Is it worth higher purses with small fields?

[Southieboy]

Vote, then respond.

[FenceBored]

Vote, then respond.

I'll consider voting as soon as I figure out what the question means.

[therussmeister]

One person figured it out. It wasn't me.

[FenceBored]

One person figured it out. It wasn't me.

The original poster, perhaps?

[Tom]

I assumed for me, the bettor - I don't get a cut of the purse.

[Stillriledup]

What does this mean?

[Southieboy]

$500K Purses > Av. Field Size = 6.7
$55k Purses > Av. Field Size = 12.0

[Overlay]

Perhaps he's asking if it's worth having a higher overall purse structure if field sizes still remain small (despite the higher purses), which has the effect of depressing average mutuels (due to both the small field sizes, and the increases in takeout needed to fund the higher purses), making it harder, in turn, to show a profit from wagering.

[horses721]

Perhaps he's asking if it's worth having a higher overall purse structure if field sizes still remain small (despite the higher purses), which has the effect of depressing average mutuels (due to both the small field sizes, and the increases in takeout needed to fund the higher purses), making it harder, in turn, to show a profit from wagering.
You hit the nail right on the head. :ThmbUp: :ThmbUp:

[Tom]

The crop of available race horses these days hardly justifies the purse structures of many stakes. How many 5 horse stakes have we seen lately?

We need a hell of a lot less stakes races - make a stake mean something.
Far too many graded races. Why do we even need Gr3 races?

[therussmeister]

Not being a fan of horse racing, I don't care about the quality of the horses - only the quality of betting. So I guess I vote no.

[HuggingTheRail]

Set the takeout rate dependant on the number of horses in the race. If its a 5 horse race, the takeout is 10% - and the takeout rises by 0.5% for every horse in the race....field of 14 means a 14.5% takeout

[therussmeister]

The crop of available race horses these days hardly justifies the purse structures of many stakes. How many 5 horse stakes have we seen lately?

We need a hell of a lot less stakes races - make a stake mean something.
Far too many graded races. Why do we even need Gr3 races?

I've been playing since 1985. I don't remember any time since then when we didn't have a lot of 5 horse stakes races. Furthermore, whenever I see old handicapping books with examples from the 60's and 70's, they still show a lot of 5 horse stakes races. That is probably a big part of the reason why I have never become a fan of horse racing, and it certainly a major part of the reason why I decided in 1985 to specialize in handicapping maidens and claimers.

[Tom]

Set the takeout rate dependant on the number of horses in the race. If its a 5 horse race, the takeout is 10% - and the takeout rises by 0.5% for every horse in the race....field of 14 means a 14.5% takeout

Are you nuts?????

Punish the bettors for a full field?
Nice way to kill the game.

How about reduce the purse by 10% for every horse under 8 entered?
The bettors are not the ones putting out small fields.

[Robert Goren]

I've been playing since 1985. I don't remember any time since then when we didn't have a lot of 5 horse stakes races. Furthermore, whenever I see old handicapping books with examples from the 60's and W's, they still show a lot of 5 horse stakes races. That is probably a big part of the reason why I have never become a fan of horse racing, and it certainly a major part of the reason why I decided in 1985 to specialize in handicapping maidens and claimers. But now we have 5 horse fields for open bottom claimers with purses over twice the claiming price. If weren't for Maiden races, Turf Races and State Bred Races, we might never see a full field at a NYRA track. Even that is no guarantee.

[Robert Goren]

Are you nuts?????

Punish the bettors for a full field?
Nice way to kill the game.

How about reduce the purse by 10% for every horse under 8 entered?
The bettors are not the ones putting out small fields. :) Another great idea from Tom.

[HuggingTheRail]

Are you nuts?????

Punish the bettors for a full field?
Nice way to kill the game.

How about reduce the purse by 10% for every horse under 8 entered?
The bettors are not the ones putting out small fields.

I would have less issue betting into a 14 horse field at 14.5% and a 5 horse race at 5% than I do with the situation as it is now...I would certainly give a small field a lookie if the takeout was 5-7%