesn't get through.

***********

I suppose my main issue with betting horses is that I would like to lay bets, rather than back horses .... but, that's not going to happen, soon!

[madmartha]

wish the powers-that-be
would lower the tax take-outs
that way more fans would come
that way more fans might come back
that way the fans might make some real money,
that way the state would too

but the governing powers that be in TEXAS
still don't get it!bh)

[scottsdad]

Unfortunately There Is Such A Small Contingent Of People Who Truly Love The Game And Appreciate It For What It Is.nobody Wants To Take The Time Anymore To Learn And Handicap.they Want Instant Gratification.they Would Rather Just Pick A Horse By Its Catchy Name And Then Get Upset When He Runs Last.its No Different Then The Guy Splitting Tens In Blackjack.customer Service At Most Tracks Is A Joke.instead Of Blanket Giveaway Day Maybe They Should Offer A Free 2.00 Daily Double.promotions That Will Actually Attract People To The Track.if You Take The Time To Learn The Game Theres Nothing Like It,and If You Could Make A Few Dollars--even Better.

[crazybear]

Racing needs new blood......As a regular at Tampa Bay Downs the majority of the attendance is comprised of older people, can't somebody there make it more fun and interesting..At least Beulah has the twins ( nobody cares about what horses they pick) they're fun to look at...Tampa has free admission for seniors............whens the last time they had free admission for 65 and below......About the best thing to happen this year is Pat Day visiting,maybe
next year they can get Bailey...it interests me a whole lot, but not the younger generation..Lets talk about concessions ..can't we have lower prices across the board instead of a stampede on hotdog and beer day. I beleive if they lowered their prices just a bit they'd sell a lot more . First timers to the track might come back again ..instead of having to mortgaging the house to feed the family.......Enough about TBD for now...But it might help.
I think racing needs to have uniform rules for coupled entries,consulations on p3/pick 4s if a horse scratches .....and lastly why doesn't someone get Greyhound,Harness,and Thoroughbred Racing all to use the same number/color clothes...just maybe people won't look foolish shouting for the wrong dog or horse. Players might crossover to bet something other than what they normally play.....

Yeah New Blood would be great i think the biggest problem with getting the younger folks out is the Tex Holdem is so very popular.They can stay home and play or at the casino with the payouts huge.maybe when this gets old to them they will come out to the track or play some at home

[djunior]

I am considered one of the younger people that attend the track. I attend Tampa Bay Downs, which is a track that is trying to be up in coming. I moved here from the Northeast about 1.5 years ago and the OTB I went to had more tellers working than TAMPA. If you had more tellers working (not trying to put in there 2 dollar quinella dog bets) than you would have happier customers. Twice last week I got shut out because the teller was yapping and looking at there own bets. I know some of you may say, use the machine, but that is not a way to get new people into the game. I came back from Reno and Vegas and they don't machines to take your bets. From a younger generation who loves horse racing; do the following things and your attendance will increase!

1. Offer just 1 pick 4 on the card and 1 pick 6; the overall pool will be bigger and more bets will be played.
2. Offer rolling doubles, fun bet that is easy to grade.
3. Reduce the time between posts , sometimes Tampa will have 30 minutes between post on Sunday or Tuesday, just not smart. 20 minutes is enough time.
4. Eliminate the odd changes during the race, that is a frustrating when the race is half over than the odds change, not a tough one to fix; close the pool at POST TIME.
5. The internet is HUGE now, make your Eliminate user friendly, updated, and informational, Calder, Churchill, NYRA, circuit have great sites, TAMPA IS not so good.
6. THIS IS ONE I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT FOREVER AND CAN BE FIXED and NOT SURE WHY IT HAS NOT. LETS USE TAMPA FOR EXAMPLE. YOU GO TO THE RACES ON FRIDAY AFTER WORK AND BET A FEW RACES AND YOU PLAN ON COMING OUT ON SATURDAY BUT KNOW YOU CANT GET THERE UNTIL 2 FOR SOME OF THE "BIGGER RACES" AND THE RACES START AT 12:30. IT WOULD NOT BE HARD TO TAKE BETS FOR THE NEXT DAY ONCE THE CURRENT DAY MEET IS OVER. TAMPA DOES THIS TWIN-TRI THAT I NEVER PLAY, BUT TUESDAY IS A FORCE PAYOUT, AND SOMETIMES THE POOL CAN BE AT 20 OR 30K, WHY NOT LET PEOPLE BET IT ON SUNDAY AFTER THE RACES FINISH OR MONDAY AND GET MORE MONEY IN THE POOL.

These are just some ideas, I am new to this site but like what I see. Why not make changes for the good of the game, all other sports are making changes. I reference Tampa alot because I moved here from the Northeast as I mention and people in the Northeast in Dec. Jan. and Feb. play this track alot, has a great turf course and usually fields bigger than 9, Calder normally cant claim that.

[madmartha]

I've always wondered why when the 4th finisher
still wins some loot for the owners in those big
event deals - why the bettors don't.
Couldn't we, at least, get half our wager back?!bh)

[diamondjoe]

I think you all have some wonderful ideas. The one thing I would like to see changed, is the quality of the horseracing. Back in the day(No, I'm not that old.) most would run every few weeks like clockwork. Even Sea Biscut had well over 20 races under his belt before he put it all together. Now it seems that all good horses are being swept up up by the Europeans and Arabs, who have no concern for the quality of our racing, as long as they can make their money in their own countries. When we do see these better horses, it's usually in a big race backed backed by a huge purse, and once their horse wins the race against our cheaper horses, they are quick to retire the horse and make even more money with breeding rights they are being paid top dollar for. Back in the day, you didn't hear about horses being laid off for months at a time for the silliest of ailments. Perhaps that is one reason we haven't had a triple crown winner in sometime. The horses are being pampered more than most of us can only dream of. Even some of the better horses in recent years(Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Charismatic, Smarty Jones, etc...), always seem to fall just short, because their owners are more concerned with "protecting their investments", than conditioning their horses to to become the ultimate athletes that horseplayers desire, and then when you do seem them, in their two minutes of brilliance, unless they've been gelded, you never seem them again, unless you happen to see them prancing around at a retirement farm.
The money for handicappers is there for the taking with all the cheap horses that dominate the cards at even the biggest tracks. A solid grasp of pace figs and the proper use of beyer figs, plus any other good info which varies with each handicapper, goes a long way in pulling down the big buck. But sometimes I don't mind losing a little bit of money by betting against a horse who is clearly several notches above the rest of the field, as opposed to one who is merely the "least slow of a field of slow horses". They say the poly track is supposed to reduce the rate of injury to the horses. Let's all hope that the owners decide to look beyond the dollar signs in their eyes, and give us as fans the opportunity to see much more of their prized atheletes doing what they do best.
Anyways, that's my two cents.

[ken]

Diamondjoe-
Among other things discussed at the recent Welfare and Summit Seminar (I put the link on this forum) was too fast breeding turnover, more breakdown and injury information kept, and possible reasons for declining races run. I often contact the CHRB- Ca racing board about these things.
In my researching the internet concerning track and medical studies the main reasons for less sturdy Tbreds asre:
Speed (too heavy/muscled horses bred for sprinting);
Not winter layoff for remodeling (rehabilitation) of bones (turfers who have winter layoffs generally have healthier legs and stick around longer);
Too hard/uneven surfaces (this is why the new All-Weather (AW) tracks reduce breakdowns);
Running with pain-relieving pain (drugs) instead of getting healing timeoff;
trainers unaware/uncaring about leg issues.
"http://www.bloodhorse.com/pdf/welfaresummit.pdf"
"www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HOR/US-25A.doc"
_____________________
One thing I suggestws as a means of raciong slower horses more often was classifying NW2 or NW3 horses on the dirt (or AW) as maidens for some turf races.

[clusterf1]

One thing is for sure , young people have little interset in horse racing. Lone Star had a Seminar on the Breeders Cup , about 200 people
showed up none under 50. I grew up about a mile from Pimlico and the only time you see young people is Preakness day and that is only to get
drunk in the infield . My father took me with him when he went and taught
me how to read the Morning Telegraph. when I played horses regularly I used as system that my Father showed me based on upward and downward betting trends . But back in the 60's and 70's they started horses 20 to 30 times a year and this system used a three week period between races . today a horse starts 5 to 10 times a year and if he wins a grade I race the owner retires him right away because it much easier to
make money in the breeding shed then on the race track . note the fees for Storm Cat , Giants Causeway. Danzig, and so forth. also there is more money in real estate than in horse racing . Look For Hollywood Park and
Bay meadows to close in a couple of years , to make room for Condos.

[Mister Sanderson]

I think you all have some wonderful ideas. The one thing I would like to see changed, is the quality of the horseracing. Back in the day(No, I'm not that old.) most would run every few weeks like clockwork. Even Sea Biscut had well over 20 races under his belt before he put it all together. Now it seems that all good horses are being swept up up by the Europeans and Arabs, who have no concern for the quality of our racing, as long as they can make their money in their own countries. When we do see these better horses, it's usually in a big race backed backed by a huge purse, and once their horse wins the race against our cheaper horses, they are quick to retire the horse and make even more money with breeding rights they are being paid top dollar for. Back in the day, you didn't hear about horses being laid off for months at a time for the silliest of ailments. Perhaps that is one reason we haven't had a triple crown winner in sometime. The horses are being pampered more than most of us can only dream of. Even some of the better horses in recent years(Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Charismatic, Smarty Jones, etc...), always seem to fall just short, because their owners are more concerned with "protecting their investments", than conditioning their horses to to become the ultimate athletes that horseplayers desire, and then when you do seem them, in their two minutes of brilliance, unless they've been gelded, you never seem them again, unless you happen to see them prancing around at a retirement farm.
The money for handicappers is there for the taking with all the cheap horses that dominate the cards at even the biggest tracks. A solid grasp of pace figs and the proper use of beyer figs, plus any other good info which varies with each handicapper, goes a long way in pulling down the big buck. But sometimes I don't mind losing a little bit of money by betting against a horse who is clearly several notches above the rest of the field, as opposed to one who is merely the "least slow of a field of slow horses". They say the poly track is supposed to reduce the rate of injury to the horses. Let's all hope that the owners decide to look beyond the dollar signs in their eyes, and give us as fans the opportunity to see much more of their prized atheletes doing what they do best.
Anyways, that's my two cents.
Looks like the polytrack is gonna keep lots more horses around and running, due to its safety and easy on the animal. Possibly, some of these big owners will realize their commodity will be o.k. to run a 4 and maybe 5 year old career with a safe surface.

[madmartha]

If the breeders are so concerned with the more muscular
built sprint type horses - instead of breaking down these
precious thoroughbreds - why don't those speed-freak breeders
turn to quarter-horseracing?!

[diamondjoe]

You're right clusterf, that does seem to be an issue in regards to a lack of interest by the under 50 generation. I myself am in my mid 30's and like you, the only time I see people in my age group is when they have the micro brew festivals at Santa Anita. I think that's why I don't go to the track that often, unless they are giving something away. Even then, I will usually go through the "clocker's corner", which sells admission tickets at 8am, grab my freebie at the table located at the opposite end of the room, pick up the racing form if I haven't already done so, and go home to play the races on the computer. I've even tried to bribe other friends to go with me, but the interest just doesn't seem to be there. I myself got started out of boredom. I found myself going several times to the Pomona fair one year, and decided I was going to try my luck. That was almost a decade ago, and even though I haven't hit the life changing score as of yet, I usually do well enough to hold my own. I've come close to making an 80g score, and more recently a 15g score, not mention the number of times I thought my my way out of payoffs in the thousands, but I know that I'll get my share of the big paydays when the time is right. Till then, I just enjoy the challenge.
Anyways, It's good to know that I'm not the only one with quibbles about the sport. good luck to everyone on coming up with solutions, If not, there's still buccu bucks out there for the taking.$) bc(

[ken]

"December 9, $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1), American Quarter Horse racing’s richest and most prestigious race for older horses."

This past weekend at Los Alamitos there was a $20k race; all others were $5k-$15k.
Between purses, breeding prices, and the cost of racing a horse is almost exectly the same for $5k pig as for $5 million pig, why not go for it?
Gambling to 4th place- Superfecta.
Many purse stuctures, especially in NY are set up to extend to all entrants to get something back.

I have forwarded my idea to the NTRA to have track give away custom horseracing playing cards. You gotta go where the gamblers are!