Track's

[BIG HIT]

Hi guy's do any of you remember when the track's were going to try different kind of betting. Where you by a ticket 20 minute to post. And horses 20 to 1 horses leaving the gate he is now 5/2 he win's. You get $40 for the two dollar bet where if you had bet at post time you to get 7 dollars.

kinda like to try that kind of betting wanted do it so the lines wouldn't be so long at the Windows. But I guess that tracks across the country don't have to worry about that now as patrons declined to go. To bad racing is not innovative to inprove its product

[Jaguar]

Big Hit, you are so right, the overall poor management of the racing business during the past 25 years reminds me of a comment made in the 1980's about a major main frame computer maker's executives, "All they care about is their golf club memberships."

Then Compaq Corp. appeared on the scene and the big boys with their heads in the sand, suddenly lost a billion dollars in business and wound up letting about 15,000 employees go.

The internet age- not to mention putting the customer first- was a concept which eluded racing management.

Finally, before their own incompetence and the fierce competitiveness of the casinos closed down any more thoroughbred race tracks, a brilliant businessman named Frank Stronach appeared on the scene- not only saving existing tracks from the wrecker's ball, but even building new tracks.

And hats off also to Mr. Duscchosis in Chicago for building the magnifecent Arlington on what had been an old, tired facility,
and kudos to him for not turning the entire site into condos when his request for a share of the slot revenues was initially spurned the Illinois State Legislature.

He can rest assured that beautiful, customer friendly Arlington will be his legacy. Chicago, Illinois, and every racing fan owe him a debt of gratitude.

Let's face it, very few men in this great country have the spine and the moral courage to stand up to the casinos and demand a level playing field.

Has there ever been a time in American history when we have had such poor leadership in our State Legislatures? I wonder, and I hope the trend is reversed and soon. We're blessed with a good honest American President, who's trying to get the federal government more in order. Who will shape up the lousy State leadership.

And, I wish they would start in my own State of Connecticut where a former Governor named Lowell Weicker turned the entire gambling franchise over to 2 Indian tribes, instead of providing for a level playing field, as exists in Nevada, for example, where every business has a chance to prosper.

I'm an old handicapper, long may the horse tracks prosper!

Jaguar