Turfway cuts purses

[GlenninOhio]

From press release published on their Web site this afternoon:

FLORENCE, KY . . . March 6, 2009 . . . Association purses paid at Turfway Park will be cut five percent and the 2009 Tejano Run Stakes and Fairway Fun Stakes have been canceled, track president Robert N. Elliston announced today.

The track was unable to fill races for Monday, March 9, when the cut originally was scheduled to become effective. The cut therefore takes effect Wednesday, March 11, and will run through the end of the meet.

The cut affects all claiming, allowance, and maiden special weight races run at the Northern Kentucky track; however, contributions from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) to maiden special and allowance races will be increased five percent, offsetting the loss for those categories. Kentucky tracks earn KTDF monies based on on-track wagering on all races, including races simulcast from other tracks.

"The downturn in the general economy has had an expected impact on our business," said Elliston. "Comparing this winter/spring meet to last year's meet through February, on-track handle is down about 7.6 percent.

"Where we have seen the biggest drop, however, is in interest in our races from out of state. Because we are not able to compete with tracks that offer purses boosted by revenue from other forms of gaming, our field size has dropped as owners and trainers take their horses where the money is better. Decreased field size translates directly to decreased business. Customers look for races that offer a range of choices and therefore a greater return on investment. As our field size drops, our customers, like owners and trainers, are looking elsewhere. All-sources handle on our races is down just over 20 percent."


So the solution to purses that are not competitive that reduce field size and destroy handle is ... to cut purses. Sad.

[PaceAdvantage]

They said Polytrack was supposed to boost field size. This should have somewhat counteracted this "general economy" impact they provide as an excuse in their press release

Funny how other tracks aren't experiencing any sort of economic downturn...but then again, they race on dirt...

Gulfstream just reported all-source handle is UP --> DIRT

Oaklawn just reported increase in attendance AND handle --> DIRT

[alydar]

Comparing Turfway to Gulfstream and Okalwn is a bit unfair. Turfway is on life support and has been for some time. The polytrack may have helped when it first was put in but, when you have all of the issues that Turfway and Kentucky racing have it isn't going to help much in the long run. A few years from now, it would not be surprising to see both Ellis and Turfway gone. Their only hope is slots.

[lamboguy]

They said Polytrack was supposed to boost field size. This should have somewhat counteracted this "general economy" impact they provide as an excuse in their press release

Funny how other tracks aren't experiencing any sort of economic downturn...but then again, they race on dirt...

Gulfstream just reported all-source handle is UP --> DIRT

Oaklawn just reported increase in attendance AND handle --> DIRT

if they make every track synthetic they won't have to worry about the game, there will be no game.


i didn't bring one horse over to OBS this year to sell, because there are a million breakdowns on that track. they are going in less than 10 seconds this year. i will have to run all my horses and sell them off the race.

[rrbauer]

if they make every track synthetic they won't have to worry about the game, there will be no game.


i didn't bring one horse over to OBS this year to sell, because there are a million breakdowns on that track. they are going in less than 10 seconds this year. i will have to run all my horses and sell them off the race.

What can you tell us about the track surface at Ocala? Reason that I ask is I see horses racing at Tampa that have/are working at Ocala and the times seem very fast for the level and fast compared to the times recorded for the same distance at other venues for the horses involved.

[cj]

What can you tell us about the track surface at Ocala? Reason that I ask is I see horses racing at Tampa that have/are working at Ocala and the times seem very fast for the level and fast compared to the times recorded for the same distance at other venues for the horses involved.

The track at Ocala is a joke now. The recent sales trials were very fast, and not only that, the horses all ran pretty much the same times. They did run a day of races for Florida breds recently as they do every year. They call the surface "Safe-Track".

[lamboguy]

The track at Ocala is a joke now. The recent sales trials were very fast, and not only that, the horses all ran pretty much the same times. They did run a day of races for Florida breds recently as they do every year. They call the surface "Safe-Track".



if you want sure bet against for 2 yo's go against anything that sold at obs 2yo in training sales.




a new stallion to watch in 2009, wildcat haire. the ones i got are fast!!!!

[michiken]

I stopped at Turfway last Friday night (on my way to Memphis) and the place was packed!

They were having $1 beer night. I saw families with kids, teens with their dates and many people who brought their own food etc.

I arrived at 4:30 pm and chose a carrel seat. By 8 o'clock I had people leaning and standing over me such that I couldn't see the tv's or live racing. There were even lines to the bathrooms. Even John Law was parading around the masses.

Even with the short fields, people were yelling and cheering as the horses came down the stretch. I have not seen so much fan involvement and FUN since many years ago at Arlington.

It is odd that they are cutting purses and have good attendance. It must have been there on a night that was a total anomaly. It was refreshing to see all the fans.

[NoCal Boy]

Part of the reason you are seeing declines at Turfway and improvements at GP and OP is a shift in ADW dollars wagered through Youbet. Youbet did not have GP, OP, FG or Laurel last year and instead its patrons wagered much more on Turfway,especially when SA was down early in 2008. This year Youbet has all of the Tracknet tracks and handle has shifted accordingly. Youbet just announced Thursday that its handle for the first two months of 2009 is up in excess of 30%. There is a big shift industry-wide to handle at ADWs since gas prices spiked last year. Twinspires reported its handle is up 27% in the first two months of 2009.

They said Polytrack was supposed to boost field size. This should have somewhat counteracted this "general economy" impact they provide as an excuse in their press release

Funny how other tracks aren't experiencing any sort of economic downturn...but then again, they race on dirt...

Gulfstream just reported all-source handle is UP --> DIRT

Oaklawn just reported increase in attendance AND handle --> DIRT

[Cangamble]

Part of the reason you are seeing declines at Turfway and improvements at GP and OP is a shift in ADW dollars wagered through Youbet. Youbet did not have GP, OP, FG or Laurel last year and instead its patrons wagered much more on Turfway,especially when SA was down early in 2008. This year Youbet has all of the Tracknet tracks and handle has shifted accordingly. Youbet just announced Thursday that its handle for the first two months of 2009 is up in excess of 30%. There is a big shift industry-wide to handle at ADWs since gas prices spiked last year. Twinspires reported its handle is up 27% in the first two months of 2009.
Good points. But field size at Turfway is down a lot this year I think. Someone might have the stats for this. Lots of 5 and 6 horse races.

[ArlJim78]

Turfway isn't the only track showing losses. But i gave up on it this year, and i used to play it regularly. The two things that I didn't like; the fact you can't play it on Twinspires online, you have to call in, and the surface seems to have deteriorated. There is such a cloud of sh!t that is kicked up it just makes the racing uninteresting to me.

not surprisingly, I am playing Gulfstream and Oaklawn more than I used to.

[InsideThePylons-MW]

I avg'ed over 20K a day (even 30K for a couple meets) at Turfway for many meets. About 2 years ago, I pulled up for a few reasons.......

Polycrap

Biases became ridiculous and if I was just betting Turfway as a one track specialist, I wouldn't mind but when you are betting numerous tracks you get lost.

I couldn't bet supers any more after they changed minimum to 10 cents.

I couldn't get a live feed on RTN because they are TVG exclusive.

[DeanT]

So the solution to purses that are not competitive that reduce field size and destroy handle is ... to cut purses. Sad.

It is either that or cut a day a week. No doubt the horsemen would take the former.

TPX has been pretty poor this meet, imo. I don't care at all about the surface, it is what it is and it can be modeled to play. But the field size has gone down and that is a problem. They had some kind of sickness issues this year I think.

[CincyHorseplayer]

Turfway is losing money for a lot of reasons but they keep crying it's slots.

They lost my business after being there every Saturday(Sundays after football season) from late November to March,then everyday in that month since 2001.

I can't stand betting polytrack,sporadic form and I know I'm not alone there.

They don't cater to the horseplayer when you're on track and are even hostile to you unless you are in their dining area.

Because I live in Cincinnati I can't bet the races during weekdays over the internet just in case I can't make it down there.

Wintertime racing sucks.

Great place to be a drunk at though.Just not a great place to be a horseplayer at.How ironic is that??!!

I've bet Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay this winter and plan on doing so indefinitely.I love betting on midlevel tracks in temperate weather and from the comfort of my own home.

Plus Turfway kicks me off the 4th floor everytime I go.Best place to watch races toting a laptop and binoculars.Offered $10-20 dollars and was refused.(had to get my mandatory gripe in!!).

F**K Turfway.They did it to themselves.

[NoCal Boy]

Why can't you use the internet on weekdays to play Turfway?

Turfway is losing money for a lot of reasons but they keep crying it's slots.

They lost my business after being there every Saturday(Sundays after football season) from late November to March,then everyday in that month since 2001.

I can't stand betting polytrack,sporadic form and I know I'm not alone there.

They don't cater to the horseplayer when you're on track and are even hostile to you unless you are in their dining area.

Because I live in Cincinnati I can't bet the races during weekdays over the internet just in case I can't make it down there.

Wintertime racing sucks.

Great place to be a drunk at though.Just not a great place to be a horseplayer at.How ironic is that??!!

I've bet Fair Grounds and Tampa Bay this winter and plan on doing so indefinitely.I love betting on midlevel tracks in temperate weather and from the comfort of my own home.

Plus Turfway kicks me off the 4th floor everytime I go.Best place to watch races toting a laptop and binoculars.Offered $10-20 dollars and was refused.(had to get my mandatory gripe in!!).

F**K Turfway.They did it to themselves.

[NoCal Boy]

Agreed it is a combination of many things. But it is staggering that ADW handles are increasing at such a strong rate in the first two months of 2009. At this rate, Twinspires will be up $16MM in real dollars and Youbet over $30MM in real dollars from Q1 2008. Xpressbet's issues should not have much of an effect as customers will simply shift elsewhere to play if they are not comfortable staying there with their monies.

Good points. But field size at Turfway is down a lot this year I think. Someone might have the stats for this. Lots of 5 and 6 horse races.

[CincyHorseplayer]

Why can't you use the internet on weekdays to play Turfway?

I'm an Ohio resident and TVG restricts the signal to me as such.

[garyoz]

I'm an Ohio resident and TVG restricts the signal to me as such.

Huh? Every ADW service is available to Ohio residents. No problem betting Turfway on TVG.

[GlenninOhio]

I stopped at Turfway last Friday night (on my way to Memphis) and the place was packed!

They were having $1 beer night. I saw families with kids, teens with their dates and many people who brought their own food etc.

I arrived at 4:30 pm and chose a carrel seat. By 8 o'clock I had people leaning and standing over me such that I couldn't see the tv's or live racing. There were even lines to the bathrooms. Even John Law was parading around the masses.

Even with the short fields, people were yelling and cheering as the horses came down the stretch. I have not seen so much fan involvement and FUN since many years ago at Arlington.

It is odd that they are cutting purses and have good attendance. It must have been there on a night that was a total anomaly. It was refreshing to see all the fans.

It was not an anomaly - at least for a Friday night. I was there last night and it was exactly as you described - a nice crowd and very enthusiastic (60 degree temp didn't hurt).

Note that the purse cut was 5% and for Kentucky breds running at MSW and allowance level the shortfall will be made up by the state fund (KTDF). With such a modest cut, I think their idea was to use this as a vehicle to pound home the fact that Kentucky needs casinos/slots/VLT's - Turfway would very likely be the track venue that would see the biggest purse pop from this. If money was such a major issue right now one could argue they would have cut 10% across the board.

[CincyHorseplayer]

Huh? Every ADW service is available to Ohio residents. No problem betting Turfway on TVG.

I'm on Twinspires.

With all the other headaches they entail I'm not adding another ADW account just to bet races I despise anyway.I'm just fine with FG and TBD.