Man Behind the Million

[Spiderman]

Race track management that cares:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/features/man-behind-the-million-653

If my local track were like Arlington, I might get away from my desk for track visits.

[thaskalos]

Race track management that cares:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/features/man-behind-the-million-653

If my local track were like Arlington, I might get away from my desk for track visits.

I wonder if this is a joke...

[Spiderman]

Visited AP just once and admired the place for the clean atmosphere, good food and great racing card. It was a card loaded with stakes races.

[thaskalos]

Visited AP just once and admired the place for the clean atmosphere, good food and great racing card. It was a card loaded with stakes races.

When was this?

[Spiderman]

When Street Sense was a 2-yr old.

[olddaddy]

It was a card loaded with stakes races.


If this was recent it had to be either million preview day or million day.

[Steve 'StatMan']

Arlington is a wonderful place. Arlington can put on a show like no other track. But Arlington and their elitist pricing and predatory practices killed off Sportsmans, helped Hawthrone to the ICU and stands on the air tube. Only fans with lots of money willing to spend it on $9 admissions, at least $10 for a single food item and a soft drink, and god knows what for a beer anymore need attempt to attend. All the people constantly sweeping the floor is nice, but I never needed the 3 men in suits at each exit looking at everyone, or ooccationally talking to each other, every time I and the day's attendeeds exited. Yet no one (known, at least) in the parking lot. I can't read the article, this topic depresses me too much. I attended once last year, haven't this year. Still want to see my friends there once, but it costs $20 just to get there, get in, and get home. Used to be the thing Everyone in the local area went to on the weekends and often the weekday afternoons. For $2-$3.

[BIG49010]

I've often wondered if he died, how long it would take CD Inc to sell the property and close the track. My guess not long, perhaps a year?

A casino might keep it in play for a little longer, so you better enjoy it while it's there. Short fields in the big races this weekend won't help, many horseman are leaving for greener pastures, word on the street CD is going to cut purses again after the Million.

RIP AP

[wisconsin]

Visited AP just once and admired the place for the clean atmosphere, good food and great racing card. It was a card loaded with stakes races.

I think it was 1980. That burger stand at the top of the grandstand. Yum.

Now, they DO have good food, but it's about $12 for a roast beef sanwich. A soft drink is about $3,71 (yes, they charge tax, while every other track in the country absorbs it). If you prefer a 20 ounce Pepsi in a bottle, it's only $4.51.

Did I mention the $5 cooler charge?

[Maximillion]

I think it was 1980. That burger stand at the top of the grandstand. Yum.

Now, they DO have good food, but it's about $12 for a roast beef sanwich. A soft drink is about $3,71 (yes, they charge tax, while every other track in the country absorbs it). If you prefer a 20 ounce Pepsi in a bottle, it's only $4.51.

Did I mention the $5 cooler charge?

I believe they use (or used) Levy for food which is about as bad as it gets.....but this was a long time ago so maybe it has changed?

[Spiderman]

I think it was 1980. That burger stand at the top of the grandstand. Yum.

Now, they DO have good food, but it's about $12 for a roast beef sanwich. A soft drink is about $3,71 (yes, they charge tax, while every other track in the country absorbs it). If you prefer a 20 ounce Pepsi in a bottle, it's only $4.51.

Did I mention the $5 cooler charge?

Actually, it was 2006. Everything was compliments of the house: clubhouse admission, Saturday and Sunday and luncheon with individual sliced roast with choices of sides. ;)

[thaskalos]

Actually, it was 2006. Everything was compliments of the house: clubhouse admission, Saturday and Sunday and luncheon with individual sliced roast with choices of sides. ;)
I think you were at a different track.

[Fingal]

I've often wondered if he died, how long it would take CD Inc to sell the property and close the track. My guess not long, perhaps a year?


I've always figured what kept CDI from dumping Arlington was Duchossis. But if you look up the insider holdings, he owns a boatload of stock in Churchill Downs, over 3 million shares. And his Son & the Duchossois management group own a fair amount too. Churchill in total only has around 17 & a half million outstanding.

Back when Churchill was competing with Stronach to gobble up racetracks, this is how Churchill obtained Arlington in 2000 through stock & giving Duchoissis a seat on the board. What may have seemed a good idea at the time may now be an OOPS. A big OOPS........

Now CDI is stuck or will have to lay out some big bucks to buy them out.

[EMD4ME]

When was this?

Thaskalos,

I'm eagerly awaiting your thoughts... I don't specifically know why you've had it with Chicago racing but I'm eager to know why.

Respectfully,

Emd4me

[mostpost]

Usually when a hardcore horseplayer complains about customer service at a racetrack he means that the track isn't giving him something for free. The really funny thing is that these are usually the same guys who complain the most about "free" things from the government.

[chadk66]

was that the year John Henry won on of the Millions?

[mostpost]

Arlington is a wonderful place. Arlington can put on a show like no other track. But Arlington and their elitist pricing and predatory practices killed off Sportsmans, helped Hawthrone to the ICU and stands on the air tube. Only fans with lots of money willing to spend it on $9 admissions, at least $10 for a single food item and a soft drink, and god knows what for a beer anymore need attempt to attend. All the people constantly sweeping the floor is nice, but I never needed the 3 men in suits at each exit looking at everyone, or ooccationally talking to each other, every time I and the day's attendeeds exited. Yet no one (known, at least) in the parking lot. I can't read the article, this topic depresses me too much. I attended once last year, haven't this year. Still want to see my friends there once, but it costs $20 just to get there, get in, and get home. Used to be the thing Everyone in the local area went to on the weekends and often the weekday afternoons. For $2-$3.

It wasn't Arlington that killed off Sportsmans. Sportsmans did that all by itself when it installed a cement auto track, then tried to lay down a horse racing track on top of the cement track. Sportsman's never had much ambiance, but having a ten foot concrete retaining wall between the racetrack and the apron certainly did not help. They also tore down the grandstand and replaced it with the open metal stands you find at auto tracks. Considering they were racing in February, March and December, that was a less than brilliant idea.

I don't think $10 for a food item and soft drink is terribly out of line. If I go to my local fast food joint I will pay around $8 for a polish sausage, fries and a soft drink. And I can't watch or bet on any races at Bill's.

I don't get your complaint about no one in the parking lot. Who do you need? I always park for free in the parking lot on the west side of the track and walk to the grandstand. If I can do it at seventy two it should not be that difficult for you.

Then you wrote this:
Still want to see my friends there once, but it costs $20 just to get there, get in, and get home.
You're really going to blame Arlington for your costs in going to and from the track? The nerve of them not sending a limo to pick you up. :eek:

[jettroofer]

I don't get the complaints regarding admissions, food, etc at the track. when was the last time you went to any event and got a drink for under five bucks. These aren't casinos but everyone wants to be treated as if they were. The truth is, if they were raking it in we wouldn't be seeing this great sport on the decline. I'm from Texas so trust me, if anyone could complain about the current state of racing, it would be a Texan. We have done just about everything there is to do to run off the horseplayer Even after all that, there are fewer places I'd rather be for a fun, exiting, night with my buddies than at the track drinking over priced beers and trying to pick a winner.

[thaskalos]

It wasn't Arlington that killed off Sportsmans. Sportsmans did that all by itself when it installed a cement auto track, then tried to lay down a horse racing track on top of the cement track. Sportsman's never had much ambiance, but having a ten foot concrete retaining wall between the racetrack and the apron certainly did not help. They also tore down the grandstand and replaced it with the open metal stands you find at auto tracks. Considering they were racing in February, March and December, that was a less than brilliant idea.

I don't think $10 for a food item and soft drink is terribly out of line. If I go to my local fast food joint I will pay around $8 for a polish sausage, fries and a soft drink. And I can't watch or bet on any races at Bill's.

I don't get your complaint about no one in the parking lot. Who do you need? I always park for free in the parking lot on the west side of the track and walk to the grandstand. If I can do it at seventy two it should not be that difficult for you.

Then you wrote this:

You're really going to blame Arlington for your costs in going to and from the track? The nerve of them not sending a limo to pick you up. :eek:

Should we be blaming Mr. D for closing down the track, Mostie...after us "hardcore fans" supported him by sweating our ass off in those tents after the fire?

[mostpost]

I don't get the complaints regarding admissions, food, etc at the track. when was the last time you went to any event and got a drink for under five bucks. These aren't casinos but everyone wants to be treated as if they were. The truth is, if they were raking it in we wouldn't be seeing this great sport on the decline. I'm from Texas so trust me, if anyone could complain about the current state of racing, it would be a Texan. We have done just about everything there is to do to run off the horseplayer Even after all that, there are fewer places I'd rather be for a fun, exiting, night with my buddies than at the track drinking over priced beers and trying to pick a winner.
Believe me, you won't find anyone cheaper than a horse player. Forty years or more ago, when I was first becoming interested in the betting aspects of the sport, I heard the same complaints about having to pay admission-it was $2 then.

[mostpost]

Should we be blaming Mr. D for closing down the track, Mostie...after us "hardcore fans" supported him by sweating our ass off in those tents after the fire?
Where does it say Mr. D is going to be closing down the track?

Thirty years ago you were sweating your ass off in tents and you are still complaining about it in 2014. Get over it.

[mostpost]

I think it was 1980. That burger stand at the top of the grandstand. Yum.

Now, they DO have good food, but it's about $12 for a roast beef sanwich. A soft drink is about $3,71 (yes, they charge tax, while every other track in the country absorbs it). If you prefer a 20 ounce Pepsi in a bottle, it's only $4.51.

Did I mention the $5 cooler charge?
How can this be? I've been told at least 24,465,291 times in off Topic that businesses never absorb anything. That they always pass every expense along to the customer. I'm so confused.

[thaskalos]

Where does it say Mr. D is going to be closing down the track?

Thirty years ago you were sweating your ass off in tents and you are still complaining about it in 2014. Get over it.

The day Arlington closes down will be party day at my house. And it won't be long now...

[dilanesp]

Arlington is a wonderful place. Arlington can put on a show like no other track. But Arlington and their elitist pricing and predatory practices killed off Sportsmans, helped Hawthrone to the ICU and stands on the air tube. Only fans with lots of money willing to spend it on $9 admissions, at least $10 for a single food item and a soft drink, and god knows what for a beer anymore need attempt to attend. All the people constantly sweeping the floor is nice, but I never needed the 3 men in suits at each exit looking at everyone, or ooccationally talking to each other, every time I and the day's attendeeds exited. Yet no one (known, at least) in the parking lot. I can't read the article, this topic depresses me too much. I attended once last year, haven't this year. Still want to see my friends there once, but it costs $20 just to get there, get in, and get home. Used to be the thing Everyone in the local area went to on the weekends and often the weekday afternoons. For $2-$3.

The question is if Arlington makes a bigger profit charging higher admission.

It's entirely possible that in this day and age, where it's basically free to place a bet if that is all you want to do, that it's more profitable to make the live racing experience a first class experience and charge first class prices, rather than a coach experience at coach prices. And that may not have been true in the past. When the only way to get someone to bet on a horse race was to get his behind into a seat at the racetrack, it may have made more sense to charge very little.

I don't have the numbers in front of me to be sure. But I could very well see this being true.

[andtheyreoff]

Where does it say Mr. D is going to be closing down the track?

Thirty years ago you were sweating your ass off in tents and you are still complaining about it in 2014. Get over it.

Arlington closed in 1998 and 1999.

Anyway, if Arlington is to close for good, that would be a tragedy, as I went there on Million Day 2010 and truly thought it was wonderful place (albeit expensive). More importantly, their crowds on-track are pretty decent, and if they close, all those fans- and everyone in the Chicagoland area- will be shut off from high-class thoroughbred racing. That's not anything but a bad thing for racing.

[1st time lasix]

I was in Chicago over the weekend and made it a point to go to Arlington. It is a beautiful facility --above and beyond most North American racing venues. It is very spacious...clean...safe...and the food is darn good. Plenty of options for food and drink. The track and paddock areas are simply fabulous. Great viewing areas and top quality. Earlier in the day.... I went to the backside and walked around Dale Bennett"s barn...that space is also pretty darn good relative to other backsides I have seen. Not sure what the complaining is about...a reserved box seat is only 12 bucks! One can walk in and not even need a seat to see the races. I give it a 9 on a scale of 10....just because the overall level of racing in Illinois is down. They need slot revenue to compete with Indiana and other jurisdictions. If they get it....they will return to the upper echelon. Enjoyed that article on Mr D. and the Arlington track. Hope the international Festival Weekend exceeds their expectations.

[dilanesp]

I was in Chicago over the weekend and made it a point to go to Arlington. It is a beautiful facility --above and beyond most North American racing venues. It is very spacious...clean...safe...and the food is darn good. Plenty of options for food and drink. The track and paddock areas are simply fabulous. Great viewing areas and top quality. Earlier in the day.... I went to the backside and walked around Dale Bennett"s barn...that space is also pretty darn good relative to other backsides I have seen. Not sure what the complaining is about...a reserved box seat is only 12 bucks! One can walk in and not even need a seat to see the races. I give it a 9 on a scale of 10....just because the overall level of racing in Illinois is down. They need slot revenue to compete with Indiana and other jurisdictions. If they get it....they will return to the upper echelon. Enjoyed that article on Mr D. and the Arlington track. Hope the international Festival Weekend exceeds their expectations.

The complaining is because a lot of horseplayers are cheap and older / nostalgic. They don't look at it in terms of comparing prices to other sports or entertainment and they don't look at it in terms of what makes the track a profit.

We had a thread here when BHP closed where a couple of people here expressed outrage that BHP charged $8 all in one for admission, parking, and a program. Turns out some people want to park on the street for free and not use a program to place their bets. To them, BHP was robbing them.

I said in that thread, if consumers demand the cheapest thing, they are going to get something cheap in every way. We have seen that with airlines.

The problem is, cheap consumers drive businesses under. Businesses stay much more successful and customer service oriented when their customers aren't cheap. Think of how good restaurants operate.

If we want people to have a good experience at the track, people need to be willing to pay for it. Cheap consumers make things awful for the rest of us.

[EMD4ME]

The complaining is because a lot of horseplayers are cheap and older / nostalgic. They don't look at it in terms of comparing prices to other sports or entertainment and they don't look at it in terms of what makes the track a profit.

We had a thread here when BHP closed where a couple of people here expressed outrage that BHP charged $8 all in one for admission, parking, and a program. Turns out some people want to park on the street for free and not use a program to place their bets. To them, BHP was robbing them.

I said in that thread, if consumers demand the cheapest thing, they are going to get something cheap in every way. We have seen that with airlines.

The problem is, cheap consumers drive businesses under. Businesses stay much more successful and customer service oriented when their customers aren't cheap. Think of how good restaurants operate.

If we want people to have a good experience at the track, people need to be willing to pay for it. Cheap consumers make things awful for the rest of us.

Question: is there anything wrong with expecting free admission, preferred parking, a free drf if I place 3,500 thru the windows in churn on every visit?

[dilanesp]

Question: is there anything wrong with expecting free admission, preferred parking, a free drf if I place 3,500 thru the windows in churn on every visit?

I don't know. A "frequent players program" that offers such benefits is a plausible customer service idea.

OTOH, it might be that the racetrack views the high-rolling bettor and the live racing afficionado as two separate groups of people. The first group could be assumed to be playing online or at the nearest simulcast outlet.

And I would quibble with the word "expecting". The way the economy works is that consumers have influence over business models (because they can refuse to do business with businesses which do things they don't like) but they don't control them. If the track figures it makes more money if it DOES NOT comp high rolling players, that's a calculation they are entitled to make. You certainly can't expect a business to cater to your preferences. Maybe they think they make more money catering to someone else.

[thaskalos]

I don't know. A "frequent players program" that offers such benefits is a plausible customer service idea.

OTOH, it might be that the racetrack views the high-rolling bettor and the live racing afficionado as two separate groups of people. The first group could be assumed to be playing online or at the nearest simulcast outlet.

And I would quibble with the word "expecting". The way the economy works is that consumers have influence over business models (because they can refuse to do business with businesses which do things they don't like) but they don't control them. If the track figures it makes more money if it DOES NOT comp high rolling players, that's a calculation they are entitled to make. You certainly can't expect a business to cater to your preferences. Maybe they think they make more money catering to someone else.
True. If a track doesn't want to comp the high-rolling players...that's a decision that they are entitled to make. But, since the high-rolling player is comped in other gambling venues...is he not entitled to complain if he doesn't receive the same treatment in this game too? You said in a prior post that the horseplayers complain because they are cheap. Would you also call the track management cheap, for looking after their bottom line instead of catering to the high-rolling customer's whims?

The customer tries to pad his bottom line and you call him cheap. But if the track does the same thing...you call that "good business"?

[nearco]

$9 to get into a track as pretty as Arlington? It's for nothing, dirt cheap entertainment. What can go do for fun these days that is that cheap?
It's a lovely plant, the kind of place I feel good about taking people if I'm in Chicago. It's clean, pretty and you don't feel like you're taking someone to a dive like you do with some other tracks. You can take someone who doesn't have any interest in racing, and they can feel comfortable and have a good time.

You guys complaining about Arlington being expensive have never been racing in Europe, where an average raceday would set you back the bones of $30-40 before even placing a bet.

[dilanesp]

True. If a track doesn't want to comp the high-rolling players...that's a decision that they are entitled to make. But, since the high-rolling player is comped in other gambling venues...is he not entitled to complain if he doesn't receive the same treatment in this game too? You said in a prior post that the horseplayers complain because they are cheap. Would you also call the track management cheap, for looking after their bottom line instead of catering to the high-rolling customer's whims?

The customer tries to pad his bottom line and you call him cheap. But if the track does the same thing...you call that "good business"?

It can be. During the Lakers' heyday in the 1980's, they jacked up ticket prices on longtime loyal season ticket holders and never comped anyone. And they made huge profits.

Comping people is a business decision. No consumer is entitled to free stuff, not even a good one. And the fact that other gambling venues may comp high rollers is immaterial- they aren't racetracks. It's possible that racetracks need a different business model than resort casinos and the like.

The way business works is that businesses decide what they are going to offer to you. Then you decide if you want to take it. If the people running the business are smart, they will have already predicted how many consumers will say no to them.

There's no entitlement here. Some business models give out tons of free stuff to good customers. Other models do not. If the racetrack chooses the latter model, it owes you nothing more than whatever it promises you.

[bello]

Not from Chicago but I got a chance to get there for one of their late Friday cards....I loved the place. Packed with young people partying, great access to the beautiful paddock where you can practically touch the horses. Wide open grandstand for great viewing....I don't recall prices being out of line in exchange for a great day outdoor and at the racetrack. I was wishing I lived in Chicago. I have visited practically every track in the country, harness, t'bred.'s and many fairs. Arlington is there in the top 5.

[tophatmert]

If you bet 25,000 a year with CD you get free admission to their tracks. That includes wagers made on Twinspires.com. 50,000 also gets you a free program.100,000 and you get free admission for a guest , free soft drinks and discounted food. At AP there is a nice room for people who bet over 100,000 yearly .People who go there for entertainment don't seem to mind paying 9 bucks to get in and if you have actually bet some money with CD you get in for free- where is the problem. The problem is that many horseplayers want the benefits upfront and like to tell management how much they will bet if you give them what they want . CD only wants to see some proof of your good customer status. For the record I am not a fan of CD and think racing will be better off without them. Now since it is rained off at Toga I'm off to golf with 4 buck cans of diet coke and heaven forbid I need a sleeve of balls at the pro shop.

[thaskalos]

It can be. During the Lakers' heyday in the 1980's, they jacked up ticket prices on longtime loyal season ticket holders and never comped anyone. And they made huge profits.

Comping people is a business decision. No consumer is entitled to free stuff, not even a good one. And the fact that other gambling venues may comp high rollers is immaterial- they aren't racetracks. It's possible that racetracks need a different business model than resort casinos and the like.

The way business works is that businesses decide what they are going to offer to you. Then you decide if you want to take it. If the people running the business are smart, they will have already predicted how many consumers will say no to them.

There's no entitlement here. Some business models give out tons of free stuff to good customers. Other models do not. If the racetrack chooses the latter model, it owes you nothing more than whatever it promises you.

I can't help but think that you are missing something here. You are trying to compare the horseplayer with the basketball fan...and these two are worlds apart. In basketball, the fans are mere spectators...who show up to see a "show". In horse racing, on the other hand, the horseplayers are not mere spectators; they are active PARTICIPANTS. Their betting dollars are the lifeblood of the sport. They are not there to "see a show"...they are as much a PART of the show as the jockeys are. And you can't equate them to the customers of a "straight" business either...because about 98-99% of them bring nothing home for the money that they spend.

In horse racing...the closest term I can come up with to describe the horseplayer is "business partner"...and a silent and maligned one at that. He is a business asset who should be cared for...not a sheep who should be fleeced. That's what the beancounters in track management don't understand...and that's why they will soon be looking for new jobs.

The horseplayer is not there to "see a show". He is as much a part of the show as any trainer, any owner, any jockey, or any horse...and high-rolling horseplayers don't grow on trees. You take care of them when you see them...or you'll lose them. You need them a lot more than they need you...

[alydar]

In the 90's I spent a lot of time at Arlington. It may have changed some since then, I do not know. However, in the time I was there it was a great place to go. It was clean, well serviced. There were families there, not like most tracks in the country, it was really a great facility.

I have been to tracks all over the country and Arlington is one of the best facilities out there in my opinion. I know that the quality of racing has declined, and with Churchill running things I am sure that some amount of decline has taken place. But Mr D. is a class act and he built a first class track.

[barn32]

If I can do it at seventy two it should not be that difficult for you. 72? How do you even function at such an advanced age?

[EMD4ME]

It can be. During the Lakers' heyday in the 1980's, they jacked up ticket prices on longtime loyal season ticket holders and never comped anyone. And they made huge profits.

Comping people is a business decision. No consumer is entitled to free stuff, not even a good one. And the fact that other gambling venues may comp high rollers is immaterial- they aren't racetracks. It's possible that racetracks need a different business model than resort casinos and the like.

The way business works is that businesses decide what they are going to offer to you. Then you decide if you want to take it. If the people running the business are smart, they will have already predicted how many consumers will say no to them.

There's no entitlement here. Some business models give out tons of free stuff to good customers. Other models do not. If the racetrack chooses the latter model, it owes you nothing more than whatever it promises you.

No offense, but do you listen to yourself?

Have you ever gambled money on a horse race?

Not being sarcastic. I'm serious.

With your logic, if I visit your bar and drink $100 worth of drinks a day, every day for 365 days, you wouldn't throw me a buy back.

[EMD4ME]

No offense, but do you listen to yourself?

Have you ever gambled money on a horse race?

Not being sarcastic. I'm serious.

With your logic, if I visit your bar and drink $100 worth of drinks a day, every day for 365 days, you wouldn't throw me a buy back.

Wait a minute......I think I pieced it together....

You're in racetrack management, right?

[dilanesp]

I can't help but think that you are missing something here. You are trying to compare the horseplayer with the basketball fan...and these two are worlds apart. In basketball, the fans are mere spectators...who show up to see a "show". In horse racing, on the other hand, the horseplayers are not mere spectators; they are active PARTICIPANTS. Their betting dollars are the lifeblood of the sport. They are not there to "see a show"...they are as much a PART of the show as the jockeys are. And you can't equate them to the customers of a "straight" business either...because about 98-99% of them bring nothing home for the money that they spend.

In horse racing...the closest term I can come up with to describe the horseplayer is "business partner"...and a silent and maligned one at that. He is a business asset who should be cared for...not a sheep who should be fleeced. That's what the beancounters in track management don't understand...and that's why they will soon be looking for new jobs.

The horseplayer is not there to "see a show". He is as much a part of the show as any trainer, any owner, any jockey, or any horse...and high-rolling horseplayers don't grow on trees. You take care of them when you see them...or you'll lose them. You need them a lot more than they need you...

One of the big changes in the game the last 30 years has been the separation of the horseplayer from the live racing fan. The tracks that draw significant attendance (Saratoga, Del Mar, Oaklawn) are not full of horseplayers, and horseplayers have numerous places other than the track (simulcasting, online) in which to place their wagers.

I suspect that has a lot to do with why SOME tracks' marketing models do not cater to horseplayers coming to the track. (Others do, BTW.)

[dilanesp]

No offense, but do you listen to yourself?

Have you ever gambled money on a horse race?

Not being sarcastic. I'm serious.

With your logic, if I visit your bar and drink $100 worth of drinks a day, every day for 365 days, you wouldn't throw me a buy back.

No, I might, if it keeps you coming to the bar.

But that's different from whether you are ENTITLED to a buy back. You got what you were entitled to, $36,500 in drinks, and if I have a business model that makes me money without giving out buy backs, I am under no obligation to give them out.

Plenty of businesses don't grant breaks to their best customers. McDonald's and Wal-Mart, for instance. But they are still successful and get plenty of repeat business. It's up to the business.

[EMD4ME]

Yes but the track is not McDonald's that's the point. McDonald's has billions of prospective clients every day. A specific track has a limited market (in state/in county etc.)

I don't care what business you're in. If you do not give something/anything back to your super top clients, you are asking to lose them as a client and to reduce your bottom line.

In banks, a real estate mogul gets a better mortgage rate.
In bars, you get buybacks.
Car dealership, I get a loyalty discount
Supermarket, coupons in the mail
Credit cards, points
Etc. Etc. Etc.

[olddaddy]

One of the big changes in the game the last 30 years has been the separation of the horseplayer from the live racing fan. The tracks that draw significant attendance (Saratoga, Del Mar, Oaklawn) are not full of horseplayers, and horseplayers have numerous places other than the track (simulcasting, online) in which to place their wagers.

I suspect that has a lot to do with why SOME tracks' marketing models do not cater to horseplayers coming to the track. (Others do, BTW.)


I see your point and the other guys point also. Its a tough situation. The number of horseplayers have dwindled through the years. If the track just catered to them it would be a total ghost town. This way they at least make money on admission, food and drinks. The racing is horrible but to the people that go, it doesnt matter. I honestly dont think handle would change much if it was free parking and admission.

[NJ Stinks]

I went to the Million in 2005. Bought grandstand seats online for about $16 apiece if I remember right. Also paid the train fare back and forth from downtown Chicago for my wife and I which may have cost more than the reserved seats.

I thought Arlington was worth every cent spent - including the $50 I lost on Better Talk Now. Sensational racecourse by any standard.

Anyway, if a jewel like Arlington with it's outstanding turf course can't make it in metropolitan Chicago, horseracing in the USA is in worse shape than I thought.

P.S. I get free admission and free parking at PARX and Delaware Park. I'd definitely choose Arlington over those two tracks for a day at the races.