Re: Teflon Todd (682 Views)
Posted by:
TGJB (IP Logged)
Date: December 28, 2006 04:24PM
Michael-- That group has control of and undue influence over racing, specifically the NTRA, BC, etc., and indirect influence over lots of other institutions (i.e. racetracks). There is an additional problem of some high level appointments at various places being patronage positions. The upshot is that the "old" industry institutions (including many tracks) are run by people who are not motivated to change things because they don't see the need for change (their end of the business is going great guns), and/or are not competent enough to do it.
The major breakthroughs in this industry are being accomplished by outside agents-- Pinnacle, Youbet, Betfair, rebate houses. They are what is forcing the industry to adjust, to the degree it understands and can.
The time is coming when we (horseplayers, owners, those of us who service and represent them) may have to take control of the game. Which unfortunately probably means a lot of work by me, since nobody else is in a position to, is competent, and gives a s--t, and I get tired just thinking about it, since I'm working 6 days a week now. For a long time there was a danger that if someone like me tried to organize players we would lose distribution at the tracks and get blacklisted, but with most of our sales over the web that is no longer an issue-- the tracks need handle, and therefore need us a lot more than we need them. But I would still prefer not to have to be a driving force in this-- I would rather take my few days off and work on what I laughingly call my golf game.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2006 05:21PM by TGJB.