I certainly agree with Steven Crist that it's ridiculous to blame the bettors for taking advantage of a system that improves their returns.
And yet, the question remains, why do tracks persist in allowing a system that obviously is not in their long term best interests to siphon off their business?
And this becomes one of those where there is smoke there is fire issues to me. Certainly, as the system is currently set up, some people are making a lot of money which might not be available to them if Steven Crist's remedies of lower takeout and higher simulcast fees were enacted. Enough money that it would be worth while for them to be making "political donations" and "lobbying" to keep the status quo.
Succinctly: the status quo reeks of corruption to me.
But then the question about racing that intrigues me the most is, how did the Sport of Kings become the banana republic of sports?
The current "rebate" phenomona being just another manifestation of this transmogrification to me.