Pinnacle In The News

[Otis11]

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081031/SPORTS07/810310363/1004


Charging ahead: Pinnacle horsemen, management like track's first steps, prospects

Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News

NEW BOSTON -- It was the decision, made on the fly, that changed everything.

The management team of the new Pinnacle Race Course was running out of time in early spring.

It needed to decide whether to construct a permanent 12,000-square-foot pavilion, or erect a temporary, but larger, tent for the fast-approaching July opener.

Which decision was correct wouldn't be known for months.

Pinnacle has made it through its inaugural four-month live racing calendar -- the final post time is Sunday afternoon. But the pavilion will stay open year-round for dining and simulcast wagering.

...

(see link for the rest)

[TrackManSam]

To increase purses, the handle -- the income from betting -- must increase, too. The first-season goal was around $90,000 daily on live racing. Plever said Pinnacle missed at times.

From what I hear, they have been averging about $25,000 live handle and the days they aren't racing live about $15-20K. I would say Mr Plever is right they have missed at times. Tough break tho for a team I really believe cares about racing. Bad economy, State Government thats in the casino's pockets, horrible location. I have been there 4 or 5 times and even a lukewarm crowd in the pavilion makes for a pretty tight and uncomfortable betting situation.

[Tom Barrister]

Pinnacle completely blew it with their scheduling. $100k a day (offtrack betting included) is inexcusable.

Starting at 1:30 Eastern on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday meant their track got lost among the many major and medium sized tracks running at that time of day on those days. The bigger tracks get almost all of the attention.

A better strategy for a four-day week (one their predecessor Great Lakes Downs implemented) would be to run on two weekend days, plus Monday and Tuesday, and start at 6 p.m. Eastern. By doing that, they manage to:

1) Get more exposure on weekends, since fewer thoroughbred tracks are running at night.

2) Get an hour's jump on Mountaineer, Penn National, and most other night tracks.

Does it work? It did for Great Lakes, which averaged $300-400k per card. Mountaineer does over a million per card. If Pinnacle is the only track available, or one of few tracks, a lot of players will bet it. Some may end up liking it and including it in the future.

[DanG]

Sorry about the drift, but I saw the Pinnacle name and it triggered this recent conversation I had with someone trustworthy.

How do I say this without coming off as a crank horseplayer and / or casting unproven allegations bordering on slander?

Answer is…I can’t, but for what its worth.

I heard from someone who has nothing to gain by telling me there is a very “interesting” :rolleyes: dynamic in part of the Pinnacle riding colony.

I’ll leave it at that and would be curious if anyone else has heard and / or noticed anything “interesting”?

[Otis11]

I heard from someone who has nothing to gain by telling me there is a very “interesting” :rolleyes: dynamic in part of the Pinnacle riding colony.

I’ll leave it at that and would be curious if anyone else has heard and / or noticed anything “interesting”?
Well, Terry Houghton is riding there. He (may still be) banned from Tampa Bay and a few other tracks after some peculiar betting patterns during the Great Lakes Downs meet.

Also, I spoke with a trainer, older guy who has been around for ages, but hasn't been hitting the board at Pinnacle. He says the Hispanic riders are coluding. I kind of passed it off as a crotchety old guy who is just down on his luck.

[Whitehos]

As one who said it couldn't be done in 90 days and having to eat those words, I then said I wouldn't spend much time there, I went almost every day.

No rush to the windows with few patrons betting. On a hot sunny Saturday there were girls setting out on lounge chairs in Bikinis. Place had a country fair atmosphere.

After the 1st week I noticed 2 of the former TRINITY were there every day and the female part of it only showed up on Sunday, And not every sunday.
Money was there to be made and I took advantage of it. This was one of the best meets I ever had and only 5 minutes from home.

Until Obama gets her out of Michigan our GOVERNESS will never allow us to wager on the track or get slots.......Another good reason to vote for Obama.

This area would make a great concert venue. Out in the country, sort of like woodstock.

[LottaKash]

betting --
around $90,000 daily on live racing. Plever said Pinnacle missed at times.


they have been averging about $25,000 live handle and the days they aren't racing live about $15-20K. Imakes for a pretty tight and uncomfortable betting situation.

I am just curious, but considering the facts, what would be the point of having a place such as this, to stay open, or even exist in the first place ?....Perhaps I am missing some information....

best,

[hbeck]

If they can ever get slots, it will become a lot more profitable. The only reason places like this open and run is for the possibility of slots in the future.

[Otis11]

I am just curious, but considering the facts, what would be the point of having a place such as this, to stay open, or even exist in the first place ?....Perhaps I am missing some information....
Well, there is a breeding industry here in the State, albeit a small one. The State does supplement the purses in order to help that industry along. Studies have shown that the TB breeding industry gives back more to the State then what is put in. When Great Lakes closed there was no other TB track. That State purse fund would have gone to the trotters and most likely never given back to the TB's. Also, even in it's last year, DRC was turning a profit, it was just that the property value was higher then what was being generated. I still feel that there is a demand for TB racing in the area even with the worst economy in the country.

Today was a great example of what Pinnacle needs to do in order to make a serious run at it. 10 races with full and sometimes overflowing fields. Couple of media stories on Friday and decent weather helped as well. Incredible drink ($2 pints!!!!) and food prices. The place was packed and the atmosphere was awesome.

Slots at Pinnacle, realistically, are out of the question. However, I really wish they would go for alternative methods of gaming. For starters, open up the ADW play for in State residents. It is unfathonable that residents of Michigan can NOT play tracks within the State via ADW's. Put the signal out over the Keno network so people at bars/restaurants can play. A card room would be nice as well but they have about as much chance of getting that as slots.

[Otis11]

If they can ever get slots, it will become a lot more profitable. The only reason places like this open and run is for the possibility of slots in the future.
Unfortunately, the residents of this State got hoodwinked into passing a constitutional amendment four years ago more or less giving the casinos a monopoly on all gaming and preventing tracks from getting slots or any other form of gaming.

When Pinnacle was announced there were some great plans brought forth to generate players, outside of slots. Family friendly, party atmosphere, decent dining, etc. They really out did themselves. The place is clean, well staffed, very friendly, and accessible. My only fear is, I have heard rumblings that next year they plan on charging admission and parking. I'm afraid that will be a dagger in their heart if they go that route.

[Otis11]

... I went almost every day.

... This was one of the best meets I ever had and only 5 minutes from home.
You lucky, so and so! :) I made about 15 to 20 trips for live racing and 5 for simulcast and I'm about 45 minutes away. Spoke with quite a few people during the meet who were driving in from Ann Arbor, Jackson, Toledo, and even one couple who trekked in from K'zoo a couple of times.

[trying2win]

In my opinion, the PINNACLE racetrack mangement made a dumb move by letting the TRACKNET group in there this year. If I got my facts straight, that limits ADW competition. That also leaves out many more potential online betting customers. Because of having TRACKNET, if PINNACLE track management is disappointed that the parimutuel handle was below expectations for their 2008 meet, they can only blame themselves.

T2W