If you ran the NTRA, what changes would you try to implement?

[Valuist]

Other than lowering takeout, which would be the most obvious one. Here's a few others:

1. Uniform medication rules.
2. Any race with more than 5 first time starters must be carded as the first race of the day. Only 1 set of multi-race wagers will be wrecked. If there's a second race loaded w/first timers, it would then be carded as the second race.
3. Tracks are not allowed to race 5 days a week unless they can average at least 8 starters per race.
4. Free admission and parking (valet still chargeable) at all tracks.
5. Uniform rules re: dead heats in multirace wagers.
6. Uniform rules re: scratches involving coupled horses.
7. A mimimum of 3 minute delay following a late scratch at the gate. Some tracks already do this; some don't (Churchill Downs).
8. Color-coded saddle cloths for all stakes races and the Breeders Cup
9. Tougher suspensions for trainers who receive drug related suspensions. No transferring horses to the "assistant trainer". Horses from that barn are ineligible to race anywhere for xx days.

[Indulto]

Other than lowering takeout, which would be the most obvious one. Here's a few others:
1. Uniform medication rules.
2. Any race with more than 5 first time starters must be carded as the first race of the day. Only 1 set of multi-race wagers will be wrecked. If there's a second race loaded w/first timers, it would then be carded as the second race.
3. Tracks are not allowed to race 5 days a week unless they can average at least 8 starters per race.
4. Free admission and parking (valet still chargeable) at all tracks.
5. Uniform rules re: dead heats in multirace wagers.
6. Uniform rules re: scratches involving coupled horses.
7. A mimimum of 3 minute delay following a late scratch at the gate. Some tracks already do this; some don't (Churchill Downs).
8. Color-coded saddle cloths for all stakes races and the Breeders Cup
9. Tougher suspensions for trainers who receive drug related suspensions. No transferring horses to the "assistant trainer". Horses from that barn are ineligible to race anywhere for xx days.Valuist,
I agree with all the above, especially the idea of uniform policies and rules across all racing venues, but I feel the following should take priority:

1. Implement sensible simulcasting signal pricing to ensure host tracks get fair share of handle. PRESERVE

2. Implement nationwide, state branch-licensed, off-track wager brokerage that offers weekend and holiday "Highest Purse" 25c-min. Pick Sixes which pay off maximum x of 6 daily without carryover. Untaxed handle pays for network TV coverage/advertising/promotion as well as equal %s to host and simulcast tracks. PROMOTE

3. Let “Go Baby Go” leave and start using commercials showing actual users of DRF, Ragozin, Thoro-Graph, Bris, etc. picking winners and cashing tickets.
Real people, real smiles. Show glimpses of Seminars by recognizable handicapping heros like Beyer, Freidman, Brown, Crist, etc. RECRUIT

4. With item #2 in place, gradually -- but immediately -- lower takeout until optimal handle/takeout/revenue ratio can be determined with option to raise, if justified by the resulting data. Influence states/track operators to follow suit based upon proven results. OPTIMIZE

Non-priority item:
As item #2 would require control of time scheduling of races to avoid simultaneous running at different venues, I would extend that to all events at all venues so that staggered random results from all tracks could fuel revenue from lottery or bingo-type pools (trying to think outside of box here) EXPAND

[fouroneone]

I agree with all your items EXCEPT for the color coded saddle cloths, i like the solid same color races. (I also like changing camera angles though)

The only change i would implement would be to have races stagger post times so that no two tracks are racing within 5 mins of each other. It is a stupid loss of money to have two tracks going to post at the same time.

I would also make the wagering terminology uniform. Why the hell must people new to the game take the time to learn what an exacta is only to be told that in other parts of the country it is a "perfecta". Get rid of terms like Perfecta and Triactor.

Also, make the payouts uniform at either $1 or $2 dollars. Why in new york is the price shown for a $2 exacta, but in Cali it's for a $1 exacta?

[Valuist]

Those are good ideas as well. I really don't know what the NTRA has done recently. I believe they were instrumental in getting the color coded saddlecloths (for non stakes races) at most tracks but I might be giving them too much credit. They've had the national P4. But what has it been.....close to 10 years since those stupid ads first came out? They've really done nothing but waste money on a senseless marketing plan.

Indulto-

I agree I'd rather see that form of marketing but unfortunately the powers that be in marketing aren't pushing money thru the windows (except of course, Ken Wooddall and others on this site who are in marketing....you are exempt from this criticism).

Best commercial? In the mid 90s, Illinois OTB got Michael Richards from Seinfeld to do a commercial. In true Kramer form, he's screaming at the TV rooting his horse home, pretending the DRF is a whip. His horse finishes first, he's yelling and, what is isn't aware of, is his cigar ignites his DRF, which in turn, starts his hair on fire. Totally Kramer. Even my non-racing friends remember that ad.

[ceejay]

If I were king of racing,
I'd try to coordinate start times of major tracks so we don't have two races "off" at once. For example, all scheduled PT's 30 minutes apart. NYRA is on the hour/half hour, KY on the quarters, FL at 5/35 after, Mid Atlantic 20/50, When Chicago and mid-south comes in they get 10/40 and 25/55. Of course 12-race cards are out, though but that might not happen if item 2, average field size of 9 horses, averaged daily or maybe weekly.

[Indulto]

Indulto-
I agree I'd rather see that form of marketing but unfortunately the powers that be in marketing aren't pushing money thru the windows (except of course, Ken Wooddall and others on this site who are in marketing....you are exempt from this criticism).

Best commercial? In the mid 90s, Illinois OTB got Michael Richards from Seinfeld to do a commercial. In true Kramer form, he's screaming at the TV rooting his horse home, pretending the DRF is a whip. His horse finishes first, he's yelling and, what is isn't aware of, is his cigar ignites his DRF, which in turn, starts his hair on fire. Totally Kramer. Even my non-racing friends remember that ad.Valuist,
A friend of mine on another board also loves that Seinfeld episode. Maybe I'm too old-fashioned and overly-influenced by my own encounters early on with disrespect (to say the least) generally for horseplayers, but I don't believe such an ad would influence people not already into the game.

I've noticed casino ads emphasize how much fun (of all kinds) are to be had at their establishments. Pretty girls will always catch a guy's eye, but IMO single women represent the most potential for people with disposable income willing to engage in intellectually challenging recreation. Plus, if they become aware of young, reasonably-attractive men really enthusiastic about the game, Stronach's vision of racetracks as broad-based (pun intended) entertainment centers could become a reality. ;)

[skate]

topic has Vauluistics;


i'm thinking they went the wrong way when they increased the card from 8or 9 race to the common 10 or 11 race card.

to me , the quality is in the field size, N. Calif, sad to say , is a joke.

you got (actually i think this business is doing very well) to make things easy but mystifying. too many late scr.,without being explanatory, even by next day.
i don't see a good reason for the cloth to be the same color. if you can not (and fine, to some people it does not mater) follow your race, at the track or on TV, it detracts.
as a mater of fact, a bigger cloth might be my number "101" requisite. it would help the "most highly viewed" sport in the world, to attract.

skates

[JustRalph]

Try to find a way for the top of the heap, i.e field size etc......to buy out the bottom half and close 50% of tracks that are out there......especially the lower level pieces of crap...........

[Tom]

Plant corn on the inner dirt track!:kiss:

[Skanoochies]

Valuist.... I don`t agree with no. 9. Owners invest millions on horses, and have them ready for upcoming stakes races, and suddenly they can`t race because of his trainer making a mistake with someone elses horse? I would think they should be able to transfer to any trainer of their choice during the suspension. :confused:

[kenwoodallpromos]

Run 1 mile race per card clockwise.

[Observer]

There are some good ideas here. I posted this on a different thread:

I would love to see one of two things ..

1. Totally eliminate coupled entries. I hate 'em! Let me choose who I want to play! Yeah, I know the arguements against it .. but still .. I've always wanted to have my freedom of choice .. and have hated taking shorter prices in cases where I liked the "outsider."

2. Introduce an industry standard for how program numbers are attached to runners in races where there are multiple couplings. It seems like every track has their own style .. like a lot of things. I guess everyone follows 1/1a, 2/2b .. but beyond that .. things get tricky. If the 1 is a three-ply entry (1/1a/1??) .. if there are 4 coupled entries (1/1a, 2/2b, 3/3c, 4/4??) .. etc.

[Observer]

...because of his trainer making a mistake...

The trainer is accountable for the mistake .. but that doesn't mean the trainer actually made the mistake.

[Jeff P]

Track Video
Live Track video would no longer be kept hidden from public view like it is now. You wouldn't need to sign up with YouBet/Expressbet/Winticket or other third party service to see track video online. The Track video stream for each racetrack would be freely available to the public by clicking a link on that track's website. Further, I would make live track video freely available on both Cable TV and Satellite TV. I'm not talking about a subscription service like TVG or HRTV. I'm talking about a free channel where live post parades and races and a daily race replay show are aired. The idea here is that live track video will make patrons AWARE that thoroughbred racing exists. Racing has been out of the public limelight for so long it's pathetic. Freely available track video is one way to change that.

Past Performances
Each race track would have a link on its website where free past performances could be downloaded. The idea here is simple. Make it easy for people to see past performances and handle will go up.

Admission and Parking
Free admission and parking 100 percent of the time. It works for casinos.

Food and Beverage
At the Del Mar Fairgrounds I can pay $8.00 for a turkey sandwich with so little turkey on it (it's all bread and lettuce) that I'm still hungry three minutes after it's finished. If I'm thirsty I can pay $4.00 for a large cup of soda pop. They sell the same thing at any convenience mart for 89 cents. People realize when they are being gouged. They don't like it. Want racing to become popular again? Make food and drink at the track a bargain. Give the customer a thoroughly enjoyable day at the races (in all aspects) and they will come back.

Phone and Internet Betting
If I were in charge of the NTRA, Thoroughred Racing would have a PRESENCE in front of congress. Every congressman would KNOW that racing has a significant economic impact in their disctrict. Bills such as the current Internet Gambling Prohibition Act would have no chance unless they contained a crystal clear exclusion for horse racing.

Industry wide, track management has had its collective head buried in the sand for decades. Getting racing back into the public limelight isn't going to happen overnight. But it CAN be done. Of course it isn't going to be easy and it isn't going to be cheap. These baby steps are designed to create an awareness of racing and make it easy and enjoyable for new people to become fans of the sport.

-jp

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[shanta]

Try to find a way for the top of the heap, i.e field size etc......to buy out the bottom half and close 50% of tracks that are out there......especially the lower level pieces of crap...........

Bravo! Couldn't have said it better myself
Rich

[bpiets]

Life time ELIMINATION of those 'caught' fixing races and never to be able enter any area of a race track that isn't 'public' in north america...and Never to allow any horse that is owned under any name associated with those persons including family members to be able to 'run' on any track in north america.....And a picture of same on the front/entry/exit doors of every betting facility in north america -- and 'up-dated' version every so often.....just so every-body that bets KNOWS who these creaps are....including jocks/track administers.....( a bit ''far-fetched''...ok...).... ...ACTUALLY....have EVERY >>>STABLE 'HELP'/OWNER & FAMILY MEMBERS AND >>>track administers/employees<<< and ANY ONE ELSE 'LAYING' A BET ELSE WHERE (THE ABOVE MENTIONED) to list same 2 hours prior to the first race of the day on a separate board which the 'general' public can view.....just so that 'they' know all is on the uppidy-UPside......( and WHAHLA...no more HIDDEN agendas by those who have everty oppertunity to 'play' us ......

[takeout]

Get rid of the signers. (IRS tickets)

[Indulto]

Get rid of the signers. (IRS tickets)TO,
Or at least make them less frequent with lower minimum wagers.

[Jeff P]

One more...

On days when race after race is being won by speed horses on the rail...

When riders go against that bias (like KOBISKIE on the #1 horse in PIM R10 today) and try to get an early speed horse to close...

they should be publicly flogged, then tarred and feathered.

-jp

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[Jeff P]

A few more...

And when stewards DQ a race winner and purposely put the favorite up...

like just now at Lone Star R1 where said foul did not cost the other horse a better placing...

said stewards, in full view of the grandstand, shall be hung by the neck until dead.



And when offshore account operators purposely close races early - like Pinnacle did all day today at Pimlico - said offshore account operators shall be liable to bettors for tickets that would have been winners without being entitled to deduct the cost of tickets that would have been losers.

Yeah that seems fair. <G>


-jp

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