Gulfstream- Great News

[Figman]

The MEC has worked wonders at Gulfstream Park. This January through the 31st the amount bet on track per race has zoomed to $114,400 from $109,754 and by the way three years ago in 2001 it was $115,752 per race on-track.

Now for the rest of the story......

Betting elsewhere in Fla. on GP was per race $42,995 this January as compared to $43,104 last year.

Betting on GP originating out of the State of Fla. was per race $648,397 this January as compared to $700,344 last year.

Overall wagering this January per race at GP was $805,817 as compared to $853,201 last year. Take the difference in these two figures and multiply by the 216 January '04 races contested and you will get a reading on the overall total decline in handle.


In New York a different story,
At Aqueduct, NYRA conducted 168 races in January losing 4 full and one partial program to the weatherman. Yet their overall per race handle was $997,826 this January as compared to $873,254 last year. That's a sizeable gain of better than 14 1/4%! Could that reduced takeout continue to churn greater handle?

[cj]

Originally posted by Figman
...In New York a different story,
At Aqueduct, NYRA conducted 168 races in January losing 4 full and one partial program to the weatherman. Yet their overall per race handle was $997,826 this January as compared to $873,254 last year. That's a sizeable gain of better than 14 1/4%! Could that reduced takeout continue to churn greater handle?

Reduced takeout, and more importantly, being able to bet NYRA through most every online betting service. ;)

[JimG]

Can the Florida horsemen who are currently undergoing a purse cut place any significant pressure on Frank and co. to allow betting on their races through some of the major online services?

I may be wrong, but I think the California horsemen had a fit when Frank planned to take Santa Anita and Golden Gate off YouBet and that is why they are still available. Any thoughts on this?

JimG

[karlskorner]

I don't doubt your figures, but it has been a pleasure to wager on a horse at 5/1 post time and have the animal cross the wire still at 5/1. It appears that the "big time handicappers" have gone elsewhere, for this I am personally grateful.

[karlskorner]

The only adjustment you may want to make to your figures is that last year, and the year before that and that year before that, etc., there were "10" races run during the week days in January, this year there are 9. Your short approximately 18 races.

[Figman]

Karlskorner
My figures show the following and please correct me if I am wrong:
January at Gulfstream Park:
2004 - 216 live races
2003 - 225 live races
2002 - 252 live races
2001 - 258 live races

[PaceAdvantage]

You mean NYRA actually DOES do a good job??!! Who woulda thunk it considering the bad press lately and the attitude of some on this board concerning their "fitness" for duty....

[karlskorner]

I dumped last years charts, no need for them. All I have is memory, I believe there was only 1 "dark" day in January last year, this year there were 2.