Great summer of racing coming up

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/111309.html
Monmouth set for $1M in daily purses
By Matt Hegarty 3/9/2010… State officials stressed that the plan has been adopted on a one-year experimental basis, in large part because approximately $20 million of the purse outlay is being provided by casinos in Atlantic City under an agreement that expires at the end of this year.

Robert Kulina, the vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns Monmouth in Oceanport, said that state racing officials decided to implement the plan to determine whether the New Jersey racing industry could be re-invigorated by a "bold" departure from the status quo. Under the plan, Monmouth hopes to attract floods of high-quality horses to 12-race cards on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, in the hopes of offering rich races with big fields that are run in front of big crowds, both ontrack and in the simulcast marketplace.

"The customer wants a better product, and we are great at getting people to the racetrack on weekends," Kulina said. "We're in the entertainment business, and we need to give the customer what he wants."

… While the plan will almost certainly attract scores of horses and top-class stables to the meet, the plan also will crowd out horsemen on the New Jersey circuit whose stock will now be too cheap to compete. John Forbes, the president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, acknowledged that the plan will present hardships to horsemen who were accustomed to filling races for $10,000 to $20,000 purses, but he also said that racing needs to change in order to satisfy the needs of its dwindling customer base.

"It's hard for our horsemen to be the first to bite the bullet and be the first to respond" to the changing marketplace, Forbes said. "But if it's the death knell for the small horseman, it's because the small horseman doesn't have the stock that the consumer wants to bet on."

According to Forbes, seven members of the organization's board voted to endorse the plan, while two members opposed it. The two members opposed to the plan said that the proposal would hurt many small stables in the state, Forbes said.

Though the plan has the potential to severely impact the racing program at Saratoga, where the country's top East Coast horses typically compete, officials at Saratoga said Tuesday that Monmouth also might attract so many horses to the region that Saratoga will actually benefit from the $1 million purse outlay.

"First off, there are a lot of unknowns and imponderables at this point," said Hal Handel, the chief operating officer of the New York Racing Association, which operates Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct. "It may be the case that the meet draws a lot of horses and stables from California and the Midwest to New Jersey and the Northeast, and that could be a good thing for New York racing, to have that many more horses in the area."

Asked if NYRA was considering any practices or policies that would provide incentives to horsemen to race at Saratoga - or disincentives to horsemen hoping to ship south - Handel said that officials had not yet discussed any reaction to Monmouth's plan. If and when the association does, Handel said, "We'll probably play our hand pretty close to the vest."

Kulina said that he believes there will be more than enough horses to fill race cards at both Saratoga and Monmouth.

"There's plenty of room for both Monmouth and Saratoga to be successful," Kulina said. …This is great news for weekend warriors like me. I sure hope they keep their Pick 5.

Which ADWs doing business in CA carry both MTH and SAR? Of those, which provide live video?

Do any on-shore ADWs offer rebates on MTH? If there are any, which states permit their residents to use them?

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/111337.html
Balancing act at Monmouth
By Matt Hegarty3/10/2010… Monmouth officials have to balance the interests of horsemen with the demands of the betting public, a task that often leaves both sides dissatisfied.

… the officials also contended that they have already devised some policies and practices to mitigate the potential impact from the problems.

Monmouth's first task will be to assign its 1,600 stalls to trainers. Officials believe that requests will vastly outnumber available stalls, and the trick will be to fill the backside with horses that fit into the track's rich racing program - i.e., divisions of Todd Pletcher's and Steve Asmussen's national operations - while also saving room for the horsemen that have been loyal to Monmouth Park in the past …

… claiming races for the 50-day meet would bottom out at a price of $5,000, but that those races would offer purses of $30,000. To protect local horsemen, Kulina said, many of the bottom-level races will have conditions attached that restrict entries, for example, to horses that have not started for a claiming price of $12,500 or higher in the past year.

… Purses for the track's stakes have not yet been determined, but Kulina said that Monmouth has no plans to double or triple its stakes purses at the expense of the overnight program. Although several stakes that were previously held at the Meadowlands, such as the Meadowlands Cup and the Pegasus, will be moved to Monmouth this year, purses for the races will likely remain at the same levels as last year, Kulina said, and Monmouth's most high-profile race, the Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds, will continue to be worth $1 million.

… Monmouth officials committed to carding an average of 2 1/2 races restricted to New Jersey-bred horses every day - or approximately 175 races over the two Monmouth meets, compared with 229 races restricted to Jersey-breds last year. Although the raw numbers of races are down, the purses in the restricted races will be roughly equal to the purses offered in open races, meaning New Jersey-bred maidens will be running for $75,000, the highest purses in the country in any statebred program.

… Supporters of the new Monmouth program, including Kulina and Forbes, have focused on the track's potential to thrill racing fans and bettors by providing full fields of top-class horses, but the commitment to the restricted races appears to contradict that philosophy. Kulina acknowledged that the restricted races would find little wagering support in the out-of-state market, but he said that Monmouth's plan to offer 12 races each day would give horseplayers ample opportunities to play open races.

"The fact of the matter is that every state has a statebred program, and you have to do things like that," Kulina said. "As a player, if you're not interested in those races, well, that's not all we're going to give you, and it's not all that you are going to get. We'll see to that."

[Indulto]

Beyond Provincialism, Audacious Monmouth Plan a Blueprint for Saving an Industry? (http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/On-The-Line/comments/beyond-provincialism-audacious-monmouth-plan-a-blueprint-for-saving-an-indu/)
By John Pricci March 09, 2010 …In the modern era, thoroughbred racing in New Jersey has embraced innovation. Because of its proximity to New York, it had to. The graphics packages on the nightly “Racing From the Meadowlands” cable program were always a step ahead of the competition. I was there. I know.

The bundling of thoroughbred stakes on a single card also broke new ground. It led to the special-event days that are so prevalent nationally today. They were the first track I know of to refer to their customers as “guests,” and treated them accordingly. They served gourmet fare in their tony Equestris restaurant, also a racetrack first.

Now thoroughbred racing at the Meadowlands will be no more, shifting to Monmouth Park for 22 days after Labor Day. They will race Saturdays and Sunday only, for purses reverting to a more New Jersey-like $250,000 daily. Standardbred racing will fill the gap in the Meadowlands schedule by adding three-day-weekend harness programs.

… our sense is that we have to look toward the future,” said Kulina. “We’re in the middle of five states with slots revenues. Small horsemen don’t have the kind of horses that America wants to bet on. [If they can’t compete] they will have to go by the wayside.”

… if you reduce the number of opportunities for live racing you can put out a better product, and that helps everyone. We learned at the Meadowlands that when fans showed up at for daytime simulcasting from Saratoga and Keeneland, it hurt our live racing at night… And simulcasting at the Meadowlands was very successful.”

What Monmouth management and its horsemen have created is a formula for success but the consumer, in Kulina’s words, “needs to embrace this.” And so this is much bigger than a provincial issue between New Jersey and New York, between Monmouth Park and Saratoga Race Course.

… “We think that Saratoga is still the best summer meeting on the East Coast,” said Monmouth Park’s general manager. “I know there’s a place for both of us to survive.”
Not Everyone’s Rooting for Monmouth Park (http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/John-Pricci/comments/03112010-not-everyones-rooting-for-monmouth-park/)
By John Pricci March 11, 2010 …While most reasonable people without provincial interest are rooting that Monmouth Park has created a template by which racing will not only survive but even thrive in the future, the smart money is betting against.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, highly placed industry sources are telling HRI there is no way Monmouth Park can reasonably expect to double its handle, something it would need to do to remain viable, given a purse structure that will distribute an average $1-million daily.

… More than any other sporting group, horseplayers are creatures of habit. Summer betting eyes are focused on Saratoga and Del Mar, and always have been in the modern era. Arlington Park’s summer signal is very popular because of its extensive turf program. Monmouth has its moments, but its weekday fare is, on balance, pedestrian.

… the big New York outfits might not find the pickings as easy this time. The large purses are sure to attract an influx of competitive horses from Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Money, as racetrackers often say, makes the mare go.

… While Monmouth Park vice president and general manager Bob Kulina and newly elected New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association president John Forbes presented a united front at an NTRA-sponsored conference call Tuesday, there was infighting before the plan was brought to fruition.

Forbes was one of three trainers, Tim Hills and Jim Ryerson being the other two HBPA board members, who was not on board with the plan because all felt it wasn’t in the best interests of New Jersey horsemen.

The one person who was on board, however, was newly elected Governor Chris Christie. Christie inherited not only the waning fortunes of the thoroughbred and breeding game but a tanking casino industry in Atlantic City as well.

… The administration pressured the horseman to either fall in line or face a shutdown of thoroughbred racing. The measure came to a vote and the resolution was passed by a 7-2 margin.

... did the Governor of New Jersey do racing a favor, or did he give New Jersey’s thoroughbred industry just enough rope to hang itself? …

[andymays]

Downsizing is happening as we speak. The question is who is going to get downsized out of business. They all can't conduct super meets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Something has to give over the next year.

Having said that I like Monmouth.

[Indulto]

Monmouth Park Stakes Schedule 2010

http://www.drf.com/newsletter/MTHstakes2010.pdf (http://www.drf.com/newsletter/MTHstakes2010.pdf)

[Buckeye]

Downsizing is happening as we speak. The question is who is going to get downsized out of business. They all can't conduct super meets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Something has to give over the next year.

Having said that I like Monmouth.

Actually, PLENTY is going "to give" over the next year. Monmouth is repositioning itself to at least not be one of those who "go out" of business, but the next step for them and others who survive will be what about the customer? What do we want? forgive me for asking . . .

[Indulto]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/sports/23racing.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/23/sports/23racing.html)
Monmouth’s Addition by Subtraction
By JOE DRAPE March 22, 2010Less is more. The maxim is truer than ever in horse racing, and this summer Monmouth Park is going to prove it. …

… It is a bold move that New Jersey needed to make if horse racing is going to survive in the state. It puts the future of the sport on the backs of the horses — theoretically, the fast, high-quality ones — instead of on the slot machines most of the East Coast has turned to for the sport’s salvation.

… “We’re surrounded by five states that have casino gambling and slot revenue and we sit in the middle of that,” said John Forbes, …

It forced a decision, he said, to “focus on what we think the customer wants.” He added, “Our business is going to be putting on horse racing, not bringing people in to play slot machines.”

There are a couple of reasons for New Jersey racing officials to be optimistic. First, Monmouth Park has a loyal fan base that is proud of the track’s history and treats it as a community treasure. It is one the prettiest racetracks in America, and one of the most family friendly. With its proximity to the Jersey Shore, Monmouth has always attracted robust business on weekends.

… Monmouth Park is also accessible to some of the best horses and stables in America. It is anywhere from a 90-minute to five-hour van ride from Belmont (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/b/belmont_stakes/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier), Saratoga, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Any trainer with a good horse will gladly make the trip to run a high-class maiden race with a $75,000 purse, allowance races for $80,000 to $90,000 or an overnight stake for $100,000.

…Even the competitors that will be hurt the most say it is a good idea. C. Steven Duncker, chairman of the New York Racing Association, knows that many horses will be leaving Belmont and Saratoga for the Jersey Shore on weekends. “It’s tough competition,” he said in an e-mail message. “Seems like a good idea. Will help handle.”

Monmouth officials hope their experiment will be more than a short-term fix; perhaps it will shift the paradigm of American racing. We do not need more racing. We need better racing.

“We’re in the entertainment business and we need to build a better product,” Kulina said. “And we think this is something that had to be tried and we have great expectations for it. And hopefully this is a look in the future of what racing in this country should look like.”

[onefast99]

Bob Kulina is in the entertainment business? I guess we will see KC and the Sunshine band along with a lot of other 80's groups playing at the bandshell just off the grandstand. Priceless.

[Indulto]

Indulto’s On-track experience expectations for head-to-head cards:
Vastly Superior, Superior, Marginally Superior, No Preference, Inferior

Monmouth $1M dates: (Mth/Fr,Sa,Su,Mo … Fr,Sa.Su.Mo)
May/22,23 29,30,31 .. Jun/4,5 6 11,12,13 18,19,20 25,26,27
Jul/2,3,4,5 .10,11 16,17,18 23,24,25 30,31 ..
AUg/1 6,7,8 13,14,15 20,21,22 27,28,29 .. Sep/3,4,5,6

05/22 BEL Sheepshead Bay...........[Sat] G2 .150000 3YO+ F&M 11.0f T
05/22-MTH-Elkwood S..........OPENING DAY... .100000 3YO+ ... .8.5f T
05/22 MTH Decathlon S................... .. .100000 3YO+ ... .6.0f .

05/23 BEL NY Stal S.-Cupecoy's Joy [Sun] .. ..75000 3YO. F.. .7.0f T
05/23 BEL NY Stal S.-Spectacular Bid Div .. ..75000 3YO. ... .7.0f T
05/23-MTH-Spend A Buck.................. .. .100000 3YO. ... .8.2f .

05/29 BEL Vagrancy H...............[Sat] G2 .150000 3YO+ F&M .6.5f .
05/29-MTH-Lamplighter S................. .. .100000 3YO. ... .8.5f T
05/29 MTH John J. Reilly H.............. .. .100000 3YO+ ... .6.0f . NJ

05/30 BEL Kingston.................[Sun] .. .100000 3YO+ ... .8.5f T NY
05/30 BEL Mount Vernon.................. .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f T NY
05/30-MTH-Monmouth Beach S.............. .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .8.3f .
05/30 MTH Little Silver S............... .. .100000 3YO. F.. .0.0f T

05/31 BEL Metropolitan H...........[Mon] G1 .500000 3YO+ ... .8.0f .
05/31 BEL Sands Point................... G2 .150000 3YO. F.. .9.0f T
05/31-MTH-Eatontown S................... G3 .150000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f T
05/31 MTH Just Smashing S............... .. .100000 3YO. F.. .6.0f .

06/04 BEL Brooklyn H...............[Fri] G2 .200000 3YO+ ... 12.0f .
06/04 BEL Hill Prince................... G3 .100000 3YO. ... .8.0f T

06/05 BEL Belmont..................[Sat] G1 1000000 3YO. ... 12.0f .
06/05 BEL Manhattan H................... G1 .400000 3YO+ ... 10.0f T
06/05 BEL Just A Game................... G1 .400000 3YO+ F&M .8.0f T
06/05 BEL Acorn......................... G1 .300000 3YO. F.. .8.0f .
06/05 BEL Woody Stephens................ G2 .250000 3YO. ... .7.0f .
06/05 BEL True North H.................. G2 .250000 3YO+ ... .6.0f .
06/05-MTH-Red Cross S................... .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .6.0f .
06/05 MTH Wolf Hill S................... .. .100000 3YO+ ... .5.5f T

06/06 MTH Rumson S.................[Sun] .. .100000 3YO. ... .6.0f

.06/12 BEL Ogden Phipps H...........[Sat] G1 .250000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f .
06/12-MTH-Monmouth S.................... G3 .250000 3YO+ ... .9.0f T
06/12 MTH Skip Away S................... .. .100000 3YO+ ... .8.5f .

06/12 MTH Longfellow S.................. .. .100000 3YO+ ... .6.0f .

06/13 MTH Open Mind H..............[Sun] .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .6.0f . NJ
06/13 MTH Candy ÉClair S................ .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .5.5f T

06/19 BEL New York.................[Sat] G2 .150000 3YO+ F&M 10.0f T
06/19-MTH-Pegasus S..................... G3 .200000 3YO. ... .9.0f .

06/20 BEL Bouwerie.................[Sun] .. .100000 3YO. F.. .7.0f . NY
06/20 BEL Mike Lee...................... .. .100000 3YO. ... .7.0f . NY
06/20-MTH-Bernie Dowd H................. .. .100000 3YO+ ... .8.3f . NJ
06/20 MTH Anderson Fowler S............. .. .100000 3YO. ... .5.5f T

06/26 BEL Mother Goose.............[Sat] G1 .250000 3YO. F.. .8.5f .
06/26-MTH-Boiling Springs S............. G3 .150000 3YO. F.. .8.5f T
06/26 MTH Lighthouse S.................. .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f .

06/27 MTH Blue Sparkler S..........[Sun] .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .6.0f .
06/27 MTH Crank It Up S................. .. .100000 3YO. F.. .5.5f T

07/03 BEL Suburban H...............[Sat] G2 .300000 3YO+ ... .9.0f .
07/03-MTH-United Nations S.............. G1 .750000 3YO+ ... 11.0f T
07/03 MTH Salvator Mile S............... G3 .250000 3YO+ ... .8.0f .

07/04 BEL Prioress.................[Sun] G1 .250000 3YO. F.. .6.0f .
07/04-MTH-Jersey Shore B/C S............ G3 .200000 3YO. ... .6.0f .
07/04 MTH Miss Liberty S................ .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f T

07/05 BEL Bed O' Roses H...........[Mon] G3 .150000 3YO+ F&M .7.0f .
07/05-MTH-Choice S...................... .. .100000 3YO. ... .9.0f T
07/05 MTH Mr. Prospector S.............. .. .100000 3YO+ ... .6.0f .

07/10 BEL Man O' War...............[Sat] G1 .600000 3YO+ ... 11.0f T
07/10-MTH-Long Branch B/C S............. .. .175000 3YO. ... .8.5f .
07/10 MTH Battlefield S................. .. .100000 3YO+ ... .8.0f T

07/11 MTH Spruce Fir H.............[Sun] .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .8.3f . NJ
07/11 MTH John Mcsorley S............... .. .100000 3YO+ ... .5.5f T

07/17 BEL Jaipur...................[Sat] G3 .200000 3YO+ ... .6.0f T
07/17-MTH-Serena's Song S............... .. .100000 3YO. F.. .8.3f .
07/17 MTH Klassy Briefcase S............ .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .5.5f T

07/18 MTH Dearly Precious S........[Sun] .. .100000 3YO. F.. .6.0f .

07/23 SAR Schuylerville............[Fri] G3 .100000 2YO. F.. .6.0f .

07/24 MTH Desert Vixen.............[Sat] .. .100000 3YO. F.. .8.5f T
07/24-SAR-Coaching Club American Oaks... G1 .250000 3YO. F.. .9.0f .

07/25 MTH Tyro S...................[Sun] .. .100000 2YO. ... .5.5f .
07/25-SAR-Sanford....................... G2 .150000 2YO. ... .6.0f .

07/26 SAR Evan Shipman.............[Mon] .. ..75000 3YO+ ... .9.0f . NY

07/27 SAR Lake George..............[Tue] G2 .150000 3YO. F.. .8.5f T

07/29 SAR Quick Call...............[Thu] .. ..75000 3YO. ... .8.0f T

07/31 MTH Mongo Queen..............[Sat] .. .100000 3YO. F.. .5.5f T

07/31-SAR-Diana......................... G1 .500000 3YO+ F&M .9.0f T
07/31 SAR Jim Dandy..................... G2 .500000 3YO. ... .9.0f .

08/01 MTH Haskell Invitational.....[Sun] G1 1000000 3YO. ... .9.0f .
08/01 MTH Macthmaker S.................. G3 .200000 3YO+ F&M .9.0f T
08/01 MTH Oceanport S................... G3 .200000 3YO+ ... .8.5f T
08/01 MTH Lady's Secret S............... .. .150000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f .
08/01 MTH Majestic Light S.............. .. .150000 3YO+ ... .8.5f .
08/01 MTH Teddy Drone S................. .. .150000 3YO+ ... .6.0f .
08/01 MTH Jersey Derby S................ .. .100000 3YO. ... .8.5f T
08/01 MTH Regret S...................... .. ..50000 3YO+ F&M .6.0f .
08/01-SAR-Ruffian H..................... G1 .250000 3YO+ F&M .9.0f .
08/01 SAR Fourstardave H................ G2 .150000 3YO+ ... .8.5f T
08/01 SAR Curlin........................ .. ..75000 3YO. ... .9.0f .

08/02 SAR Amsterdam................[Mon] G2 .150000 3YO. ... .6.5f .

08/04 SAR De La Rose...............[Wed] .. ..75000 4YO+ F&M .8.0f T

08/05 SAR John Morrissey...........[Thu] .. ..75000 3YO+ ... .6.5f . NY
08/05 SAR A. P. Smithwick Mem. (S'Chase) G2 ..75000 4YO+ ... .0.0f T

08/06 SAR John's Call..............[Fri] .. ..75000 4YO+ ... 13.0f T

08/07 MTH Colleen S................[Sat] .. .100000 2YO. F.. .5.5f .
08/07 MTH Mv Frenchman S................ .. .100000 3YO+ ... .5.5f T
08/07-SAR-Whitney H..................... G1 .750000 3YO+ ... .9.0f .
08/07 SAR Test.......................... G1 .250000 3YO. F.. .7.0f .

08/08 MTH Select S.................[Sun] .. .100000 3YO. ... .6.0f .
08/08-SAR-Alfred G. Vanderbilt H........ G1 .250000 3YO+ ... .6.0f .
08/08 SAR Honorable Miss H.............. G2 .150000 3YO+ F&M .6.0f .

08/09 SAR Waya.....................[Mon] .. ..75000 4YO+ F&M 12.0f T

08/11 SAR NY Stal S.-Cab Calloway D[Wed] .. .100000 3YO. ... .8.5f T

08/12 SAR NY Stal S.-Statue Of Libe[Thu] .. .100000 3YO. F.. .8.5f T

08/13 SAR N.Museum Racing Hall Of F[Fri] G2 .150000 3YO. ... .9.0f T

08/14 MTH Monmouth Oaks............[Sat] G3 .200000 3YO. F.. .8.5f .
08/14 MTH Continental Mile S............ .. .100000 2YO. ... .8.0f T
08/14-SAR-Sword Dancer Inv.............. G1 .500000 3YO+ ... 12.0f T

08/15 MTH Incredible Revenge S.....[Sun] .. ..60000 3YO+ F&M .5.5f T
08/15-SAR-Adirondack.................... G2 .150000 2YO. F.. .6.5f .

08/16 SAR Saratoga Special.........[Mon] G2 .150000 2YO. ... .6.5f .

08/18 SAR Troy.....................[Wed] .. ..75000 4YO+ ... .5.5f T

08/19 SAR West Point...............[Thu] .. .100000 3YO+ ... .9.0f T NY

08/20 SAR Yaddo....................[Fri] .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .9.0f T NY

08/21 MTH Philip H. Iselin B/C S...[Sat] G3 .300000 3YO+ ... .9.0f .
08/21 MTH Omnibus S..................... .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .9.0f T
08/21-SAR-Alabama....................... G1 .500000 3YO. F.. 10.0f .

08/22 MTH Trenton S................[Sun] .. .100000 3YO+ F&M .6.0f .
08/22 MTH Colts Neck H.................. .. .100000 3YO+ ... .6.0f . NJ
08/22-SAR-Lake Placid................... G2 .150000 3YO. F.. .9.0f T

08/23 SAR Union Avenue.............[Mon] .. ..75000 3YO+ F&M .6.0f . NY

08/25 SAR Albany...................[Wed] .. .100000 3YO. ... .9.0f . NY

08/26 SAR NY Turf Writrs Cup H.(S'C[Thu] G1 .100000 4YO+ ... .0.0f T

08/27 SAR Bernard Baruch H.........[Fri] G2 .200000 3YO+ ... .9.0f T

08/28 MTH Restoration S............[Sat] .. .100000 3YO. ... .9.0f T
08/28 MTH Miss Woodford S............... .. .100000 3YO. F.. .6.0f .
08/28-SAR-Travers....................... G1 1000000 3YO. ... 10.0f .
08/28 SAR King's Bishop................. G1 .250000 3YO. ... .7.0f .
08/28 SAR Ballerina..................... G1 .250000 3YO+ F&M .7.0f .
08/28 SAR Ballston Spa.................. G2 .200000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f T
08/28 SAR Victory Ride.................. G3 .100000 3YO. F.. .6.0f .

08/29 MTH Molly Pitcher B/C S......[Sun] G2 .300000 3YO+ F&M .8.5f .
08/29 MTH Junior Champion S............. .. .100000 2YO. F.. .8.0f T
08/29-SAR-Personal Ensign............... G1 .300000 3YO+ F&M 10.0f .

08/30 SAR Saratoga Dew.............[Mon] .. ..75000 3YO+ F&M .9.0f . NY

09/01 SAR P. G. Johnson............[Wed] .. ..75000 2YO. F.. .8.5f T

09/02 SAR Riskaverse...............[Thu] .. ..75000 3YO. F.. .8.0f T

09/03 SAR With Anticipation........[Fri] G3 .100000 2YO. ... .8.5f T

09/04 MTH Sapling..................[Sat] G3 .150000 2YO. ... .6.0f .
09/04 MTH Twin Lights S................. .. .100000 3YO. F.. .9.0f T
09/04-SAR-The Woodward.................. G1 .750000 3YO+ ... .9.0f .
09/04 SAR Forego........................ G1 .250000 3YO+ ... .7.0f .

09/05 MTH Red Bank S...............[Sun] G3 .200000 3YO+ ... .8.0f T
09/05 MTH Icecapade..................... .. .100000 3YO+ ... .6.0f .
09/05-SAR-Spinaway...................... G1 .250000 2YO. F.. .7.0f .
09/05 SAR Saranac....................... G3 .100000 3YO. ... 9.5f T

09/06 MTH Sorority S...............[Mon] .. .100000 2YO. F.. .6.0f .
09/06 MTH Guilded Times S............... .. .100000 3YO. ... .5.5f T
09/06-SAR-Hopeful....................... G1 .250000 2YO. ... .7.0f .
09/06 SAR Glens Falls................... G3 .100000 3YO+ F&M 11.0f T

[OTM Al]

It's not the stakes races that would potentially suffer at Saratoga. Monmouth has exactly 2 Gr1 races and a smattering of Gr 2s and 3s. Saratoga runs that many in some weeks. Graded black type trumps ungraded in the breeding shed no matter what the purse was. I am going to assume also that Monmouth will have to card NJ Bred races as well, which will change nothing either. It will only be in the open maiden and allowence races and claimers where any real damage could be done.

[Indulto]

It's not the stakes races that would potentially suffer at Saratoga. Monmouth has exactly 2 Gr1 races and a smattering of Gr 2s and 3s. Saratoga runs that many in some weeks. Graded black type trumps ungraded in the breeding shed no matter what the purse was. I am going to assume also that Monmouth will have to card NJ Bred races as well, which will change nothing either. It will only be in the open maiden and allowence races and claimers where any real damage could be done.OA,
I assume by "damage" you mean field size as opposed to handle and/or attendance. Is it possible to find out how much is bet on MTH and on SAR at SAR, parhaps as a percentage of total on-track and outgoing simulcast wagers?

I expect greater attendance at MTH will also increase simulcast wager volume there on SAR and that SAR will benefit from an increase in simulcast wagers there on MTH. I'm hoping the MTH $.50 Pick 5 will take off with higher quality fields and offer the SAR customer additional opportunies they still can't get from the on-track $2 Pick 6

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=111685 (http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=111685)
Q&A: Robert Kulina
By Jay Privman 3/25/2010…
How confident are you that this will work? "I think it's going to work. I'm really excited. We need to be creative. We have to focus on the consumer. I think we've lost that focus a lot. The hardest part in all this was trying to make a budget - where is the revenue coming from? Depending on the age of the department head, the predictions are all over the board. The younger guys think this will change the world. Us veterans are a little more cautious."

Is this a one-year deal? "Yes. The casino deal expires this year, so obviously, we will need to go out and seek new funding sources. If we can't prove that we can be a success, re-energize the public to come out, then the long-term viability of everything could be in question. This is an extremely important experiment."

In terms of funding, what long-term commitment do you have with the casinos to cooperate in this venture? "We don't look at the casinos. We look at the government. We have to prove as an industry that people want to see us. We have to prove we're worth saving. This is a three-quarter of a billion dollar business in New Jersey. It provides open spaces, farms, and hayfields. Between the two breeds [Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds], there's 7,000 jobs. If people want quality racing and bigger fields, we can deliver that."
…
Do you think Monmouth will replace Saratoga as the elite summer racing venue on the East Coast? "I would never think that. We need Saratoga to be the premier meet. I'm flattered people are saying that about us. But 40 percent of my business comes from New York racing. The better their racing, the better we do. I think we have to strengthen things across the board. Monmouth Park in June and July will complement Saratoga in July and August."
…http://fhiers.blogs.ocala.com/10079/monmouth-parks-big-gamble-just-another-shell-game/ (http://fhiers.blogs.ocala.com/10079/monmouth-parks-big-gamble-just-another-shell-game/)
Monmouth Park’s big gamble just another shell game
by Carlos Medina March 23rd, 2010… In a nutshell, there are four main characters in this drama.

First, the track. The tracks are not just the kids with the ball, they are the kids who own the playground. They make the rules and provide the venue, collect the wagers and pay out money to gamblers and owners of winning horses. They are similar to the Jerry Joneses and Steinbrenners of the world.

Then there are the horsemens’ groups. They are the folks who represent the trainers, owners and others who provide the racing product: Essentially the horses which actually run the races. In addition to having the participants, they also own the video signal which broadcasts the races to other jurisdictions around the country and world. They are akin to the players’ associations.

Then there are the breeders’ associations, which represent the breeders of horses who run races. These associations are charged with distributing awards to the breeders of winning horses along with advancing the business of breeding. Most breeders sell their product well before the horses reach the track, so the breeders’ associations make sure they are rewarded for their work with a piece of the action. There is really nothing comparable in other sports.

Finally, there are the fans. The ones who make the wagers which sustain the sport. Nothing happens without them and like this list, they are usually the last taken into account.

… The first three entities fight over how much they can get of the so-called “takeout,” which is the percentage of what is taken off the top of every dollar bet. The last group wants the takeout to shrink as much as possible so they get more money back for risking their money.

Takeouts vary from track to track and state to state, but it’s usually about 20 percent. This takeout rate pays for taxes and other expenses, so the amount left to divvy up is roughly 10 percent.

The fight over this 10 percent can get very contentious and deals can hinge on thousandths of a percent. Track owners can and have refused access to trainers or owners who are especially outspoken or critical of track owners. The horsemens’ groups can and have withheld access to the racing broadcast signal, which essentially stops tracks from making money from gamblers who want to bet on races from other parts of the country. When these tactics are employed everyone, especially the customer, suffers.

It’s a battle between groups inextricably tied to the success of one another, but who can never seem to agree on anything. There is just too much money involved and too much face to save.

… Further complicating matters is the very real problem of lackluster horses racing in lackluster races at lackluster venues. There are too many horse at too many tracks. For too many years, the focus of the industry was to expand the number of horses and races. Before the advent of the Internet, the local track or simulcast facility were the only games in town to wager legally. The local tracks could get by with weaker fields.

… With the effecetive blessing of the government, Internet wagering put a whole new value on the broadcast signal owned buy the horsemans’ associations at major tracks. Gamblers could now legally wager on races in California or Florida or New York from basically anywhere else via a computer from the comfort of their sofa. The need for local tracks began to erode, and quickly.

Now, the mediocre horses at these smaller tracks are clogging the system. With the contraction of the economy, the problem has become even worse. Owners will continue to fail because there is simply not enough money to make it profitable or to just break even and these horses, which live for more than two decades, will leave a lasting legacy. …

[OTM Al]

OA,
I assume by "damage" you mean field size as opposed to handle and/or attendance. Is it possible to find out how much is bet on MTH and on SAR at SAR, parhaps as a percentage of total on-track and outgoing simulcast wagers?

I expect greater attendance at MTH will also increase simulcast wager volume there on SAR and that SAR will benefit from an increase in simulcast wagers there on MTH. I'm hoping the MTH $.50 Pick 5 will take off with higher quality fields and offer the SAR customer additional opportunies they still can't get from the on-track $2 Pick 6

Field size will have an effect on handle, so both could be hurt. I say could because we still need to see what happens. It is possible that horses who wouldn't have raced in Saratoga previously may fill part of the gap. I really don't see crowds being all that much bigger at Monmouth. Group trips that would go on weekdays may go on weekends instead, but the on track comparison would be a former 5 day total against a 3 day total this year. The real and significant action can only occur from simulcasting and that's going to have to go up a lot to cover purse increases, though there will be cost savings from dropping 2 days a week with reduction in cleaning and maintenance expenses.

[rwwupl]

Excerpt from Indulto article above:

"The customer wants a better product, and we are great at getting people to the racetrack on weekends," Kulina said. "We're in the entertainment business, and we need to give the customer what he wants

Indulto:

Yes, the customer wants a better product.

In my opinion it is a mistake to design our game as "Entertainment".

We are a sport of horseracing that is supported by customer participation to make it whole... in wagering on the results.

Our brand is unique in the world. It is being promoted and marketed with the wrong emphasis. People go to the track for many reasons... but the "core " go to gamble.. not to be "entertained". Entertainment is a side issue for some.

Wrestling went the way of "entertainment", but no one will bet on wrestling, they are supported by admission ticket sales,and people are drawn by marketing razz-a-matazz and B.S.

All entertainment venues are supported by direct or indirect ticket sales and depend on marketing to put butts in the seats. Horseracing can not succeed with that emphasis,we have been there,done that. Our marketing emphasis should be on the contest between the horses and the contest of the fans with each other through the pari-mutuels.

Our leadership has lost what our unique game is all about. The people love horseracing if we conduct it with fairness for ALL PARTICIPANTS. All participants must be assured of a level playing field and all partipants must have a reasonable chance to profit,without guarantee and that is not so now.

Our leaders cry that we are losing marketshare, and say we have to have slots,and more gimmicks to strip the fans faster of their money.. and each group fights with each other to get a bigger share of what is left. This is all baloney, the truth is we need to rebuild the fan base by doing something so simple it will make a man with a toothache laugh.

We do two main things. We work on giving the customer a better product as described above, and recognize that our game is supported by gambling of the fans,so we lower the take to optimum,send home more winners(we are not sending home any winners now)
and winners will increase the number of fans growth rate exponentially that want to be winners too.

Too simple? Try it...you will like it.

rwwupl

[Deepsix]

So what suggestion would a person aligned with The Player's Interests take concerning the MTH Experiment? Should we (Players) participate in the 3-day concept, or should HANA promote some sort of protest since there is no reduction in takeout? I'm unsure of the bottom line.

I viewed the MTH Conditions Book and I'm undecided until I see the PPs (actual entrants), and not just the opening weekend, but how the races fill over time. IMO its too soon to tell.

[TizTheOne]

Monmouth is on to something. Racing likely will wind up being a 3 day a week game with the exception of elite meets like Keeneland, Saratoga, and Del Mar.

Horse racing simply can't compete with lotteries, poker, slots, and even daytrading.

[Deepsix]

Tiz, you may well be right. The difficulty is that the Race Track (the plant, the physical structure and all the supporting personnel) must find some 'other' activity to keep the plant busy during the other 4-days of the week. As I've read over the years, its difficult to retain support staff (vendors, parking, security, customer service, etc) when they only have a basic 3-day week.

This is why slots, ADW/OTB, and other forms of non-racing activity becomes essential.... or so the argument goes???

[TizTheOne]

Tiz, you may well be right. The difficulty is that the Race Track (the plant, the physical structure and all the supporting personnel) must find some 'other' activity to keep the plant busy during the other 4-days of the week. As I've read over the years, its difficult to retain support staff (vendors, parking, security, customer service, etc) when they only have a basic 3-day week.

This is why slots, ADW/OTB, and other forms of non-racing activity becomes essential.... or so the argument goes???

I don't think a racing organization should exist if it NEEDS slots to survive, but I have always thought racetracks should get them and should also do things like put movie theatres, restaurants and other entertainment options in the track facility.

[Deepsix]

I believe that that was Stronach's (sp ??) early vision at GP. That concept may look more appealing as time unfolds.

[Indulto]

... In my opinion it is a mistake to design our game as "Entertainment".

We are a sport of horseracing that is supported by customer participation to make it whole... in wagering on the results.

Our brand is unique in the world. It is being promoted and marketed with the wrong emphasis. People go to the track for many reasons... but the "core " go to gamble.. not to be "entertained". Entertainment is a side issue for some.Is one not supposed to have fun when gabling? ;)
Wrestling went the way of "entertainment", but no one will bet on wrestling, they are supported by admission ticket sales,and people are drawn by marketing razz-a-matazz and B.S.

All entertainment venues are supported by direct or indirect ticket sales and depend on marketing to put butts in the seats. Horseracing can not succeed with that emphasis,we have been there,done that. Our marketing emphasis should be on the contest between the horses and the contest of the fans with each other through the pari-mutuels.

Our leadership has lost what our unique game is all about. The people love horseracing if we conduct it with fairness for ALL PARTICIPANTS. All participants must be assured of a level playing field and all partipants must have a reasonable chance to profit,without guarantee and that is not so now.I agree.Our leaders cry that we are losing marketshare, and say we have to have slots,and more gimmicks to strip the fans faster of their money.. and each group fights with each other to get a bigger share of what is left. This is all baloney, the truth is we need to rebuild the fan base by doing something so simple it will make a man with a toothache laugh.

We do two main things. We work on giving the customer a better product as described above, and recognize that our game is supported by gambling of the fans,so we lower the take to optimum,send home more winners(we are not sending home any winners now)
and winners will increase the number of fans growth rate exponentially that want to be winners too.

Too simple? Try it...you will like it.

rwwuplrw,
I think any disagreement between us is one of semantics, i.e., whether or not betting on horse races should be designated as entertainment.

If 95% of bettors are wagering 80% of handle unprofitably, then why are they doing so if not for entertainment?

It is my understanding that fewer than 2% of bettors make a living betting on horse racing. The rest seem to have other sources of income to defray their living expenses. I have no idea what % of people gambling on slots or other casino games do so professionally, but people I have contact with off this board all regard gambling principally as a form of entertainment, and most play some form of card games for money socially in their homes for pleasure.

Apparently 1% of players are generating as much as 85% of handle and some of them are treating the "game" as an investment market. I don't think Kulina and his associates view the game that way. At least I hope they don't I assume that is why NJ offers a 50-cent Pick Five to people who play the races for enjoyent while NY and CA allow whales to dominate the $2 Pick Six pools, and worship them as if they walk on water.

Paying rebates on losing tickets to priviliged players only is not fair to the majority of customers who don't find the concept quite as entertaining as the minority that supports it. Are you among the latter?

Takeout needs to be reduced to equal levels for all players, If it is true that jurisdictional obstacles to "across the board" reductions in direct takeout are as insurmountable as some think, then why not work for a winner's bonus as opposed to rebates?

[rwwupl]

Indulto...

I think any disagreement between us is one of semantics, i.e., whether or not betting on horse races should be designated as entertainment.


Calling it entertainment misses the point. Are we ashamed to be a gambling sport? "Entertainment" allows all serious questions to be able to be answered by " So what,you have been entertained haven't you?" Maybe it is semantics, but I prefer my own description.


Paying rebates on losing tickets to priviliged players only is not fair to the majority of customers who don't find the concept quite as entertaining as the minority that supports it. Are you among the latter?


I have no objection to anything marketing can do to increase on track attendance..within certain bounds. The funds to operate any concept such as a losing ticket drawing must come from existing budgets and redistributed based on the fact marketing thinks it is important enough to replace expenditures that are not as effective. When I spoke to the CHRB 3-19-10 I gave them a handout showing how other jurisdictions have similar drawings without increasing the take...Australia, Canada. There are many approaches to this concept including a 10% bonus on winning tickets. Darrell Vienna proposed such a thing but it was tabled because he needed help with the details... When such a plan is put forth we will examine it further(Maybe with your help?).


Takeout needs to be reduced to equal levels for all players, If it is true that jurisdictional obstacles to "across the board" reductions in direct takeout are as insurmountable as some think, then why not work for a winner's bonus as opposed to rebates?[/QUOTE]


Takeout and rebates equal the cost of the bet to the player. I prefer a flat optimum take for all, without all the jazz of tiers for exotics or rebates for certain people... Everyone must know they are getting a fair and equitable deal.. that is the best way. Can it be done? Heck yes, economics are our partner and Mr. Economics says follow me or quit.

rww

[toussaud]

horse racing is a very, very, very unique sport, as you really have 2 sports, within 1 sport if you think about it.

Take tomorrow morning. You will tune in to dubai, and it's horse racing at it's finest. They don't wager over there, they bring out the best of the best and literarly, put on a show for the world to see. That is entertainment.


Then you have....and i'm not picking on any one track, say Aqueduct. nothing wrong with aqueduct, but it's not really entertainment as much as it is gambling.

they have basically two different business plans, two different business models so to speak and the arguement here, seems to be which is right. it's both.

They both have the same fan base; gamblers will gamble at dubai (i know i will. go red desire!), but fans, who want to mingle and be entertained, maybe dress up and meet people, are not going to the big A at noon on a thursday. And that's okay!

that's not their clientele\



horse racing will never be ALL of one thing. There will never be all 2% take out tracks (god that would be nice) running 15 horse fields on all dirt.

There will never also, be ONLY 2 day a week 10 card days with nothing but 100k races in each race.

the future holds a combination of both, but a better combination than we have now.

[Indulto]

Indulto...
Calling it entertainment misses the point. Are we ashamed to be a gambling sport? "Entertainment" allows all serious questions to be able to be answered by " So what,you have been entertained haven't you?" Maybe it is semantics, but I prefer my own description.rw,
Racing IS a gambling sport just like the NFL, NBA, and MLB (especially in Dubai ;)), but with advanced deposits and betting windows eliminating physical danger to losing bettors. :D IMO the gambling aspect associated with all four sports is nothing to be ashamed of, but I personally would not use the services of an unlicensed bet-taker.

What I do find shameful about racing is the exploitation of the vast majoiry of players who bet for entertainment by subsidized whales who can profit financially from wagering even if the total parimutual payouts on their wagers don't exceed their total wagered. To such players and those who enable such perversion of the system, I would add those who enable hidden and/or disguised enhancement of equine performance.I have no objection to anything marketing can do to increase on track attendance..within certain bounds. The funds to operate any concept such as a losing ticket drawing must come from existing budgets and redistributed based on the fact marketing thinks it is important enough to replace expenditures that are not as effective.I can't comment cogently without knowing the speciics of the issues to which you're referring.
When I spoke to the CHRB 3-19-10 I gave them a handout showing how other jurisdictions have similar drawings without increasing the take...Australia, Canada. There are many approaches to this concept including a 10% bonus on winning tickets. Darrell Vienna proposed such a thing but it was tabled because he needed help with the details... When such a plan is put forth we will examine it further(Maybe with your help?).
Are you addressing me as one PA poster to another or as a representative of HANA?Takeout and rebates equal the cost of the bet to the player. I prefer a flat optimum take for all, without all the jazz of tiers for exotics or rebates for certain people... Everyone must know they are getting a fair and equitable deal.. that is the best way. Can it be done? Heck yes, economics are our partner and Mr. Economics says follow me or quit.

rwwFrom your mouth to Blackwell's and Stronach's ears.:jump: I'm delighted to hear about your opportunity to speak to the board. Did I once agin miss information provided to the general HANA membership pre or post-meeting, or is this the first public revelation of that action? I'm particulary pleased that some horsemen are supporting the concept of a "winner's bonus" and look forward to learning more details.

[rwwupl]

Indulto,

I thought you were refering to the matter about a losing ticket lottery as described in this link:

http://www.delmartimes.net/news/267524-no-action-on-racetrack-losing-bettor-proposal

I did speak to this as described previously.

Also the following link describes a 10% bonus for winners :

http://andrewtwaits.betfair.com.au/2010/02/on-course-bonus-a-step-in-the-right-direction/

Also note that HANA has posted a blurb on this :

http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/2010/03/winners-bonus-downunder.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I am speaking to you as a fellow poster, and am always seeking good advice from informed sources. I welcome your input on anything.

rwwupl

[Indulto]

Indulto,

I thought you were refering to the matter about a losing ticket lottery as described in this link:

http://www.delmartimes.net/news/267524-no-action-on-racetrack-losing-bettor-proposal

I did speak to this as described previously.

Also the following link describes a 10% bonus for winners :

http://andrewtwaits.betfair.com.au/2010/02/on-course-bonus-a-step-in-the-right-direction/

Also note that HANA has posted a blurb on this :

http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/2010/03/winners-bonus-downunder.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I am speaking to you as a fellow poster, and am always seeking good advice from informed sources. I welcome your input on anything.

rwwuplThanks for the links, rw. It appears that Vienna supported a loser's lottery which I loathe ;) rather than a winner's bonus which I would wholeheartedly support.

What is clearer to me now is that the real issue is NOT the definition of the game as gambling vs. entertainment, but placing the MARKETING emphasis on HORSEPLAYING, i.e., the challenge and enjoyment of handicapping, wagering, and viewing with the appreciation of nuances, e.g., lead changes, etc..

The idea of a loser's lottery is an example of "old-school" marketing mentality; reminiscent of SA's giving away a car to a single lucky customer because they thought it would make the less lucky return. Maybe that concept had some validity when horseplayers generally weren't as sophisticated as they are now, but today's marketing promotions have to benefit MANY customers to be effective.

Monmouth should be promting its 15% takeout on the P5 and P4, and focusing attention on the fact that the 50-cent minimum on the P5 -- combined with that lower takeout -- allows the small bankroll player to compete on a level playing field with big bankroll bettors and gives them a shot at making their own luck . They should also point out that their fuller, more competive fields should lead to significant scores without reverting to stuffing low-quality events into P6 races in order to generate carryovers.

So the mind-changing miracle would be that tracks start recognizing that their customers are predominantly a special group of people who enjoy playing the horses and gambling, and are more likely to keep playing the game and enjoying it more with increased evidence of fairness and transparency. as well as increased potential for a life-changing score on a ticket purchased with spare change.

Will you be attending the CHRB meeting's on a regular basis? While I don't know you, personally, you come across as a fair-minded, savvy observer of the California racing political scene whose presence as a representative of horseplayers might achieve some positive resultsas long as you are not perceived to be promoting the interests of professional players at the expense of those who play and bet for "entertainment."

I'm taking you to task here, not to put down HANA leadership, but to promote wider representation of horseplayers, generally, in the light of significant efforts by the NJSEA to improve the situation for players they perceive to be their "preferred customers" regardless of bankroll size. I'd like to repeat my suggestion at HRI that Monmouth consider announcing they will share any success in attaing significant handle increases with their customers in the form of winner bonuses that increase with handle.

[rwwupl]

Thanks for the feedback. I can not go to all meetings because they are scattered all over the State... unless there is something of specific interest to the players.

I am making a good effort to restore the webcasts so that all who are interested can see first hand what is going on. I have found and recommended a man and his company and he will be interviewed soon... and then the money has to be found ...

Someday, I hope(a goal) to expand the coverage,with the CHRB permission, to include a surrogate to handle incoming e-mail questions from anyone about anything to the CHRB meetings in a "question period" to better inform the public.

rwwupl

[Indulto]

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=919160&category=SARATOGA
NYRA adds another worry
Trainers dispute threat of larger Monmouth purses
By TIM WILKIN April 7, 2010… There are those in the Saratoga community who are more than a little nervous with this announcement, fearing horses who would normally run at the Spa, might ship to the Jersey Shore.

... However, big trainers from New York, like Linda Rice, the first female to win a Spa training title (2009), Kiaran McLaughlin and Todd Pletcher, have historically had a division of horses at Monmouth. However, they are more likely to run at Saratoga.

"Three years ago, I moved my horses out of Jersey to train them at Saratoga (Oklahoma Training Track)," Rice said. "Obviously, New York is in quite a state of disarray at the moment and the purses at Monmouth are disturbing to New York racing. But, as far as it changing my plans, it won't."

"Saratoga is Saratoga," said McLaughlin, the leading Spa trainer in 2008, said he would have a division at Monmouth this summer.

"A lot of owners and racing managers and key people in our industry plan on being at Saratoga every year for part of the meet or all of it. The bigger guys in New York are loyal New York guys. We are based in New York and we run in New York and we support New York."

Bob Kulina, the general manager at Monmouth Park, said this is a one-year experiment and the track has been aided by $20 million from New Jersey casinos.

He hopes it will help revive a sagging sport. Last year, there were 141 days of racing at Monmouth and the Meadowlands. At the summer meet this year, there will be 50.

"All the non casino tracks are having a hard time," Kulina said. "Haskell Day (the signature day of the Monmouth meet), Father's Day and any day at Saratoga are all good days. Why does it work? We need to recapture some of the old fans, make things more exciting."

Kulina said Monmouth was averaging between 5,200 and 5,300 fans per day during weekdays last year.

[thespaah]

The folks operating T-Breds in NJ have hit it on one part of the equation. In horse racing less is more.
Now, the bulbous MTH purses will indeed siphon off racing stock from neighboring states that have their own slot inflated purses to have a crack at NJ's.....bulbous purses.
So what will be the effect on the Saratoga meeting? Not much.
Instead of the average 2 or 3YO MSW field being 9.8 it might be 9.2 per race.
ANd maybe SAR will see a loss of 0.5 of their 10 or so avg number of horses going to the gate for the turf events.
SO what.
If it helps MTH to stay open, I'm all for it. Competition. Sensible competition is good.
SO let's turn the page to 2011. Saratoga is still the preeminment race meet on the North American continent. MTH no longer has bulbous purses because the casino subsidy is no more.
The guys that showed up for the bulbous MTH purses in 2010 have elected to stay in states with the slot inflated purses during 2011.
The result, MTH struggles with small on track attendance, small fields and dwindling handle. The powers that be in NJ decide that it just isn't worth it so they deny MTH racing dates in 2012 . The casinos are happy because that is one less small number of people who just might go play cards instead of going to NY or PA to bet the races.
The deal is this. Unless lots more people start wagering on MTH races and maybe lift on track attendance by 1,000 per day or so, NJ T-Bread racing is going to go the way of the Tocks Island Dam Project.

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/112077.html
Belmont scraps its overnight stakes program
By David Grening 4/9/2010… The New York Racing Association has eliminated its overnight stakes program for the upcoming Belmont Park spring/summer meet and will use that money - nearly $2.2 million - to increase purses for open-company races. Belmont's 59-day meet opens April 30.

Purses for open-company maiden and allowance races will go up by $10,000 from what they were worth at Aqueduct. The new purses reflect a $7,000 increase when compared to last year's Belmont spring/summer meet. Purses for claiming races will go up $5,000, and maiden claimers will go up by $3,000 from Aqueduct.

However, purses for New York-bred races will be cut by $2,000 when compared to the levels they were at for Aqueduct. Those purses reflect a $5,000 cut when compared to the levels they were at for last spring's meet.

P.J. Campo, NYRA's director of racing, said he came up with this idea in hopes of trying to be "somewhat competitive" with the upcoming meeting at Monmouth Park, where maiden races will have purses of $75,000 and allowance races will carry purses between $80,000 and $90,000.

"It seemed a better use of the money; you would think you would help more of the horse population," Campo said.

Campo said NYRA offered 33 overnight stakes worth $2.2 million during last year's Belmont spring/summer meeting. He said the average field size for those races was 5.5 horses.

Campo added that the New York-bred horse population is not affected by the Monmouth Park purse structure since that track will not be offering New York-bred races.

"You play to your competitors a little bit," Campo said. "The New York-breds, it is what it is. It's still a good program, and they're still running for decent money."

Campo said NYRA will assess how things are going in the middle of June before deciding upon a purse structure for Saratoga. …

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/112540.html
Belmont faces new competition for quality horses
By David Grening4/28/2010… P.J. Campo, vice president/director of racing for the New York Racing Association, said the impact Monmouth will have on Belmont is "an unknown right now,'' but he is encouraged by having a full complement of horses at Aqueduct and Belmont. Campo said there are approximately 2,400 horses stabled between the two tracks.

"I think it comes down to what horses fit where and what races go,'' Campo said.

It could also come down to weather. Last summer, Belmont lost 77 turf races due to inclement weather.

… Campo said he expects horsemen stabled in New York to run their horses at Belmont and not ship out of town.

"At any racetrack that's the expectation,'' Campo said. "That's all I'm asking for. If a race doesn't go for some reason and a race someplace else goes, I understand you got to make a living. If the races are here and going, I expect the guys that are stabled here and training here to run here.''

… "We're fortunate enough to be in a position where we got a lot of stakes horses," Pletcher said. "Most of those will be at Belmont. I sent some maidens and 'one-other-thans' that normally would have gone to Belmont to Monmouth. Some of the other horses interchange some. Hopefully, no one's going to get upset if I have a horse stabled at Monmouth that runs at Belmont and vice versa. It's going to have to happen occasionally.''

Said Dutrow: "I think Monmouth Park is going to be an extremely tough place to win this year. I'd be 8-5 in a six-horse field; now I'll be 10-1 in a 12-horse horse field. It's not a party for anybody training to go there. Everyone in the country's got a Monmouth Park [condition] book; it might be easier to win at Belmont.'' …

[onefast99]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/112540.html
Belmont faces new competition for quality horses
By David Grening4/28/2010
Why does everyone all of a sudden think that the NY trainers are heads and tails above the NJ trainers? They are all trainers and if someone has a horse who is better off running in a 6 horse field at 8-5 as opposed to running in a 12 horse field at 10-1 doesn't common sense say go where you have the best chance of winning? Everyone knows that the large purses at MP will attract better horses, but please stop with the crap that the NY trainers have anything over those training at MP.

[Indulto]

Why does everyone all of a sudden think that the NY trainers are heads and tails above the NJ trainers? They are all trainers and if someone has a horse who is better off running in a 6 horse field at 8-5 as opposed to running in a 12 horse field at 10-1 doesn't common sense say go where you have the best chance of winning? Everyone knows that the large purses at MP will attract better horses, but please stop with the crap that the NY trainers have anything over those training at MP.Where did the author put down NJ trainers? The better trainers in both states will ship to the other venue when the conditions suit them. It’s probably easier to judge the collective abilities of a group of jockeys between venues than trainers. This year a lot of prior NJ-based jockeys are going get fewer mounts and therefore wins, but some will probably still do OK.

[onefast99]

Where did the author put down NJ trainers? The better trainers in both states will ship to the other venue when the conditions suit them. It’s probably easier to judge the collective abilities of a group of jockeys between venues than trainers. This year a lot of prior NJ-based jockeys are going get fewer mounts and therefore wins, but some will probably still do OK.
I am talking about the comments where Campo mentioned that if a trainer is stabled at Belmont or another NY facility they should be running in NY and not shipping to MP. Pletcher replied he would do both ship to MP with NY horses and ship NJ horses to NY tracks, which he has done for many years as well as other NY and NJ trainers and my take on it was the NY trainers are trainers and because they are in NY doesn't mean they are any better then the NJ trainers, that's all just an observation. You bring up an interesting comment on the jockey colony, there are many jocks going to MP from NY and elsewhere and that will result in some great competition amongst them. We will see racing at its best once the meet starts on May 22nd.

[Indulto]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101986.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101986.html)
Monmouth hopes concentrated schedule will revive horse industry
By Andrew BeyerMay 22, 2010… Desperate for a solution to their problems, people in the industry will be watching the developments in Oceanport, N.J., where Monmouth Park opens its season Saturday. Monmouth has made a bold and unprecedented change to its racing program. If its experiment succeeds, it may influence the operation of tracks from coast to coast.

… The money will attract more horses, which will result in larger and more competitive fields, which will lead to more betting. Or at least that's the theory. Though Monmouth's plan sounds like a simple concept, it required two years of negotiations to become a reality, partly because of the always contentious relations between racetracks and horsemen, and partly because of the special nature of racing in New Jersey, where the tracks are operated by a state authority.

… The main sticking point was the issue that regularly divides management and horsemen. It is easy enough to raise purses by spreading the available money over fewer races, but horsemen almost always fight against cutbacks in racing dates. …

… Monmouth would offer large purses for horses as cheap as $5,000 claimers, giving small stables a shot at a big payday. Plenty of money would go into purses for races limited to New Jersey-breds, so the state's breeders would benefit. The purse structure for individual races would pay everybody in the field -- with $1,500 going to the last-place finisher -- and would thus spread the wealth instead of letting a few powerful stables take all the spoils.

… The high purses will surely attract horses from all over the mid-Atlantic region, but nobody can say for certain that the changes at Monmouth will pay off in terms of substantially increased business. Nor has anyone in the industry defined a benchmark of success.

Last year, betting at Monmouth (from all sources, on- and off-track) averaged $3.1 million per day. Saratoga, which then offered the highest purses in the United States, averaged $14.3 million. Monmouth won't reach that stratospheric level, but if it doubles its daily business and averages more than $6 million, its results would surely be considered a success.

… If Monmouth does have a spectacular season, it would be a model for states. The sport now has too many tracks running too many races with too few horses to fill them, yet in many jurisdictions the horsemen still balk at significant cutbacks in racing dates. Monmouth could show that there is a viable alternative to the dismal status quo.
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/monmouth-plays-hero--magna-acts-like-zero-94565309.html (http://www.lvrj.com/sports/monmouth-plays-hero--magna-acts-like-zero-94565309.html)
RICHARD ENG: Monmouth plays hero; Magna acts like zero
By Richard Eng 5/21/2010… No wonder the nation's best jockeys and trainers will be regulars at Monmouth this summer. While their vote is important, the key will be the support of horseplayers.

For years, horseplayers have said they want to bet races of quality and with a quantity of runners. Monmouth will be offering just that. So now it's time for us bettors to put up or shut up. If the handle at the track on the Jersey shore does not grow by 20 percent or more, it will be a bad sign for the racing industry.

I wish Monmouth had implemented one change I suggested: lowering the takeout on win, place and show bets to 10 percent. Increasing straight betting is desirable because it creates the kind of churn that racetracks want -- that is, people cashing a lot of tickets, then betting it right back. …http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/05/21/news/doc4bf5e4c742978760644899.txt (http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/05/21/news/doc4bf5e4c742978760644899.txt)
‘Throw the bums out!’ As politicians talk, N.J. takes the initiative
By PAUL POST May 21, 2010While state leaders talk about helping New York’s ailing racing industry, New Jersey’s bold new $1 million-per-day program is at the starting gate, with horsemen chomping at the bit to join in.

Monmouth Park’s 50-day, weekends-only meet begins Saturday with 13 races. Seven of those have full 12-horse fields and the Jersey Shore track has had to turn some horses away.

… "Most New York trainers applied for at least a handful of stalls at Monmouth," said Rick Violette, a prominent trainer, NYRA board member and president of the 1,000-member New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. "I’ve got 10. Most of us had to do it out of self-defense. We’re committed to New York, but we also have an obligation to our owners, especially if races we wanted to run don’t fill. This is an expensive game and most owners lose money. We have to put our owners in a position to make money. It’s a business decision."

Saturday’s Monmouth program has two $100,000 overnight stakes races. Maiden and allowance races have purses of $75,000 and up to $90,000 respectively, compared to $50,000 to $60,000 at Belmont Park in New York, Violette said.

… Several more New York trainers are either new to Monmouth or returning after a long absence this year. Steve Asmussen, Patrick Biancone, Gary Contessa, Nick Zito and Violette have a combined 80 stalls there, which represent a portion of each of their stables.

Other prominent trainers, Kieran McLaughlin and Todd Pletcher, are returning with the same number of stalls, 31 and 39, respectively. The track has 1,600 stalls and a waiting list for others hoping to get in.

"The big guys wanted to have a division here," Monmouth Racing Secretary Mike Dempsey said. "There’s been increased interest from the whole country. We’re giving away a lot of money every day." …

[andymays]

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/monmouth-plays-hero--magna-acts-like-zero-94565309.html

Excerpt:

It's easy to spot the good guys from the bad guys. Monmouth is taking a great risk that most in racing wouldn't dare try. And Magna is doing a huge disservice to racing, period.

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/113202.html (http://www.drf.com/news/article/113202.html)
Attendance, handle soar at Monmouth opener
By Mike Farrell5/22/2010The buzz building for the 50-day, $50 million meet at Monmouth Park turned into a thunderous roar as opening day exceeded all expectations.

Monmouth lured 17,903 fans on Saturday, blowing away last year's opening-day turnout of 10,292. And they brought their wallets. The combined handle from all sources was $9,357,444, trouncing last year's $4,279,438. It was the highest handle in Monmouth history other than Haskell Day or during the Breeders' Cup weekend in 2007.

By any standard, the day was a huge success.

… The 50-cent pick five with a 15 percent takeout will certainly be off to a strong start Sunday. It was not hit Saturday, with the four-of-five consolation returning $5,468.

The carryover into Sunday will be $123,029.

… One of the goals of new meet was to make the product more competitive with larger fields, and correspondingly higher payoffs.

It certainly worked in the opening race as 12 went to the post and the winner paid $20.40, keying a 12-10-8-9 superfecta worth $1,737.42 for a 10-cent investment. …

[Indulto]

http://www.app.com/article/20100523/SPORTS/5230341/New-format-paying-off-at-Monmouth-Park (http://www.app.com/article/20100523/SPORTS/5230341/New-format-paying-off-at-Monmouth-Park)
New format paying off at Monmouth Park
By STEVEN FALK May 23, 2010Bob Kulina was astonished when he found out the pool for Sunday's Pick 5 at Monmouth Park reached a staggering $806,172.

"This is just outrageous," said Kulina, the vice president and general manager of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, which operates Monmouth Park. "This is so far above anything we've ever seen here."

… There was a $123,029 carryover because no one picked all five winners between the sixth and 10th races on Saturday.

The Pick 5 was hit on Sunday and paid $2,402.55. There were 293 winning tickets. Kulina said the Pick 5 pool had never exceeded $100,000 until Saturday, the opening day of Monmouth's 50-day summer meet.

Meanwhile, even though the attendance of 8,500 was down 2,595 from the first Sunday of the 2009 meet, there were major gains in both on-track and total handle from the first Sunday of last year's meet. The first Sunday of last year's meet was also Mother's Day.

The on-track handle was $612,686 — $99,161 more than last year. Total handle was $7,046,389 — $3,926,592 more than last year.

On Saturday, the total handle was $9,357,444 — more than double what it was on opening day last year.

"It shows people are paying attention across the country to what we're trying to offer," Kulina said. ...

[thespaah]

http://www.app.com/article/20100523/SPORTS/5230341/New-format-paying-off-at-Monmouth-Park (http://www.app.com/article/20100523/SPORTS/5230341/New-format-paying-off-at-Monmouth-Park)
New format paying off at Monmouth Park
By STEVEN FALK May 23, 2010
JUst had a look at yesterdays xclimate data for Atlantic City and Newark. Yesterday looks like a cloudy somewhat raw day with scattered showers at both stations. It is logical to assume that Oceanport had crummy weather as well.
That could explain the smaller on track attendance. All sources handle was over $7 million...for camparisons sake Belmont's all sources handle was also right about $7 million on Sunday.

[onefast99]

JUst had a look at yesterdays xclimate data for Atlantic City and Newark. Yesterday looks like a cloudy somewhat raw day with scattered showers at both stations. It is logical to assume that Oceanport had crummy weather as well.
That could explain the smaller on track attendance. All sources handle was over $7 million...for camparisons sake Belmont's all sources handle was also right about $7 million on Sunday.
Light rain fell for a while and it was like a late October day.

[thespaah]

Light rain fell for a while and it was like a late October day.looks like a rather dreary day.
I figure at least a 25% reduction in attendance due to weather.
Do you have a guess?

[Indulto]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=finley_bill&id=5220486
Racing as it was meant to be
By Bill Finley 05/25/2010…it was easy to conclude that people don't much like horse racing anymore. Just two days into the 2010 Monmouth Park "Elite Summer Meet," it's already clear that's not the case. It's lousy horse racing that people don't like.

… A track that was doing so badly that its very future was in doubt is now the hottest thing in the game and the talk of the sport. …

… How'd they do it? They got back to basics.

They figured out that they aren't in the gaming business, but in the horse racing business. …

... That meant no more five-horse fields. That meant getting rid of a meet that dragged on and on through the summer and into the fall and seemed to have no end to it. ... That meant no more racing on Wednesdays and Thursdays, days when there were no more than a few hundred people in the building and one of the sport's nicest facilities seemed lifeless and depressing.

… On the other side of the country, no one is celebrating anything when it comes to horse racing.

Hollywood Park and Golden Gate Fields both announced they won't run this Wednesday. They can't. They don't have enough horses. ...

But it's also a painful reminder of what's wrong with the sport. The demand for the product and the supply of the product are painfully out of whack. There is way too much racing out there.

On the same day Monmouth opened for 2010 and presented a glorious, exciting day of racing, Hollywood Park ran a pathetic nine-race card. The first three races were won by odds-on favorites and they consisted of fields of five, six and six horses. Only 67 horses raced on the day, 11 of them in a $22,500 maiden claimer. Do they really need to run 12 months a year in California and five days a week? Of course not.

By a hair, Hollywood outhandled Monmouth Saturday, but that's not going to last much longer. Just watch how many more players start gravitating to the Monmouth simulcasting signal as word continues to spread about the special things going on in New Jersey.

What happened at Monmouth this weekend was truly extraordinary, something that makes you think that maybe this sport has a bright future after all. All you have to do is make the game good again. ...

[Indulto]

http://www.lvrj.com/sports/monmouth-experiment-raises-bar-95094864.html (http://www.lvrj.com/sports/monmouth-experiment-raises-bar-95094864.html)
RICHARD ENG: Monmouth experiment raises bar
By Richard Eng May 29, 2010… It's been opined that if Monmouth does not average $10 million a day in handle, which is the number supposedly needed to support $1 million a day in purse money, then the meet will fall short of expectations. I wholeheartedly disagree.

What Monmouth is doing is all about raising the bar and not settling for the status quo. The meet will succeed on so many levels even if the handle averages $7 million to $8 million a day.

For example, if Monmouth runs a 50-day meet next year offering $750,000 a day in purses instead of $1 million, does that mean 2010 was a failure? No.

I'm encouraged about Monmouth's huge surge in on-track attendance, which has always been the best way to introduce the sport to newcomers. Horse racing is a richer experience with a large, festive crowd than with a tiny one.

What Monmouth is doing will surely have a ripple effect through the business. I think the five-day race week will soon go the way of the dinosaur. With shrinking resources of all kinds, it'll be better to put on good racing cards over a three- or four-day week.

With a big spike in Monmouth betting, it will cannibalize simulcast handle from other race signals. Those tracks will need to react to protect their business.

The fact that Monmouth is paying out $1,500 for each starter might provide a key to jump-starting new horse owners. Racing does not have a horse shortage, but an owner shortage. It's difficult to break even in racing. Thus, a starter stipend is a move in the right direction. …