Follow the money .....

[Kelso]

Field Size an Issue at Delaware | bloodhorse.com (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41963&source=rss)


"Delaware Park, one of Thoroughbred racing’s pioneers in terms of combining racing and video gaming, ended its 2007 meet Nov. 4 with declines in total handle and field size, though purses paid increased about $1 million.

"... Delaware Park this year installed a giant infield video monitor and an upscale VIP room, renovated the third-floor clubhouse to include three video walls, and made backstretch improvements."


It appears that a ton of slots-profits left the track, rather than being put back into DEL racing and racing facilities. A million in new purse money and some infield/barn improvements don't sound like much after a year (?) of milking the one-armed bandits.

Not that I expect the cretins who run statehouses to care ... but, across the country, they should do a lot more to assure that casino profits generated by/at/for racing entities are kept in racing.

[onefast99]

I would agree why didnt they put more into the track as that was the main reason for the slots? Seems no one is watching the cookie jar...again.

[harnesslover]

Onefast, what more could they have done for the track that would have increased field size?

[shanta]

This statement from the article summed it up perfectly.

“We believe there are an insufficient number of horses in the Mid-Atlantic area to support the number of live race days throughout the region,” Delaware Park chief operating officer Bill Fasy said in a statement. “Looking ahead to 2008, this situation will only become more challenging, as Pennsylvania and New Jersey tracks increase their number of live racing days.”

[onefast99]

Onefast, what more could they have done for the track that would have increased field size?
Nothing they are in competition with Phillypark and Monmouth and even the Maryland tracks. Maybe do something for the breeders like Maryland does, a Delaware breeders day. The article hits it right on the target, not enough horses in this area! How many times have we seen 4 or 5 horses go to the gate?

[harnesslover]

Nothing they are in competition with Phillypark and Monmouth and even the Maryland tracks. Maybe do something for the breeders like Maryland does, a Delaware breeders day. The article hits it right on the target, not enough horses in this area! How many times have we seen 4 or 5 horses go to the gate?

Well they do have a Delaware Owners day where they offer like a million+ in purses.

I think there is little they can do to attract more horses, as their purses are huge already. I think the obvious solution is to reduce racing days.

[onefast99]

Well they do have a Delaware Owners day where they offer like a million+ in purses.

I think there is little they can do to attract more horses, as their purses are huge already. I think the obvious solution is to reduce racing days.
That would bebad if they did that. So the slots are ok and the track isnt!:bang:

[kenwoodallpromos]

From up to down and left to right, this is the first thing on their official website:
"1-800-41-SLOTS"
Does that answer your question?

[njcurveball]

They had a guy with over 200 horses who wanted to run there. His name was Michael Gill. They scratched his horses and kicked him out.

Same track that embraces the Lakes and Dutrows of the world.

It is much easier filling fields when you actually cater to guys with lots of horses.

Of course, it is "Rickman's world" there. Many trainers hate that you cannot claim anything from Rickman or you will be ostracized and eventually asked to leave.

They have nice purses, but not the greatest work environment if you aren't with the "in crowd". Many trainers leave simply because of that. There are many tracks on the East Coast to choose from.

[harnesslover]

Gill was denied stall space at Monmouth Park, Aqueduct, Calder Race Course, and Philadelphia Park.. And he and Shuman were pretty much nailed at Gulfstream for their 'practices'.

So when 6 racetracks have a problem with you, it might be your doing..

[Tom Barrister]

It sounds like Rickman is in the same position King Leatherbury was in Maryland for many years.

One of the main problems (probably mentioned many times in the past) contributing to shorter fields is that the thoroughbred has been bred for precocity, trained for speed, and raced for instant return on investment; it's been going on for so long that horses can't race as often as they used to. They're not as durable. As a group, they need more days of rest between races, need freshening (layoffs) more often, race fewer times each year, and have shorter careers. The end result is fewer horses to fill fields.

The horsemen knew where the money would go if not monitored (straight into the pockets of the owners/shareholders), which is why they lobbied for a portion of casino revenue to be used for purses, track improvements, and/or horsemen benefits. Apparently, the laws/agreements set down in Delaware didn't include enough (if any) provisions for track improvements.

[harnesslover]

Apparently, the laws/agreements set down in Delaware didn't include enough (if any) provisions for track improvements.
I disagree, the track is in the best shape its ever been. And the barns are in better shape than ever. Additionally the purses are sky high.

Beyond pouring more money into breeding programs, its hard to think what else they can do to attract horses in an area that is stetched thin as can be right now.

[cj]

I disagree, the track is in the best shape its ever been. And the barns are in better shape than ever. Additionally the purses are sky high.

Beyond pouring more money into breeding programs, its hard to think what else they can do to attract horses in an area that is stetched thin as can be right now.

So, with great purses and small fields, why are horses not pouring in? Hmmm...

[harnesslover]

So, with great purses and small fields, why are horses not pouring in? Hmmm...

I think Richie already pointed out the issue in a previous post:

“We believe there are an insufficient number of horses in the Mid-Atlantic area to support the number of live race days throughout the region,” Delaware Park chief operating officer Bill Fasy said in a statement.

[harnesslover]

So, with great purses and small fields, why are horses not pouring in? Hmmm...

Why aren't they pouring into Monmouth or Meadowlands??

Monmouth Park in New Jersey (7.48 for 79 days), Meadowlands in New Jersey (7.27 for 38 days)

[onefast99]

Add the breeders cup into the Mth numbers and it is right up there vs any other tracks. The Meadowlands does well with simulcast they make good money on it. Give Monmouth slots and the numbers will bust loose.

[harnesslover]

Add the breeders cup into the Mth numbers and it is right up there vs any other tracks. The Meadowlands does well with simulcast they make good money on it. Give Monmouth slots and the numbers will bust loose.

2006 Monmouth increased purses over $1 million and had a decline in handle and field size.

And what does simulcast have to do with small field sizes?

[Tom Barrister]

And what does simulcast have to do with small field sizes?

It helps pay the bills, which in turn means more money is available for purses and track improvements, which is supposed to mean that horsemen will want to enter more horses there.

[skate]

old news, today.


too many tracks in the area.

some horses are going up to ph pk.

now MD coming back with slots.

look out.

[harnesslover]

It helps pay the bills, which in turn means more money is available for purses and track improvements, which is supposed to mean that horsemen will want to enter more horses there.

But their field sizes are dwindling too.. So I am not sure what other track improvements you can make to magically increase the horses available in the Northeast.

[onefast99]

2006 Monmouth increased purses over $1 million and had a decline in handle and field size.

And what does simulcast have to do with small field sizes?

The number of race days were less this year due to the Breeders Cup, if you had the same amount of race days the total attendance would be up by about 2%. The handle was up which is positive and many younger horses didnt handle the new main track surface well to enter into races. This will change next year as the track was too speed biased 108:2s is unheard of!

[harnesslover]

The number of race days were less this year due to the Breeders Cup, if you had the same amount of race days the total attendance would be up by about 2%. The handle was up which is positive and many younger horses didnt handle the new main track surface well to enter into races. This will change next year as the track was too speed biased 108:2s is unheard of!

Can you provide the 2007 average handle, attendance and field size as opposed to 2006 for Monmouth?

[Zman179]

The Meadowlands does well with simulcast they make good money on it. Give Monmouth slots and the numbers will bust loose.

No way. Monmouth's purses would only go up about 20% from current levels because if they received slots, they would no longer receive their share of the $80 million purse subsidy from the AC casinos.

They only thing it would do is further dilute the Northeast racing product. If the horsemen find out that they can run at one of five different racetracks for the same purse money, then they'll cross enter their horses at the different racetracks and run their horses in the races with the smallest fields.

Which, of course, would cause handle to plummet further.

[onefast99]

No way. Monmouth's purses would only go up about 20% from current levels because if they received slots, they would no longer receive their share of the $80 million purse subsidy from the AC casinos.

They only thing it would do is further dilute the Northeast racing product. If the horsemen find out that they can run at one of five different racetracks for the same purse money, then they'll cross enter their horses at the different racetracks and run their horses in the races with the smallest fields.

Which, of course, would cause handle to plummet further.

Disagree not a lot of horseman are sending to Delaware as Mths purses are just as good in most cases.

[Zman179]

Disagree not a lot of horseman are sending to Delaware as Mths purses are just as good in most cases.

Right, and what happened? Lots of short fields at both tracks.

[Tom Barrister]

But their field sizes are dwindling too.. So I am not sure what other track improvements you can make to magically increase the horses available in the Northeast.

I was hoping that highlighting "supposed" would provide a clue. Next time, I'll put it in 24 point type.

One of the reasons that field sizes MIGHT be small is because Delaware has handed out stall spaces freely to trainers such as Lake, Pino, Klesaris, Dutrow, etc. The mega-trainers, plus the good Delaware-based trainers, make it tough for lesser trainers to stay afloat. A trainer with only a few horses enters a horse, then sees a horse or horses by Lake and/or Pino and/or Dutrow, plus possibly ones by Motion, Gorham, Ritchey, etc. With the mega-trainers hogging down a lion's share of stalls and the bulk of the purse money, lesser trainers have two problems. For one, they have trouble getting sufficient (if any) stall space. For another, they have trouble competing against the mega-trainers. As a result, they ship their horses to Mountaineer, Charlestown or some other track where the megas don't have a big foothold. So Charlestown and Mountaineer have 10 horse fields, and Delaware is lucky to get six per race.

[northerndancer]

Barrister hit it right on the head...... I have horses stabled at Delaware and it is very difficult to compete with the Lake, Pino, Gorham, Jones, Nunley, Ritchey, Klesaris, etc..... not becuase they have better horses..... the reason is they are able to control which races go and how the race office writes their condition book........ the racing secretary was new this year and virgin to being a race secretary had previously been an assitant racing secretary at Charles Town.... he was unprepared for what he faced going from a track that filled their races easy to life and death to get a card to go...... he did not want to ruffle the feathers of the big outfits as he really needed them to fill the races but in doing so they were smart enough to control what races where written and what races went....... the other issue that caused small fields is the disjointed condition book that was written....... the racing secretary has lost the art of knowing thy inventory of horses and also sticking to a condition book that was consistent..... if you know your inventory you can plan for certain races to go..... too many times there would be a conflicting races which means neither would go.

Big trouble looms for the mid Atlantic next year and that is Presque Isle Downs. Presque Isle only ran one month in 2007. In 2008 they will compete for 6 months and this will draw horses away from the mid Atlantic, Ohio & Kentucky.

[njcurveball]

This is far from scientific, but here is the average field size for 50 tracks for 2007 year to date.

Delaware, Bay Meadows, and Timonium have the smallest fields.


TTRK AVG(NFLD)
---- ----------
AP 8.76336478
AQU 8.04613858
ATL 10.2920962
BEL 8.55899812
BEU 8.16529059
BM 7.13694268
BMF 6.76449912
CD 9.00406805
CNL 9.71454436
CRC 8.33423084
CT 8.70893161
DED 9.1138539
DEL 7.17570644
DMR 9.10302841
ELP 8.07378697
EVD 10.5132536
FE 8.10444744
FG 8.72927032
FPX 8.6750179
GG 7.67484663
GP 9.10338426
HAW 8.51031183
HOL 8.80157213
HOO 9.24265703
HOU 9.04774397
IND 9.22752953
KD 9.24697337
KEE 10.1552249
LAD 9.13889602
LRL 8.55112613
LS 9.03225806
MED 7.82405017
MNR 8.90738548
MTH 7.90969548
OP 8.52676457
PEN 8.36187895
PHA 8.39913899
PID 9.18326693
PIM 8.67906225
RD 8.43321532
RET 9.87946922
SA 9.273604
SAR 9.15973813
SUF 8.14674221
TAM 9.08784736
TDN 8.84310323
TIM 6.37313433
TP 8.90842491
TUP 8.53829079
WO 9.52405554

[harnesslover]

This is far from scientific, but here is the average field size for 50 tracks for 2007 year to date.

Delaware, Bay Meadows, and Timonium have the smallest fields.


TTRK AVG(NFLD)
---- ----------
AP 8.76336478
AQU 8.04613858
ATL 10.2920962
BEL 8.55899812
BEU 8.16529059
BM 7.13694268
BMF 6.76449912
CD 9.00406805
CNL 9.71454436
CRC 8.33423084
CT 8.70893161
DED 9.1138539
DEL 7.17570644
DMR 9.10302841
ELP 8.07378697
EVD 10.5132536
FE 8.10444744
FG 8.72927032
FPX 8.6750179
GG 7.67484663
GP 9.10338426
HAW 8.51031183
HOL 8.80157213
HOO 9.24265703
HOU 9.04774397
IND 9.22752953
KD 9.24697337
KEE 10.1552249
LAD 9.13889602
LRL 8.55112613
LS 9.03225806
MED 7.82405017
MNR 8.90738548
MTH 7.90969548
OP 8.52676457
PEN 8.36187895
PHA 8.39913899
PID 9.18326693
PIM 8.67906225
RD 8.43321532
RET 9.87946922
SA 9.273604
SAR 9.15973813
SUF 8.14674221
TAM 9.08784736
TDN 8.84310323
TIM 6.37313433
TP 8.90842491
TUP 8.53829079
WO 9.52405554



Monmouth, Meadowlands, Delaware all under 8 per race. Proves the point of 'not enough horses to go around'

[onefast99]

Barrister hit it right on the head...... I have horses stabled at Delaware and it is very difficult to compete with the Lake, Pino, Gorham, Jones, Nunley, Ritchey, Klesaris, etc..... not becuase they have better horses..... the reason is they are able to control which races go and how the race office writes their condition book........ the racing secretary was new this year and virgin to being a race secretary had previously been an assitant racing secretary at Charles Town.... he was unprepared for what he faced going from a track that filled their races easy to life and death to get a card to go...... he did not want to ruffle the feathers of the big outfits as he really needed them to fill the races but in doing so they were smart enough to control what races where written and what races went....... the other issue that caused small fields is the disjointed condition book that was written....... the racing secretary has lost the art of knowing thy inventory of horses and also sticking to a condition book that was consistent..... if you know your inventory you can plan for certain races to go..... too many times there would be a conflicting races which means neither would go.

Big trouble looms for the mid Atlantic next year and that is Presque Isle Downs. Presque Isle only ran one month in 2007. In 2008 they will compete for 6 months and this will draw horses away from the mid Atlantic, Ohio & Kentucky.

Disagree on PI they are too far out in Pa to impact the tracks previously mentioned such as MTH, DE,Philly,MD tracks and NY, yes their purses are great and they run a lot of Pa bred races but still it wont hurt the other tracks as much as you think. Also the racing secretary at all the tracks except NY must know their inventory better as we ship to NY for the starters because the 50k claimers have no races for them in NJ or Philly, if one is written say a starter for horses that have had a claiming price of 25k or less or nw of 3 lifetime at Mth that purse is 45k max in NY it is 60k(sar 70k). NJ writes that race 3 times over the racing season NY it runs every 3-4 weeks. Good point on the racing secretaries!