memo to Governor Paterson

[GARY Z]

As Penn National now controls Laurel and purses will most likely
increase when the VLTS/Racino are installed ,NY will become
less of an attraction due to purse structure.

As a result of major pressure from MTH WITHOUT a racino,and
Pha with VLTS the current Belmont meet and the meet
at Saratoga will be undoubtedly affected unless a decision is
immediately made to go forward with an operator to begin
construction and improvement of the AQU(or Belmont)
facility.

Your Horsemen recently pulled a "strike" which underscores
their frustration and fears, and, by the way, have started
horses in Pha over the past few months due to attractive
purses, less competition and Owner demands.

While Saratoga is truly the summer place to be for racing fans,
lodging and restaurants are fairly expensive and the cost of
transportaion of fans and horses to the track isn't exactly
cheap compared to lodging and travel to MTH or even Pha
for fans who can be impacted by the above factors when wagering,
and for fans who wouldn't mind playing the vlts in addition to racing.


While I'm not a fan of VLTS(but would love to see crap tables
and table games) I'm thinking this competition will create
a serious loss of revenue to the State unless immediate
action is taken .

Unfortunately, to use the NY Lotto slogan, "you have
to be in it to win it"

[Tom]

He won't read it.

[badcompany]

Ya think Paterson actually actually examines the bidders for the VLT contract himself, or does he put it in the hands of his staff?

[Cardus]

He won't read it.

He can't read it!

[johnhannibalsmith]

He can't read it!

:lol:

Paterson jokes never go out of style!

[Cardus]

:lol:

Paterson jokes never go out of style!

He is worthy of this type of derision.

[johnhannibalsmith]

He is worthy of this type of derision.

Yes, yes, yes... indeed... please, I hope there was no indication of sarcasm in my post... I mean it when I say every swing of the bat is a homerun as it pertains to this twit.

[Robert Goren]

He should not sign it, read it or do anything else with it other than throw it in the trash. VLTs will kill NY racing. The "horsemen strike" is exactly what is wrong with racing. It all about them. The only way VLTs should be allowed is if that revenue is used to lower the take out. Not one penny to the horsemen or the management ever. After horse racing gets back on it feet then the money shoud go the state to reduce taxes.The horse people should never get any part of it, because if they do they will want to raise the takeout them too. Rcing needs to move forward on its own merits or go broke trying. JMO

[Cardus]

Yes, yes, yes... indeed... please, I hope there was no indication of sarcasm in my post... I mean it when I say every swing of the bat is a homerun as it pertains to this twit.

No issues.

I was referring to my derision.

And to think: if Spitzer hadn't been "Number 9," we would have hardly known Patterson existed.

[Pell Mell]

He should not sign it, read it or do anything else with it other than throw it in the trash. VLTs will kill NY racing. The "horsemen strike" is exactly what is wrong with racing. It all about them. The only way VLTs should be allowed is if that revenue is used to lower the take out. Not one penny to the horsemen or the management ever. After horse racing gets back on it feet then the money shoud go the state to reduce taxes.The horse people should never get any part of it, because if they do they will want to raise the takeout them too. Rcing needs to move forward on its own merits or go broke trying. JMO

TAKE, Take, Take,= Bullshit! Been at this for 60 years and this is the only place I ever heard complaints about the take. I would bet 90% of players don't even know what TAKE means and don't give a damn.

If you stopped at every slot machine player and asked them what the take is on the machines they would look at you like you were from Mars. Lottery players could care less that they are hit for 50%

If you think lowering the take will save racing your living in dreamland.

I've heard the same story for years about bigger purses, better horses, bigger crowds. It never did made any difference.

Horse players will bet whatever is offered, period. The only thing that will attract more bettors is a sweepstakes of some kind. The tracks know this also that's why they love the big carryovers. A lot of posters here think the guys running the tracks are ALL stupid, I don't think so. :D

[Charli125]

Mr. Pell Mell,

I'm not going to get into an argument that's already been had many many many times on this board, but I want to quickly respond to one thing.


If you stopped at every slot machine player and asked them what the take is on the machines they would look at you like you were from Mars.

While you are correct that they wouldn't know the answer, they would see huge signs that advertise machines that "pay back" 95 or 98 cents on the dollar. They don't know what that means, but it is actually advertising low takeout despite the fact that they're advertising to people that couldn't calculate ROI if their lives depended on it.

They don't have a clue but they know that they have spent a few hours having a good time, had a few free drinks, and haven't had to go to the ATM yet.

Charlie

[thespaah]

TAKE, Take, Take,= Bullshit! Been at this for 60 years and this is the only place I ever heard complaints about the take. I would bet 90% of players don't even know what TAKE means and don't give a damn.

If you stopped at every slot machine player and asked them what the take is on the machines they would look at you like you were from Mars. Lottery players could care less that they are hit for 50%

If you think lowering the take will save racing your living in dreamland.

I've heard the same story for years about bigger purses, better horses, bigger crowds. It never did made any difference.

Horse players will bet whatever is offered, period. The only thing that will attract more bettors is a sweepstakes of some kind. The tracks know this also that's why they love the big carryovers. A lot of posters here think the guys running the tracks are ALL stupid, I don't think so. :D
ok why is it then that gaming houses, casinos and the like can average a return of 90 to 95 cents on each dollar wagered to the players and be so successful?
Think about it, which is more costly to operate? Standard issue racetracks or a glitzy expensive Vegas casino with thousands of staff and employees?
Why is it that some in the horse racing industry are convinced their business model is better than that of the casino gaming industry even though the numbers and facts bear out the opposite?
Tracks should take a page out of that of the casinos and roll out the red carpet for the whales. Give them perks. Take the smaller players and rate their play just like the casinos. Once those people reach a certain dollar amount wagered, offer them perks such as dinners in the restaurant or free admission ticket books, free valet parking and wagering vouchers.
ANd above all, lower the rate of confiscation against the wagered dollar.

[NY BRED]

Guys(and ladies reading this)


The short story to VLTS is the fact that tracks benefit with
increased purses/superior and larger fields and larger attendance
as against being vacant and performing as a giant Tv studio.


Prerfect example is Yonkers Raceway, a Standardbred Track and
simulcast facility who has drawn many fans and standardbreds
away from Club Med.Several years ago it was a lock to go
bankrupt until 10,000 VLTS were placed in its facility.

The chances of VLT players opting to gamble on horse racing
while at the Racino is minimal, but the pumping of dollars into
the VLTS has proven the major tracks need to join the crowd
in order to exist.

[slewis]

Guys(and ladies reading this)


The short story to VLTS is the fact that tracks benefit with
increased purses/superior and larger fields and larger attendance
as against being vacant and performing as a giant Tv studio.


Prerfect example is Yonkers Raceway, a Standardbred Track and
simulcast facility who has drawn many fans and standardbreds
away from Club Med.Several years ago it was a lock to go
bankrupt until 10,000 VLTS were placed in its facility.

The chances of VLT players opting to gamble on horse racing
while at the Racino is minimal, but the pumping of dollars into
the VLTS has proven the major tracks need to join the crowd
in order to exist.


You know what? You're correct.... Lets really make thoroughbred racing REALLY great.

I suggest congress propose that included in the 2011 National Budget...a 3% income tax be payed by ALL citizens and directed to the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Lets see, Md Sp Wt purses $250,000.....Gr 3 races $2.75 million...etc...

The welfare line never ends.

Lets get something straight EVERYONE.... I have stated before that this is a wonderful historically charged industry that legislators need to keep alive..

But horsemen and track execs screaming to get VLTS so Maidens can run for $70k and $80k is almost the equivalent of the greed we witnessed on Wall street.
Especially when few executives in this sport do a damn thing to bring newbies into the game and build their real revenue base which is the gambler.

Get real.

[Pell Mell]

You know what? You're correct.... Lets really make thoroughbred racing REALLY great.

I suggest congress propose that included in the 2011 National Budget...a 3% income tax be payed by ALL citizens and directed to the Thoroughbred racing industry.

Lets see, Md Sp Wt purses $250,000.....Gr 3 races $2.75 million...etc...

The welfare line never ends.

Lets get something straight EVERYONE.... I have stated before that this is a wonderful historically charged industry that legislators need to keep alive..

But horsemen and track execs screaming to get VLTS so Maidens can run for $70k and $80k is almost the equivalent of the greed we witnessed on Wall street.
Especially when few executives in this sport do a damn thing to bring newbies into the game and build their real revenue base which is the gambler.

Get real.
:ThmbUp: :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp: