Bill Christine: Marketing Horse Racing and Insulting Senior Citizens.

[andymays]

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/lines-in-the-sand/comments/12122010-biting-the-hand/#comments

Excerpt:

"The average age of our on-track customer is deceased," said Israel, vice chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, and then he went on to say, "And the average age of our satellite customer is decomposed."

Excerpt:

Allen Gutterman, the veteran marketing maven at Santa Anita, has, unlike Israel, been around long enough to know new customers can be courted without disdain for the old. "Social networking allows us to communicate directly with fans and horseplayers and let them know what's happening at Santa Anita," Gutterman said in a recent Q & A with the Paulick Report. "Direct mail seems old school, but is still phenomenally productive and permits us to talk to great customers for very little money, particularly to those who don't have Blackberrys or I-Phones or who are not Web savvy."

[andymays]

If anyone reads the article and wants to complain to the California Horse Racing Board you can send comments to the emails below.

I think he should apologize and/or resign.

(David Israel is the Vice Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board)


mikem@chrb.ca.gov

kebreed@chrb.ca.gov

[andymays]

Horse Racing was strong enough to overcome incompetence, greed, and corruption for decades but not any longer. David Israel is a prime example of someone that doesn’t belong working on anything to do with Horse Racing. He should apologize and/or resign for his insensitive comments about Senior Citizens who play the horses.

I’m convinced that when the Governator appointed David Israel to Vice Chairman of the CHRB it was a big mistake. I’m pretty sure there was some sort of snafu and the wrong box was checked on the paperwork. Given his comments about Horse Racings best Customers being “deceased” or “decomposed” I have to believe he really intended to appoint this guy to the Californa Morticians Board. Then again maybe he was supposed the be on the California Entertainment Board. After all he believes Horse Racing is about the entertainment and has little to do with gambling. I’m leaning toward the Morticians Board though.

People like David Israel are like “human anchors” and drag the sport down. He needs to apologize and/or resign from the CHRB for his comments.

How about appointing Barry Meadow or Roger Way to the board of the CHRB. It would be a smart move! Maybe that’s the problem. It would be a smart move. LOL

David Israel Video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyEy10S6MFM

[DJofSD]

Any one that understands communication will know there is a difference between what is said and how it is said. All too often, the nonverbal part of the communication overrides the intent and poisons the waters. If Israel can't do better he needs to be removed as a industry mouthpiece.

[rwwupl]

Any one that understands communication will know there is a difference between what is said and how it is said. All too often, the nonverbal part of the communication overrides the intent and poisons the waters. If Israel can't do better he needs to be removed as a industry mouthpiece.

Bill Christine on David Israel:

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/S=7160fb67707da134dddb629baad6053a11c96c3c/lines-in-the-sand/comments/12122010-biting-the-hand/

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/people/hri-bill-christine-go-easy-on-the-ageism/#PageComment_39259


excerpt:

"If David Israel continues to insult the broad base of California's remaining customer support, I do not think he should be accepting speaking assignments," Roger Way, a horseplayer, said in an e-mail. "Without the support of senior citizens, California horse racing would be forced to close the doors tomorrow."

[Robert Goren]

I think he is right.

[Turfway]

Sometimes the truth hurts

[andymays]

I think some of you are missing the point.

Quite a few people who are now Senior Citizens have been loyal supporters and customers of Horse Racing. Some for 50 or 60 years. Yes, Horse Racing needs to attract a younger crowd but insulting Senior Citizens in the process is way out of line. Especially for the Vice Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board who was appointed by the Governor of the State of California. The CHRB is a State Agency.

On the Roger Stein show this morning he talked about David Israel and the panel on California at the Symposium.

It's about the last 20 or 25 minutes of the show for today Sunday December 12th.

http://www.rogerstein.com/radio/archive2.asp

[ronsmac]

I agree with the gentleman. I stopped by Pimlico the other night with a friend and the average age of the people their was about 90.

[The_Knight_Sky]

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/lines-in-the-sand/comments/12122010-biting-the-hand/#comments

Excerpt:

"The average age of our on-track customer is deceased," said Israel, vice chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, and then he went on to say, "And the average age of our satellite customer is decomposed."




Q: Did he get to the part where today's aging customers
are wagering 200x the amount compared to all the Beibers and Cyruses :confused:

[TurfRuler]

I agree with the gentleman. I stopped by Pimlico the other night with a friend and the average age of the people their was about 90.

90 and unafraid, I bet you were shaking in your britches being there. :faint:

[Robert Goren]

Say what you want, in 10 years 75% of the people now betting on horse races will be dead or in a nursing home. Racing is not even coming close to replacing the players that die each year. If you get upset by his remarks, then you are way to sensitive. Horse players are not going to quit betting because someone said they are old. They will quit because they are too old to do it anymore (or dead).

[The_Knight_Sky]

Racing is not even coming close to replacing the players that die each year.



Racing is also losing the battle against time.
Every new horse racing customer has at least 5 years of tuition to pay
before he/she gets comfortable enough to do the wagering at the levels of
by today's betting clientele.

http://i56.tinypic.com/2076akn.jpg Most of us learned the game and graduated to higher wagers over when the takeouts were relatively lower. Today's new customers do not have that advantage. Their leisure dollars are being swallowed up before newcomers even get to learn the game sufficiently.

[JustRalph]

Say what you want, in 10 years 75% of the people now betting on horse races will be dead or in a nursing home. Racing is not even coming close to replacing the players that die each year. If you get upset by his remarks, then you are way to sensitive. Horse players are not going to quit betting because someone said they are old. They will quit because they are too old to do it anymore (or dead).

This falls under the heading of, "it didn't need to be said"

A person in a position of leadership in any business or endeavor has to pick and choose carefully. You must portray the best light on your business or subject at all times. Basic PR rules apply. Also, Never eat on Camera.....that's another basic rule.......

[thaskalos]

The only thing "deceased" should be his career as vice-chairman of the CHRB.

[Stillriledup]

The only thing "deceased" should be his career as vice-chairman of the CHRB.


Amen

[saratoga guy]

Wow - this seems like much ado about nothing.

The guy used hyperbole to make a point - the same point that has been made by plenty of others over the past few years.

If somebody wants to criticize the guy on his stance on the issues, well, ok, -- but to suggest he should resign over that relatively benign comment? Yeesh.

[andymays]

Wow - this seems like much ado about nothing.

The guy used hyperbole to make a point - the same point that has been made by plenty of others over the past few years.

If somebody wants to criticize the guy on his stance on the issues, well, ok, -- but to suggest he should resign over that relatively benign comment? Yeesh.

It's not only about this comment. This guy never had any business being on the board of the CHRB.

Here is another comment he made.

CHRB Commissioner David Israel:

Quote From The Official CHRB News Release Summary 9-23-2010 CHRB Meeting:

“People often say we are competing with the casinos. I think that’s shortsighted and wrong. We’re not competing with casinos. We’re in the entertainment business. We’re competing with the Dodgers and the Giants and the Angels and the Lakers and we’re putting on a show..."

---------------------------------------------


http://www.serialhorseplayer.com/NTRA_Unveils_New_Mascot.php

Excerpt:
Yerinal fits with the average demographic for horse racing according to David Israel, the vice chairman of the California Horse Racing Board.

At the Symposium on Racing & Gaming in Tucson, Arizona last week, Israel was quoted saying, “The average age of our on-track customer is deceased.” He added, “and the average age of our satellite customer is decomposed."

It is good to see that Israel reads The Serial Horseplayer. We covered that subject in a June 21 article entitled Advertising Firm Says Table Games, Marketing to Dead Can Save Racing.

While Yerinal is showing some signs of decomposing, the NTRA hopes he can bring some fresh air to the sport, and they are not just talking about his ever present oxygen tank he wheels around with him.

[Deepsix]

Mucho about nada...... smile.

[The_Knight_Sky]

I think some of you are missing the point.

Quite a few people who are now Senior Citizens have been loyal supporters
and customers of Horse Racing. Some for 50 or 60 years. Yes, Horse Racing needs to attract a younger crowd but insulting Senior Citizens in the process is way out of line.

Especially for the Vice Chairman of the California Horse Racing Board who was appointed by the Governor of the State of California. The CHRB is a State Agency



Mr. Israel isn't a spring chicken himself.

What ideas does he have to offer to woo
the 20-something set to horse racing?

[FenceBored]

Mr. Israel isn't a spring chicken himself.

What ideas does he have to offer to woo
the 20-something set to horse racing?

Miss Cougar contests (http://www.delmarscene.com/votemisscougar.htm).

[CincyHorseplayer]

When you start speaking about anybody who is a part of your business in terms like this you dress like a target.You should be verbally beat down,shot down,ran off,etc etc.

Nobody has the luxury of these adjectives.How does this shit fly??

[comet52]

He spoke the truth, no wonder he is getting vilified.

[JustRalph]

He spoke the truth, no wonder he is getting vilified.

Army Privates get killed every day, do you think the Recruiters bring that up during the recruiting process?

[Jasonm921]

I think he is right.

I agree. Rough way of stating the truth but it is what it is.

[BlueShoe]

Am part of the geezer brigade, but seem to be in the minority in that I find the comment not at all offensive, but quite funny. In fact, have used such remarks myself. A bit insensitive perhaps, but it hits the target and tells it like it is, or worse, how it soon will be. There are far more important issues to be concerned about than poor demographic jokes. Suggest lightening up, forgeting about it, and going on.

[JustRalph]

Am part of the geezer brigade, but seem to be in the minority in that I find the comment not at all offensive, but quite funny. In fact, have used such remarks myself. A bit insensitive perhaps, but it hits the target and tells it like it is, or worse, how it soon will be. There are far more important issues to be concerned about than poor demographic jokes. Suggest lightening up, forgeting about it, and going on.

yes, but you are not a spokesperson for horse racing.......that's the difference

[ronsmac]

90 and unafraid, I bet you were shaking in your britches being there. :faint:
I could have literally beaten up every single person who was there. So what was there to be afraid of , and when i say beaten up, I mean everyone there at the same time.

[Rico8812]

I think Isreal's quotes are dead on. Its funny cause its true.

By the way, pun intended.

[andymays]

I think Isreal's quotes are dead on. Its funny cause its true.

By the way, pun intended.

The CHRB meeting is tomorrow I believe. It will be interesting to see if he issues an apology. There will be people there who might ask him to apologize. He was hammered by at least two popular radio shows and has been quoted in several articles. It is my understanding that at least two senior citizen groups including AARP have taken notice of his comments.

[stuball]

There should be less discussion about what he said and more about what they are not doing to correct the problem...talk is cheap and action is more expensive...sounds to me like he is cheap..

Stuball

[saratoga guy]

It is my understanding that at least two senior citizen groups including AARP have taken notice of his comments.

If true that's just sad...

Neutering the language to the poiint that people have to parse every sentence out of their mouths doesn't help anyone.

Again, the guy was using hyperbole to emphasize a point. And I guarantee a search would produce plenty of industry types, pundits - and yes, fans, who have said much the same thing.

[andymays]

If true that's just sad...

Neutering the language to the poiint that people have to parse every sentence out of their mouths doesn't help anyone.

Again, the guy was using hyperbole to emphasize a point. And I guarantee a search would produce plenty of industry types, pundits - and yes, fans, who have said much the same thing.

Someone did say something similar several years ago and that's probably where he got it from. If you follow California Racing closely and Mr. Israel in his position at the CHRB closely you would know that this guy has a history and a pattern of saying innapropriate stuff. He is anti Horseplayer as much as anyone. If anyone else had said this they would get a pass for the reasons you mentioned above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyEy10S6MFM

[Bullet Plane]

Jeremy Plonk has a great article on this topic on the espn site.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=plonk_jeremy&id=5947327

[Robert Goren]

The marketing of gambling has come a long way in my life time. When I was young, gambling was marketed to people who already gamblers, at least not overtly. Now the gambling industry markets to people who are not already gamblers. I may be a bit old fashion, but I am not completely comfortable with this.

[Deepsix]

Goren, you ain't alone. It's a complex social issue.... gambling.

[trotter2229]

We have a couple of issues at play here.

First some great discussion on the older fan base of which I consider my pears as I reach 55 in 2011. Racing is the greatest game for my demographic and we should encourage them more not less.

Many of us are childless in the home...we have worked hard to be in a career position to have some free time...we have built some discretionary cash... we hate the athlete's who get paid millions of dollars and do not perform... we need an interest in something we can do everyday whether we travel to the track or bet online...the companionship of friends at the track inspires us to have passion about something in our lives...the handicapping of the races keeps our mind sharp.

I say find ways to get more of us to the track not less...make it comfortable for us to spend hours there...and reward us with a quality product for our patronage.

Now at the same time attract my children because I love experiencing racing with a younger crowd...I enjoy teaching the newbies about the races and when they learn something they become junkies for it...place a Starbucks in your racetrack for comfort and atmosphere...develop an area with younger music and serve wine and martini's...take a page from the Orleans Hotel in Vegas where I go. They offer children activity areas where kids are cared for and allowed to play while their parents do the same. Orleans: The Kid's Tyme Child Care Center offers arts and crafts, a movie room and more.

On the Gambling issue...we can't solve every issue, in life...there are people who overuse many kinds of life's pleasures and hurt themselves. Alcoholics, Over Eaters, Fans obsession with other sports, thousands of dollars spent annually on team tickets and memorabilia.

Wagering is the cost of our entertainment in a sport we love, just like a $100.00 ticket and $25.00 for parking to a basketball game is the entertainment value of that sport. Or the person who spends $50.00 a month for the NFL channel.

We must change the perception of our sport...casino's promote gambling we promote a sport who's ticket price is a wager.

[Kelso]

We must change the perception of our sport...casino's promote gambling we promote a sport who's ticket price is a wager.


Utter nonsense. Without gambling, horse racing would still be taking place only on the back-40 ... and without any fans watching.

This line of reasoning is what has allowed track executives and horsemen to delude themselves that they don't really have to accomodate the gamblers who pay for their industry to exist.

[trotter2229]

Utter nonsense. Without gambling, horse racing would still be taking place only on the back-40 ... and without any fans watching.

This line of reasoning is what has allowed track executives and horsemen to delude themselves that they don't really have to accomodate the gamblers who pay for their industry to exist.

I love the passion of discussion. To make this happen many changes would have to happen to horse racing. Don't forget the sport cannot get very inventive because of gambling and all the laws. If NASCAR can attract a crazy audience to watch cars go in a circle for 250 laps we could make horse racing at least that exciting.

[InsideThePylons-MW]

I love the passion of discussion. To make this happen many changes would have to happen to horse racing. Don't forget the sport cannot get very inventive because of gambling and all the laws. If NASCAR can attract a crazy audience to watch cars go in a circle for 250 laps we could make horse racing at least that exciting.

I can't wait to see the crazy audience watch a exciting Monday card at Haw, TuP, Sun, Parx, CT, TP, etc.