turfnsport
02-20-2004, 02:21 PM
NTRA Players Panel Needs
to Giddy Up and Cheer!
(Saturday, February 21) The NTRA put together a Players' Panel last year to issue policy recommendations on subjects of "serious importance" to horseplayers. A well respected group was put together and they have come up a list of problems within the industry and their solutions.
The panel includes members I highly respect, including noted authors Barry Meadow and James Quinn, handicapper Dave Gutfreund, and economist Maury Wolff.
The panel addressed some of the biggest problems with horse racing today:
1. Integrity of the pari-mutuel pools, and the late merger of wagers.
2. Pari-mutuel takeout rates.
3. Taxation of winnings.
4. How to address rebates
5. Arbitrary transfer of wagers to the favorites following late scratches in Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagering.
6. Integrity of entries and late scratches.
The panel also discussed and came up with good solutions regarding such topics as will-pays, late changes, how odds are presented, and overall television production to aid the simulcast player.
It's a well thought out plan of action, but will track management take notice? We are after all talking about management that at many tracks can't even stagger post times and continue to charge admission to get into their facility. Customer service at a racetrack? Now that's a oxymoron.
The true answer to everyone's prayers can be found in Altoona, Iowa. Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino has now done it:
Cheerleaders. That's right. Cheerleaders.
Auditions were held on Wednesday for The Giddy up Girls. The track said they are "looking for eight to 10 performers who love people and love to entertain." According to their web site, "The Giddy Up Girls position will be an ambassador for Prairie Meadows at local area parades and events, entertain the crowd and promote crowd involvement."
Qualifications? "You must be able to lift 30 pounds and be willing to work a flexible schedule including weekends and evenings during our live racing season."
I think that may have been a typo and should have read "Must be able to lift 112 pounds and be flexible with a whip."
The NTRA lock Quinn, Meadow, Gutfreund and the panel in a room for days, probably with nothing to eat and drink other than water and crackers, and the answer to all of our prayers have already been answered in Altoona!
I can hear the horseplayers now from all over the country when they get their cheerleaders:
Philadelphia Park: "Sure the takeout on trifectas is 30%, but did you see the tush on that Bensalem Babe?"
Aqueduct: "Now that's a Big A!"
TVG Viewer: "Who needs Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita when I can watch the Hawthorne Halter Tops!"
Pimlico: "I can see where Magna wants to keep with the theme of the track, but was it really necessary to hold auditions for cheerleaders at a nursing home for The Old Hill Tops?"
Arapahoe Park: "Wow, those Hoes can dance too!"
Horseplayers don't want cheerleaders. We want lower takeout and a decent hamburger. What's the next out of touch move made by Prairie Meadows? An Air Supply concert? Oh, wait, Gulfstream Park beat you to that one. Notch one up for Magna.
The Player's Panel suggestions make too much sense, making the chance of track management actually implementing many of these changes about as likely as hitting a Pick 4 ticket with a $1 ticket. And even if you do hit it, you have to ask the guy next to you whether that payoff is for $1 or $2.
Let's hope the next change for track management is blinkers off. They have been handed an excellent business plan to improve their product. Now let's hope they take it and run with it.
Michael Dempsey
www.turfnsport.com
to Giddy Up and Cheer!
(Saturday, February 21) The NTRA put together a Players' Panel last year to issue policy recommendations on subjects of "serious importance" to horseplayers. A well respected group was put together and they have come up a list of problems within the industry and their solutions.
The panel includes members I highly respect, including noted authors Barry Meadow and James Quinn, handicapper Dave Gutfreund, and economist Maury Wolff.
The panel addressed some of the biggest problems with horse racing today:
1. Integrity of the pari-mutuel pools, and the late merger of wagers.
2. Pari-mutuel takeout rates.
3. Taxation of winnings.
4. How to address rebates
5. Arbitrary transfer of wagers to the favorites following late scratches in Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagering.
6. Integrity of entries and late scratches.
The panel also discussed and came up with good solutions regarding such topics as will-pays, late changes, how odds are presented, and overall television production to aid the simulcast player.
It's a well thought out plan of action, but will track management take notice? We are after all talking about management that at many tracks can't even stagger post times and continue to charge admission to get into their facility. Customer service at a racetrack? Now that's a oxymoron.
The true answer to everyone's prayers can be found in Altoona, Iowa. Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino has now done it:
Cheerleaders. That's right. Cheerleaders.
Auditions were held on Wednesday for The Giddy up Girls. The track said they are "looking for eight to 10 performers who love people and love to entertain." According to their web site, "The Giddy Up Girls position will be an ambassador for Prairie Meadows at local area parades and events, entertain the crowd and promote crowd involvement."
Qualifications? "You must be able to lift 30 pounds and be willing to work a flexible schedule including weekends and evenings during our live racing season."
I think that may have been a typo and should have read "Must be able to lift 112 pounds and be flexible with a whip."
The NTRA lock Quinn, Meadow, Gutfreund and the panel in a room for days, probably with nothing to eat and drink other than water and crackers, and the answer to all of our prayers have already been answered in Altoona!
I can hear the horseplayers now from all over the country when they get their cheerleaders:
Philadelphia Park: "Sure the takeout on trifectas is 30%, but did you see the tush on that Bensalem Babe?"
Aqueduct: "Now that's a Big A!"
TVG Viewer: "Who needs Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita when I can watch the Hawthorne Halter Tops!"
Pimlico: "I can see where Magna wants to keep with the theme of the track, but was it really necessary to hold auditions for cheerleaders at a nursing home for The Old Hill Tops?"
Arapahoe Park: "Wow, those Hoes can dance too!"
Horseplayers don't want cheerleaders. We want lower takeout and a decent hamburger. What's the next out of touch move made by Prairie Meadows? An Air Supply concert? Oh, wait, Gulfstream Park beat you to that one. Notch one up for Magna.
The Player's Panel suggestions make too much sense, making the chance of track management actually implementing many of these changes about as likely as hitting a Pick 4 ticket with a $1 ticket. And even if you do hit it, you have to ask the guy next to you whether that payoff is for $1 or $2.
Let's hope the next change for track management is blinkers off. They have been handed an excellent business plan to improve their product. Now let's hope they take it and run with it.
Michael Dempsey
www.turfnsport.com