I think you're absolutely correct in pointing out that being at the track and seeing the horses live always offers one the possibility of an information edge.

What has happened over time though is the advantage of this edge has been offset (in the minds of the betttors) by both the inconvenience of going to the track and being treated like dirt when you get there.

Still, if tracks are truly interested in bolstering their live handles (and they very well might not care) then they have to make it obvious to bettors there is an advantage to being at the track.

There are a few ways of doing this, of course. You could have lower takeout, or higher rebates, for people who bet at the track. And/or you could invest in information delivery systmes that create a tone that something serious, for serious people, is going on here.

The truth is that for tracks, the informed bettor is their best customer. So why not provide as much information as possible. For, when it becomes convential wisdom that serious bettors get an edge by being at the track, serious bettors are going to have to be at the track.

Now some people might point out that a computer or televsion feed could provide the same information the track could, but I'm not sure they ccould do it as fluently. The thing is, when you watch a broadcast you're pretty much dependent upon the feed, on receiving the information when they want to share it with you. But at the track I envision, you can find the information you want when you want it. An arrangement that seems a little bit more empowering to me.

And then we come back to your point, that watching the horses warm up live is always going to be superior to watching a post parade on a TV screen. Which makes one realize how poorly horseplayers have been treated, if they are willing to give up this advantage.