New Money

[ceejay]

http://www.turfpedia.com/horseplayer_diaries/euro_racing_report_31.html

American racing would benefit from this type of thinking. I'd rather bring new money into racing than to argue over churn.

In this day and age of computers, there is no reason why exotics could not be bet by the total amount of dollars that a bettor wants to risk rather than an arbtirary $1 or $2/bet calculation. Then have the tote machine print out on the ticket the size of each wager and the proportion of the posted payout that will apply if it wins. I can't tell you how many times I've been in line and heard the novice (once a year) player say "Give me a $6 box on ABC" when they really meant $1 box.

[Tuffmug]

Ceejay,

I agree. Expand and create pools filled with "dumb" money and the takeout becomes an insignificant expense. Racing needs revolutionary changes to attract new business.
In its heyday, racing was the ONLY legal gambling venue. Now it must compete with lotteries and casinos throughout the nation.

[ranchwest]

I cut my teeth on racing at Delta Downs. There, the primary area for people was a huge room with about 30 permanent seats. Everyone brought their lawn chairs. That way, they could sit with the same people every week. These folks often didn't really know one another, they'd just sit together and talk about the races or whatever. It was everyone's comfort zone, sitting with the same folks. Nobody had one another's names and phone numbers, so it wouldn't have been possible to reserve seats together -- everyone just showed up. For anyone who hasn't been there lately, Delta Downs has completely changed and is now more a casino than a race track.

I think that is one of the things that is missing at most tracks, a comfort zone. Every time you go, there's someone new next to you and you have to become accustomed to their habits. About the time you have them partially figured out, the day is over.

Just a thought.

[Figman]

Ceejay: I certainly agree that "new" money is needed in the pari-mutuels. Take a gander at Australia's "Flexi-Betting" It is similar to your European example. I think if flexi betting was implements within the U.S.A., lottery money that has left racing might return to the pari-mutuels.

http://nswtab.com.au.

At the above URL on the left side click on "Flexi-Betting" and then check out:
1. What is flexi-betting?
2. Flexi specifics.

I don't know why one of the tracks in this country doesn't give some form of flex betting a try. It would be al ot more sucessful then rock concerts.