Re: Racing Don't Need This! (592 Views)
Posted by:
jma11473 (IP Logged)
Date: September 12, 2015 08:21AM
There were articles written 50 years ago about how racing had no young fans. Do you think it might be because it often takes place during the day, during the week, when the average 30-year-old is working? I don't know why this is perceived as "new" to some people.
It is the increased gambling competition that has hurt handle to such a great degree. That's not to say racing has made many, or any, good decisions to stay competitive, but pointing out the competition is NOT an excuse but a fact. The question now is if horse racing will let itself dwindle away (with Saratoga, Del Mar, etc. still doing well the way boxing still has a few huge events each year while it's invisible the rest of the time to all but it's hardcore fanbase) or do something radical to try to turn things around. Since "radical" usually gets executives fired, I'm guessing it will just continue to hang on.
I wanted to add that there is no simple path. For example, we all know the takeout is too high. There are rebates, and that's fine. But as far as what tracks can do, even if they want to cut takeout, they have to get various legislators/bureaucrats to agree to it, and these people don't understand why it could help in the long run while hurting in the short run. Also, you cut takeout and the rebate players lose some/all of their rebates, so they stop betting your track and handle drops even more. The best thing would be if the current flawed system could be scrapped and started over, but instead there's a ton of red tape involved in making any changes that may not even help. So there is no easy answer.