While almost all of your points are valid, your apocalyptic hyperbole is remarkably similar to another unrelated topic that I won't get into here. The problems you addressed are doing great harm to the game and will cause it to contract even more than it has. However, it will never go away. Look at the recently concluded Horseshoe Indy meet. Handle was up 20 some percent after being up in the high teens last year. Other than their comically run OTB in Clarksville, they know what they are doing. They position themselves almost perfectly in the simulcast market, have 2 low takeout P5s that attract good handle and have a statebred program that ensures good field sizes without overwhelming the card. They also have a turf course that holds up throughout their 7 month meet despite not spending $10 million on it. Lastly, they had zero racing fatalities during said 7 month meet. They, Oaklawn, the Kentucky tracks and Gulfstream will 100% be around for the foreseeable future which is much longer than 20 years. Of course, there is also a common denominator all these tracks have that has nothing to do with racing.
I used to hit trifectas in Grade II's and Grade III's like candy until someone. or something jammed my radar in 2004 and now I'm relegated to trying to hit the KD SF or just dump a whole lot of money in the show pools. Now I will say goodbye to my "Home track" Aqueduct. At least it had better water fountains than Belmont Park.
I don’t think you are in the least bit wrong. CDI is unashamedly nothing but a casino business, most tracks simply exist as a gangplank into the casino or poker room. Take a look around, breathe it in and enjoy, because this certainly will be gone by my grandchildren’s generation.
And if you care to see the process on steroids head to your local Jai Alai fronton. Gotta give them credit, they aren’t even bullshitting us about the product they are now producing.
While almost all of your points are valid, your apocalyptic hyperbole is remarkably similar to another unrelated topic that I won't get into here. The problems you addressed are doing great harm to the game and will cause it to contract even more than it has. However, it will never go away. Look at the recently concluded Horseshoe Indy meet. Handle was up 20 some percent after being up in the high teens last year. Other than their comically run OTB in Clarksville, they know what they are doing. They position themselves almost perfectly in the simulcast market, have 2 low takeout P5s that attract good handle and have a statebred program that ensures good field sizes without overwhelming the card. They also have a turf course that holds up throughout their 7 month meet despite not spending $10 million on it. Lastly, they had zero racing fatalities during said 7 month meet. They, Oaklawn, the Kentucky tracks and Gulfstream will 100% be around for the foreseeable future which is much longer than 20 years. Of course, there is also a common denominator all these tracks have that has nothing to do with racing.
Appreciate the brutal honesty, as usual.
And the image is 🔥🔥🔥
I used to hit trifectas in Grade II's and Grade III's like candy until someone. or something jammed my radar in 2004 and now I'm relegated to trying to hit the KD SF or just dump a whole lot of money in the show pools. Now I will say goodbye to my "Home track" Aqueduct. At least it had better water fountains than Belmont Park.
I don’t think you are in the least bit wrong. CDI is unashamedly nothing but a casino business, most tracks simply exist as a gangplank into the casino or poker room. Take a look around, breathe it in and enjoy, because this certainly will be gone by my grandchildren’s generation.
And if you care to see the process on steroids head to your local Jai Alai fronton. Gotta give them credit, they aren’t even bullshitting us about the product they are now producing.
Best
P. E. Muehleck