GR1@HTR
02-07-2002, 08:31 AM
LOOKING INTO THE WIZARD'S CRYSTAL BALL
by Michael Jay Kipness (A.K.A. "The Wizard")
I must admit that when there is something I want, especially when it comes to my livelihood as a
professional handicapper, I will go out and purchase it regardless of price. When TVG appeared on
the scene I quickly purchased a satellite dish, had a professional installer hook it up and was more
than happy to fork over the $50 plus dollars a month for programming. The dish was something
like $250 and with the installation the total came to about $500. I wanted the convenience of
watching several tracks in the comfort of my home.
Then The Racing Network (TRN) appeared and I wanted that too. I found out I would have to
purchase a separate satellite dish and called back the installer for a second installation. Then came
Trackpower with a few racetrack signals, which required a third satellite dish and another install.
Since this is my occupation, I wanted it all.
I could set up my own private simulcast outlet and never have to leave home again. No more coming
home with my clothes stinking of second hand smoke. No more long drives to the track. I could
have it all within feet from my bedroom. So I built a private office above my garage for privacy with
five phone lines -- two for telephone, one for fax and two for computers. I would never get shut out
or miss a race from any track in which I had an interest. And I would never go thirsty or hungry
because my kitchen was only five seconds away.
My computer was hooked up to BRIS's SuperTote so I could watch the odds and exotic payoffs. I
would never miss a call from one of my employees in the field to report late changes. I felt like the
king of handicappers ready to attack on all fronts.
Then as soon as I had it all, it was taken away without any warning. All the money invested in
equipment and installs was going down the drain. Trackpower was the first to go broke and
discontinued service without any warning.
Then it was TRN, which was my favorite. It had some commentators but they were more like air
traffic controllers moving the action along from race to race, track to track. Less interference, more
racing action and live odds were their goal and they accomplished it rather nicely. Nothing disgusts
me more sometimes than those talking heads on TVG. They can be so annoying and are geared
toward the novice horse player. This was not the case on TRN, and the price was right, something
like $24.95 a month. However, this good thing did not last either.
TRN pulled the plug without much warning and I was stuck with two dishes on the roof of my
home that were useless. With $1000 down the drain, all that was left was TVG. It has the product I
want and I'm able to mute the ridiculous commentators until the race comes on.
Now comes word that TRN will once again be revived, but this time The Wizard will not be
purchasing it! And I am pleading with everybody to pass on it as well. I'll give you my reasons.
Frank Stronach, who in my opinion has done nothing for this game except to prove what a
scoundrel he is, has once again showed his true colors with the revival of TRN, which will be called
the Racetrack Television Network (RTN). Stronach will place all Magna tracks (Gulfstream Park,
Santa Anita, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields are the main ones) on RTN exclusively. This
new racing channel will be available nationwide but there is a big hitch.
Subscribers will have to purchase equipment from Stronach's company at a cost of around $300.
Then one will have to hire an installer to put it up for an additional cost and the real slap in the face
is that it costs $99 a month for the privilege to view his tracks. Greed, Greed, Greed! Does anybody
not recognize Stronach's tactics for what they are? It's like he's stepped into the arena of
Thoroughbred racing with the idea that horseplayers are idiots and he'll fleece them for every dollar
they have.
Cable TV with 900 channels only costs $50-$60 a month. The NFL Ticket sports package for the
entire season is only $149. If you want to watch Santa Anita, Gulfstream and all the Magna-owned
tracks, it will cost you about $1200 a year. Is there one reasonable person in the world (a
non-Magna employee) who can justify this expense? This is enough to make me want to throw up.
Stronach's new venture is totally structured toward the big player, horse owners and people with a
lot of disposal income. The little guy, the players who supports this game, are once again shafted
and shut on just by the sheer expense. Magna will eliminate on-air expenses by only showing races
(no studio hosts) and subscribers will be betting through Stronach's account wagering service
Xpress-bet on his own tracks. They've gotten rid of a lot of overhead but won't be passing on the
savings to the customer. Instead, they'll gouge the customer for all they can.
Magna should absorb the cost of the equipment if someone wants the service and charge $24.95 a
month for it. I guarantee Stronach would more than make it up with wagers going to Xpress-bet. Or
they could have us pay for the equipment and charge nothing for the service. Another option is a
plan where from every dollar wagered a portion goes to the cost of the equipment and service so
that the price ends up somewhat affordable. Of course there's no chance of this because Stronach
wants it all.
The contempt for good, old-fashioned competition and the everyday player is just disgusting. I can
certainly afford the service. It would be a nice tax write-off for me and make my life a lot easier as
far as my work goes. But I refuse to support what Stronach is doing and I hope you will do the
same. A lot of people supported Stronach when he first got into the game buying tracks and talking
about deregulation and free markets. I wonder how his supporters back then feel now about his
latest ploy to line his pockets.
by Michael Jay Kipness (A.K.A. "The Wizard")
I must admit that when there is something I want, especially when it comes to my livelihood as a
professional handicapper, I will go out and purchase it regardless of price. When TVG appeared on
the scene I quickly purchased a satellite dish, had a professional installer hook it up and was more
than happy to fork over the $50 plus dollars a month for programming. The dish was something
like $250 and with the installation the total came to about $500. I wanted the convenience of
watching several tracks in the comfort of my home.
Then The Racing Network (TRN) appeared and I wanted that too. I found out I would have to
purchase a separate satellite dish and called back the installer for a second installation. Then came
Trackpower with a few racetrack signals, which required a third satellite dish and another install.
Since this is my occupation, I wanted it all.
I could set up my own private simulcast outlet and never have to leave home again. No more coming
home with my clothes stinking of second hand smoke. No more long drives to the track. I could
have it all within feet from my bedroom. So I built a private office above my garage for privacy with
five phone lines -- two for telephone, one for fax and two for computers. I would never get shut out
or miss a race from any track in which I had an interest. And I would never go thirsty or hungry
because my kitchen was only five seconds away.
My computer was hooked up to BRIS's SuperTote so I could watch the odds and exotic payoffs. I
would never miss a call from one of my employees in the field to report late changes. I felt like the
king of handicappers ready to attack on all fronts.
Then as soon as I had it all, it was taken away without any warning. All the money invested in
equipment and installs was going down the drain. Trackpower was the first to go broke and
discontinued service without any warning.
Then it was TRN, which was my favorite. It had some commentators but they were more like air
traffic controllers moving the action along from race to race, track to track. Less interference, more
racing action and live odds were their goal and they accomplished it rather nicely. Nothing disgusts
me more sometimes than those talking heads on TVG. They can be so annoying and are geared
toward the novice horse player. This was not the case on TRN, and the price was right, something
like $24.95 a month. However, this good thing did not last either.
TRN pulled the plug without much warning and I was stuck with two dishes on the roof of my
home that were useless. With $1000 down the drain, all that was left was TVG. It has the product I
want and I'm able to mute the ridiculous commentators until the race comes on.
Now comes word that TRN will once again be revived, but this time The Wizard will not be
purchasing it! And I am pleading with everybody to pass on it as well. I'll give you my reasons.
Frank Stronach, who in my opinion has done nothing for this game except to prove what a
scoundrel he is, has once again showed his true colors with the revival of TRN, which will be called
the Racetrack Television Network (RTN). Stronach will place all Magna tracks (Gulfstream Park,
Santa Anita, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields are the main ones) on RTN exclusively. This
new racing channel will be available nationwide but there is a big hitch.
Subscribers will have to purchase equipment from Stronach's company at a cost of around $300.
Then one will have to hire an installer to put it up for an additional cost and the real slap in the face
is that it costs $99 a month for the privilege to view his tracks. Greed, Greed, Greed! Does anybody
not recognize Stronach's tactics for what they are? It's like he's stepped into the arena of
Thoroughbred racing with the idea that horseplayers are idiots and he'll fleece them for every dollar
they have.
Cable TV with 900 channels only costs $50-$60 a month. The NFL Ticket sports package for the
entire season is only $149. If you want to watch Santa Anita, Gulfstream and all the Magna-owned
tracks, it will cost you about $1200 a year. Is there one reasonable person in the world (a
non-Magna employee) who can justify this expense? This is enough to make me want to throw up.
Stronach's new venture is totally structured toward the big player, horse owners and people with a
lot of disposal income. The little guy, the players who supports this game, are once again shafted
and shut on just by the sheer expense. Magna will eliminate on-air expenses by only showing races
(no studio hosts) and subscribers will be betting through Stronach's account wagering service
Xpress-bet on his own tracks. They've gotten rid of a lot of overhead but won't be passing on the
savings to the customer. Instead, they'll gouge the customer for all they can.
Magna should absorb the cost of the equipment if someone wants the service and charge $24.95 a
month for it. I guarantee Stronach would more than make it up with wagers going to Xpress-bet. Or
they could have us pay for the equipment and charge nothing for the service. Another option is a
plan where from every dollar wagered a portion goes to the cost of the equipment and service so
that the price ends up somewhat affordable. Of course there's no chance of this because Stronach
wants it all.
The contempt for good, old-fashioned competition and the everyday player is just disgusting. I can
certainly afford the service. It would be a nice tax write-off for me and make my life a lot easier as
far as my work goes. But I refuse to support what Stronach is doing and I hope you will do the
same. A lot of people supported Stronach when he first got into the game buying tracks and talking
about deregulation and free markets. I wonder how his supporters back then feel now about his
latest ploy to line his pockets.