Big Welcome to "The Tioga Team"

[melman]

I see that this web site has a new member "The Tioga Team". Needless to say you gentlemen at Tioga have my full support. As in cash betting support. Please say a "thank you" to your horsemen for going along with this, just wish the Vernon guys would have jumped in also. IMO takeout reduction is the main item to keep the s-bred industry alive. Can you tell me what the betting menu will be for the upcoming meet? I see all exotic's will be at the great rate of 21%. Will you have rolling pic3's? More than one daily double? How about video for your races? Both live racing and for replays? Let's make it that your doing so well with increased handle that Vernon will change there minds and what to jump in the lower takeout plan.

[Tom]

Yes - vote with your bets.
Support low take outs and avoid high take outs.
Send a message.

Go Tioga!

[willphorse]

Mel,

It still needs to be passed by NYSWAB yet, but looks good in standing though. If passed, the word is more options each race, as far as Multi-race wagers. The 10 cent super though, I believe is staying at races 4-7-10. Although looks like Pick 3's, DD's will be more available this year!

Keep the crowd coming on the betting opportunities! I have referred Jason, the track V.P, to Pace advantage, and you bet he will be seeing all the commotion on these ideas! No better way to get what we want to bet as an option!

[Zman179]

The NYSRWB approved Tioga's request.

[The Tioga Team]

..to see the support growing for the TO reduction. We're fortunate to have Jeff Gural let us run with the various ideas and the support of the STHHA. And thanks to HANA, primarily Dean T, who has been with us along the way.

The reduction has been approved by the NYSR&WB and will be in effect when TD opens on Derby evening (May 1 at 6:50). Early & Late DD...three dime Supers...Ex & Tri on all...we are discussing a "jackpot" bet to include this year, jackpot being a term relative to what we can muster with our pools. Kicking around a Pick 5 with a $5000 guaranteed pool, that's about as high as we can go at this stage...and we can get approved (fingers crossed) in time for the start of the live meet. Opinions???...Ideas???

We're listening,
Nick

[melman]

The fact that you ended your post with "were listening" is way way above par for most in the racing industry. If it could be done I would like to see rolling pic3's ala Monticello. Talk with your horsemen see if they would go along with moving the horse with the 8 post to a "trailer" position. I feel this would make for more horses able to compete in each race. Thus leading to larger pools. I must stress however a BIG thank you to your horsemen for going along with this plan. It's now up to us the bettor's to support them.

How about this idea for ON TRACK patrons only. A "fan of the day" who gets awarded a $100 voucher to bet as he wishes EXCEPT he or her must bet a min of five races. Don't know if you have an in house show with someone handicapping your races like Saratoga Harness does. If you do that "fan of the day" could be on live in house TV with his/her picks. You could run this promo on a Sat night.

[melman]

One other item, walk around your casino floor and pass out dinner "comps" to all young females that you can find. If it becomes known that Tioga Harness has a lot of young females attending on a Sat night guess who will soon follow? :)

[LottaKash]

To the "Tioga Team"...I am excited for you....I hope that your commitment to lowering the rake is a long lasting one....What I mean is that change doesn't occur overnite....As a long time harness player, that looks at "all" tracks, for my "spot plays", I would have to say that my biggest complaints would be the "low Win & Place payouts"....This is where my heart and money goes when I bet, and I have a hard time finding the best horse at a good price on a steady basis at you great facility....Perhaps the lowering of the take-out will help in this area of betting....I alsoi hope that you can attract more competitive horses as well, as that is an area of concern to me also....Warm bodies to race, is a lot different than, a number of warm bodies in shape to win a race, imo....

Good Luck, I will be watching with great enthusiasm, more this year, than at any other time, and I will do my darndest to support you at the "WINDOWS"...

Go Tioga Downs !!! :jump: :jump: :jump: ......

best,

[BillW]

One other item, walk around your casino floor and pass out dinner "comps" to all young females that you can find. If it becomes known that Tioga Harness has a lot of young females attending on a Sat night guess who will soon follow? :)

Mel! :lol:

[Pacingguy]

I am curious to know what the response has been to your takeout reduction from ADWs and other simulcast locations? Are they being receptive or have some locations planning to drop your signal?

Don't know if your horsemen would be agreeable, but if you could get two trailers in one or two races each day, it would be interesting to see if you get more wagering on those races.

You guys are doing fantastic work. Hopefully things will be successful and horsemen elsewhere will see the benefit of changing business as usual.

[The Tioga Team]

The fact that you ended your post with "were listening" is way way above par for most in the racing industry. If it could be done I would like to see rolling pic3's ala Monticello.
We have concerns over how many pools our handle will support. If we do go with a pick five, or even a four, I don't think we can handle rolling 3's as well. If the pick isn't used, or fails, we could consider rolling 3's.

Talk with your horsemen see if they would go along with moving the horse with the 8 post to a "trailer" position. I feel this would make for more horses able to compete in each race. Thus leading to larger pools. I must stress however a BIG thank you to your horsemen for going along with this plan. It's now up to us the bettor's to support them.

How about this idea for ON TRACK patrons only. A "fan of the day" who gets awarded a $100 voucher to bet as he wishes EXCEPT he or her must bet a min of five races. Don't know if you have an in house show with someone handicapping your races like Saratoga Harness does. If you do that "fan of the day" could be on live in house TV with his/her picks. You could run this promo on a Sat night.
Interesting ideas...

Thanks

[The Tioga Team]

I am curious to know what the response has been to your takeout reduction from ADWs and other simulcast locations? Are they being receptive or have some locations planning to drop your signal?

We are just now seeing the returns, so too early to know. J Settlemoir is doing all he can to impress on all how important it is to allow this a fair chance. It is not an overwhelming reduction and they should realize that. We also discounted the price to help offset their liabilty.

Don't know if your horsemen would be agreeable, but if you could get two trailers in one or two races each day, it would be interesting to see if you get more wagering on those races.
Good thought

You guys are doing fantastic work. Hopefully things will be successful and horsemen elsewhere will see the benefit of changing business as usual.
Thanks

Thanks

[rrbauer]

Imagine that! A racing venue, that instead of figuring out ways to get your money in return for the same, tired, old product; offers up an opening gambit of reducing their prices and commits to keeping them at that reduced level for at least a year. HANA needs to dust off its "procott" process for the Tioga May 1 opening. I don't know beans about harness racing, but I think that I can get Melman to let me look over his shoulder that night.

[melman]

You sure can Rich. Tioga will start right after that small race called "The Derby". :D I would love to see Tioga's opening night handle the highest in there history.

[Charli125]

I don't play harness either, but I'm going to be playing at Tioga this season. I figure if I keep pestering Dean and Cangamble enough one of them will be able send some knowledge my way.

As it gets closer of course, it would be great if any of you have historic data/advice on playing Tioga. I fully expect to lose all of my Tioga bankroll, and am happy to donate to the cause, but it sure would be nice to lose it slowly!

[The Tioga Team]

...got me hook, line and sinker here...

http://cangamble.blogspot.com/2010/04/woodbine-to-reduce-takeout-with-future.html

[badcompany]

Nick,

Since we have you here, I have a question.

Last year I played a race in which the horse I had on top in an exacta broke stride and left the course. Amazingly, he got back on gait and finished first. I figured for sure the stewards would take the horse down for leaving the course, but he stayed up, and I uncrumpled my ticket and went to the window.

Of course, I'm not complaining about the result but I was wondering why he didn't come down.

[toetoe]

I have always thought that a low-takeout wager on the first race would bring hardcore folks to the track. I guess making it the only wager of its kind on the night is indicated, as switching takeouts around sounds like madness. The only double, or maybe the only super duper ... :confused:

[LottaKash]

...got me hook, line and sinker here...

http://cangamble.blogspot.com/2010/04/woodbine-to-reduce-takeout-with-future.html

Wow, just got up to date on this one.....Repeat after me...."Owhatafooliam"

Funny....I was flabbergasted when I first read this, and I figured that they (Woodbine) finally got the message, and made the necesary changes to advance into the modern day world of wagering....

Gulp....Cangamble, what a dirty trick !.....:lol:

best,

[The Tioga Team]

Nick,

Since we have you here, I have a question.

Last year I played a race in which the horse I had on top in an exacta broke stride and left the course. Amazingly, he got back on gait and finished first. I figured for sure the stewards would take the horse down for leaving the course, but he stayed up, and I uncrumpled my ticket and went to the window.

Of course, I'm not complaining about the result but I was wondering why he didn't come down.

I don't have an answer for you here BC...those "off the course" calls are left to the judges interpretation, for better or worse. Remember that one when you get a bad DQ someday...

[trying2win]

--I couldn't help but notice Melman's enthusiasm for Tioga Downs' initiatives and possibility thinking. Good show Mel!

--I too commend Tioga Downs for lowering their track takeout. However, in my opinion there is still room for improvement. One is in the area of 'breakage'. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming all New York state tracks, thoroughbred or harness employ the 'sleazy' breakage formula as listed on the NYRA website...i.e:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAKAGE

$2.10 to 9.99 payoff, break to 10 cents; $10 to 49.99 payoff, break to 20 cents; $50 to 499.99 payoff, break to 50 cents; $500 and up, break to $1.00.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Someone needs to convince the neanderthal management at the NYRA to follow the nickel breakage formula that they do at Canadian racetracks...i.e.
the nickel breakage formula is the same no matter what the mutuel payoff.

--Again speaking about neanderthals, is it the New York state government officials that restrict the live video of some, or all of New York state tracks' races out-of-state? If so, why? Same goes with inter-state betting. Is there a restriction on that too? If these 'paranoid practices' are still being dictated by these politicians, I say it's time to get into the 21st century. Isn't this the same New York state government that are crying they are short of revenue for government programs? What part of common sense do they not understand?

--Can the Tioga Team please contact LINK2BET and get your track on their betting menu? Buffalo Raceway is on LINK2BET'S betting menu....so why not your track? Don't you want to increase your revenues by offering wagering to bettors outside Canada and the U.S.? Even though I'm a Canadian...I have an account at LINK2BET to access their rebates, so I admit I'm biased in this in this request :D

Anyway, that's my two cents worth. May your 2010 Tioga Downs harness meet exceed your expectations.

T2W
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~"There are these two things you can have in life...REASONS OR RESULTS...REASONS DON'T COUNT!"

--Dr. Robert Anthony

[melman]

How about a HANA "Night at the Races" this summer at Tioga?

[toetoe]

Tioga ...



Oh-oh, what a feeling !!!

[The Tioga Team]

How about a HANA "Night at the Races" this summer at Tioga?

Outstanding!

[Cubbymac26]

nick,

im a young horse racing fan and i cant wait for tioga to open i live in connecticut but i dont think foxwoods carries it..

im on business for work at pocono downs till may 10 and i promise ill make it there the sunday card..

as for my two sense if it were up to me i think i would have made opening nite the friday before the derby when derby fever is at a peak... i think youd get a better crowd in that regard as ive noticed that after the derby it turns into a ghost town...

anyshot of u calling foxwoods and maybe iron out a contract with them cuz i no they would love to have it

[The Tioga Team]

nick,

im a young horse racing fan and i cant wait for tioga to open i live in connecticut but i dont think foxwoods carries it..

im on business for work at pocono downs till may 10 and i promise ill make it there the sunday card..

as for my two sense if it were up to me i think i would have made opening nite the friday before the derby when derby fever is at a peak... i think youd get a better crowd in that regard as ive noticed that after the derby it turns into a ghost town...

anyshot of u calling foxwoods and maybe iron out a contract with them cuz i no they would love to have it

We have been in contact with Foxwoods, but they have not carried our signal in the past. Would you be willing to contact their simulcast coordinator Lou Severino and see if it is something he would be willing to pick up in 2010 as an experiment, with the reduced takeout rates? The decoder only costs $ 50.00 a month and is one of the cheaper decoders around. Let us know if you need any further information and thanks again for your support.

[The Tioga Team]

--Can the Tioga Team please contact LINK2BET and get your track on their betting menu? Buffalo Raceway is on LINK2BET'S betting menu....so why not your track? Don't you want to increase your revenues by offering wagering to bettors outside Canada and the U.S.? Even though I'm a Canadian...I have an account at LINK2BET to access their rebates, so I admit I'm biased in this in this request :D

We have e-mailed that location to see if they would have interest in our product.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth. May your 2010 Tioga Downs harness meet exceed your expectations.

T2W

________________________
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~"There are these two things you can have in life...REASONS OR RESULTS...REASONS DON'T COUNT!"

--Dr. Robert Anthony[/QUOTE]

[melman]

How about your signal being available to Vegas residents? Your also in the casino business so maybe you have some contacts out there. I know of a few people who would love to see the Tioga signal in the Vegas racebooks. Tks

[The Tioga Team]

How about your signal being available to Vegas residents? Your also in the casino business so maybe you have some contacts out there. I know of a few people who would love to see the Tioga signal in the Vegas racebooks. Tks

The skinny on the simo side is that it is a lot like the "chicken or the egg" theory. It's hard to sell your signal if it's not real powerful (and popular), but you can't reach that level of strength without a large simo audience. We're no "Prom Queens".

Jason Settlemoir is about as plugged in as a guy can be in our biz and he campaigns tirelessly to get Tioga in as many spots as he can, calling in relationship favors and invoking Gural when it helps to do so. Vegas is a hard sell, they have always been very aloof and are increasingly less interested in horse racing as time goes by.

The only thing that works is if the customer lets his provider know what he desires. That's not laying the job off on you players...that's just what could work. If they will take Tioga in Las Vegas, we will jump through hoops of fire to get it to them.

Thanks

[melman]

Good news for The Tioga Team. I'm pretty sure they already know this but let's spread the word. Harness Eye, THE harness racing newspaper will be offering expanded coverage of the soon to start Tioga meet. Full pp's and every Sunday on there web site (harnesscharts.com) they will post up a full card analysis. Way to go Dboomster aka Derick Giwner the publisher of Harness Eye. Let's keep this train rolling. :ThmbUp:

[LottaKash]

Good news for The Tioga Team. I'm pretty sure they already know this but let's spread the word. Harness Eye, THE harness racing newspaper will be offering expanded coverage of the soon to start Tioga meet. Full pp's and every Sunday on there web site (harnesscharts.com) they will post up a full card analysis. Way to go Dboomster aka Derick Giwner the publisher of Harness Eye. Let's keep this train rolling. :ThmbUp:

All aboard....:jump:

best,