Rockingham Park for Sale

[Observer]

Should we expect Stronach to pick up this track as well??

[John]

Nevr happen . Ploy by managment. The state house of reps. turned down the bill for SLOT machines after ROCK wine and dined any one that would call there Rep. and ask for it to be put on the bill. It was a big push by the track .Even had Buses leaving the track to go to Manchester State house on the day that the REPS threw it out and one REP called race people " Low life' and a few days later he said he was sorry for the statement. Rock is making a ton of money with simulcast and "BINGO" every night, thats right. Bingo 7 nights a week. If you are in the club house at 5:00 all windows close and you will have to go to Grandstand. Bingo players get the Clubhouse. Does that sound like its for sale......

[Observer]

Okay, so maybe all the details weren't included in the story I read! :)

Just seems that Stronach has a way of making things happen at tracks that don't appear to be for sale, and now Rockingham is "up for sale" .. and right on the heels of the announcement of the Lone Star Park sale to Stronach. Could it be that maybe Rockingham is hoping the shark will bite? At least out of curiousity? You know what they say, everything is for sale at the right price.

[John]

You got that right. Stronach, has already leased Suffolk Downs with an option to buy it in the future and Rock and Suffolk are only 30 miles from each other about a 30 minuite ride by car.
Just yesterday the people of Salem N.H. voted for a dog track at ROCK if they give up Horseracing. If Stronach buys Rock it will be to keep it closed and Suffolk will be the only Horse track in all Of
NEW ENGLAND

[cj]

As someone who has been to Suffolk and never the Rock, would that really be such a loss. Just curious. BTW, isn't the Suf announcer excellent...I know he does Mth in the summer, but he should really land a big time job one of these days.

CJ

[John]

Larry Cullums does a great job and when John Iimbrale Aqueduct was on vacation Larry did the calling two weeks ago. a few years ago he was runner up to do a big track .The name slips me right now. Larry keeps the fans informed all day.

[multibag]

Rockingham is indeed for sale.
The Bingo they have is for Charities. They do not share in any profits from the Bingo games but rent the space to the charities. Not a huge money maker.
They started having various things like Craft and Computer shows to generate some income. They get a take from ticket sales on these shows except for the Craft show, which draws the most people. They get only rent for the space for this show.
I checked the on track and off track handle combined on several days last summer. The total was around $500,000. No track can run doing that kind of a handle.
They spent a bloody fortune trying to get slot machines with the big push coming recently as described by roc. When this was defeated, they made the final decision to sell and get out.
I think it is unlikely anyone would buy this and run horses. More likely a developer will buy it as it is prime commercial land.
Dems da facts.

[John]

John,
Good points that you allued to. But,with all they got going Bingo and shows etc. they got to be makeing money I would think.

[multibag]

rocajack,
Yes, they have been able to make money each year by coming up with the bingo, shows etc. They didn't buy this place to do these things and have no interest in continuing with them.
They wanted to make it in horseracing but that didn't happen. They then made the big push for slots to supplement the horses. No go.
They do not want to run this thing with Bingo and trade shows. At this point all they want is to sell and get out.
John Howard

[Vinnie]

It would be such a shame if "The Rock" closes. I used to live in Gardner, MA., and now I live in FL, but, me and the wife and kids often trekked over to "THE ROCK" to watch some races. They would always have a band playing in the pavillion. Often they would have clowns blowing up balloon animals for the kids and even toss in a shetland pony ride or two to boot!

It was a Terrific place to go with your family to sit out on the grass in your lawn chair, watch some nice races run and to simply enjoy yourself. Suffolk downs is just nothing but industry. Way to downtown being next to the Logan Airport there in Boston. It doesn't even compare. This is only my opinion of course!

[John]

Yeah Vin, those days are gone. back then you had to be at the
track by 11.30 to buy a box for the day . Today half the boxes are empty all day. Back then all the good bettor's would come to Rockingham.from Boston and Rhode Island, they had special $50.00windows for those guys. Then came Simulcasting and casino's. Why should these guys travel all the way to New Hampshire when they can go local and bet the same horses.I run into a lot of them when I am at the casino

I am not sure if slots can help. It is not the slots machine that will bring them back. They were at Rock because it was the only game in town then...But not now.

[Vinnie]

Rocajack,

I really miss going to Rockingham and I do remember those days almost exactly as you spoke of in your previous post. It is a shame that slots, dogs and Casino activity has taken so much away from the track activity itself. Do you ever venture out on occasion to Foxwoods Casino? I love their Sportsbook. I miss your area Rocajack. My wife is from Taunton, and that area really kicks.

[John]

Vinnie,
I go to Foxwood about once a month with my Brother and our Wives [ our luggage ] The girls play slots my Brother plays dice and I sit in the race room and love it. Around six we go in to a nice restaurant usually the STEAK HOUSE and My Brother is comp.for dinner and then we head home.

Nice Life.

[Vinnie]

rocajack,

Sounds great to me! Foxwoods is a very cool place with Prize fights, nice shows and that Sportsbook all wrapped in one! It is a hot ticket. I miss it, and reading your message has only made me miss it all the more.

That is a Very Nice Life!

Take it EZ rocajack,