More Horsemen Join Band Of THGS

[trying2win]

Just what racetracks and bettors need. More horsemen groups joining the band of THGS. Here's the link to the article:

http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/47529.htm?id=47529

I had a cynical laugh at one of the quotes in the article:
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"The THG is working to ensure the maximum distribution of simulcast signals for wagering with the optimum revenue return to support live racing to benefit purses and racetracks."
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--Regarding the first part of the quote regarding "maximum distribution of simulcast signals for wagering"...I haven't seen much, if any evidence of that promise yet.

In my opinion, when I see words like THG, TVG, TRACKNET, TOC etc, it seems it's bad news too often for many horse players, racetracks and ADWS. With all the greed, disputes, ADW restrictions, among horsemen, racetracks and some ADWS, I may be tempted enough soon to quit betting thoroughbreds, and just play harness and greyhound races instead.

Again, I think thoroughbred horsemen groups have too much power, because too many of them have big egos. I'm getting tired of their whining and complaining about hard done they are by racetracks and ADWS etc. Give me break! Look at all the extra revenue they've gotten over the years with slot machine revenues. And they're still complaining it isn't enough! I don't see ADWS getting any of that slot machine money and neither are the bettors.

Some of these horsemen groups think they are the most important group involved in making horse racing go. I've said it before...I'll say it again. If anyone's the most important....IT'S THE CUSTOMERS...i.e. THE BETTORS and NOT THE HORSEMEN. Without the customers, (who pay all the horse racing industry bills) either directly through betting, or naive people betting slot machines, horse racing could not operate! And that's the bottom line in my opinion.


T2W

[Tom]

You know what would really help the racing industry?
Make it illegal to supplement purses from slots money. That should thin out the heard. I can't see how half the track operating today going down the tubes could be anything but good.

[boomman]

The THG has their own agenda to hijack the industry, and they could give a rat's azz about the rank and file horsemen, customers or anyone else for that matter .......Drew Couto of The TOC (and Vice President of the THG) demonstrates his "true colors" and their policies on a daily basis..............

:mad: Boomer

[takeout]

You know what would really help the racing industry?
Make it illegal to supplement purses from slots money.
Agree totally. Slot subsidies are just prolonging the inevitable. We’re talking about an industry with no national rules and not enough sense to do away with breakage.

[foregoforever]

You know what would really help the racing industry?
Make it illegal to supplement purses from slots money. That should thin out the heard. I can't see how half the track operating today going down the tubes could be anything but good.

:ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:

I wish Maryland would take Delaware and the surrounding slots states to court over unfair trade practices. It's essentially cross-subsidization in a somewhat different form, with the Maryland horse industry the disadvantaged party.

But of course, in the grand American tradition, rather than sticking up for principle, the Maryland folks just attempt to get the same hand-out for themselves. :bang:

[Imriledup]

You know what would really help the racing industry?
Make it illegal to supplement purses from slots money. That should thin out the heard. I can't see how half the track operating today going down the tubes could be anything but good.

I'll raise your illegal to supplement purses and suggest that slots money should go into the betting pools as carryovers. Every so often, take 50k in slots money and have a pick 4 carryover.

[Tom]

That 's great - discriminate against players who do not play the pic 4.:ThmbDown:

[LottaKash]

In the beginning I wasn't quite sure what to make of the Slots turning Racetracks into Racino's....But my thinking has changed, in that now I firmly believe that the slots have saved many a track from being cast into oblivion...There were quite a few smaller layouts that are and were just hanging by a thread, and now with the money from the casino's being infused into the purses irregardless of the handle, a culture that is unique unto itself has survived and has further prospered, at least for the time being.....Harness Racing in particular is a major benefactor of the Racino concept....Especially in N.Y. and P.A.....Other than than just the backsretch connections there are many other vendors that support and that are quite dependent on the the success' of the horsemen and their owners, and they have been saved as well, and there many more of these support elements than one would imagine without really thinking about it....

Take Harrah's Chester in Pa (Philly area), they have a purse structure that rivals and sometimes exceeds that of the purses at the Meadowlands, the Big-Daddy of Harness Racing....And they attract a contingent of very high quality horses, trainers, and drivers at that venue, and all this despite the low crowd turnout and meager handles......Pocono Downs also has a been given new life as well.....Other Harness tracks such as Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway, Monticello, The Meadows (western PA), and a bunch of others have been saved from low handles and turnout as well......

So, in the end I think it is a very good thing that the Casinos have been forced by the state to share in their windfall profits rather than keeping it all.....Racino's, are a good thing in our hard times in racing........

best,