Less means less eventually leads to none

[Foolish Pleasure]

There is no better example of less means less than comes none,

than CA racing.


First CA reduced cards from 10 to 9 races,
then from 9 to 8 races,

then from 5 days to 4 days,

now GG is running 7 races 3 1/2 days a week.


next comes none.





the idea that contraction is somehow good for the sport flys in the face of 120yrs of less means less than means none.


too many races, too many racetracks blah, blah, blah is total nonsense bullshit. Cutting races in efforts to fill fields is nothing new and has without exception to date not worked anywhere once.

But less means more and the world is flat.

[sonnyp]

you're not looking at the entire picture of what's going on in california. all other things being equal, reducing days and race numbers will increase field size which will make for more interesting betting propositions and increased handle. however, there are equal and opposite factors in the california equasion.

first of all, the big tracks in the north and south are so far apart, geographically, they have become basically a "closed shop". there is no where near the influx of horses shipping in from other venues, as on the east coast, to bolster the horse populations needed to increase the field size and make up for attrition.

the cost of doing business, for the horse people and the bettors has gotten no relief in recent years. workmans' comp and general expenses have driven the cost of racing steadily upward to run for lower and lower purses. no reduction in takeout has done nothing to change the gambling prospects of the bettor.

add to this the mandated use of an increasingly unpopular surfase to both owner and bettor and other venues become more and more attractive. thus the mass exodus of owners, trainers, jockeys and bettors.

that's a terminal downward spiral unless the powers in california, both government and horsemen recognize it and bite the bullet.

with simulcasting, and technology there are simply better alternatives for horse people and bettors alike. it used to be a take it or leave it proposition for those who wanted to participate, but now that attitude doesn't fly because of the options.