Versajoe
09-06-2011, 10:28 AM
I went to the track on Labor Day after being away for at least a year. I had pretty much given up on harness racing because I came to the realization that there is not any "casual" money left out there. The only people betting on harness racing these days are the diehards. Tracks just aren't getting the leisure crowd. Combine this with the takeout, and the game is a losing proposition. No doubt there are people who make a profit (I suppose), but I don't have nearly enough time to devote to the sport to get to that level.
Nonetheless, I really enjoy an afternoon at the track as a form of leisure. I went to Plainridge Racecourse because some friends were going to be there. It was the track's biggest racing day of the year.
And what did I observe...
Harness racing won't go away, but it will contract. Casinos are a double edged sword. While they have propped up certain pari-mutuels, they have killed those without a casino attached. It is obvious that Plainridge is merely holding on looking for a Hail-Mary from slot machines.
Just look at all of the facilities that have closed in New England during the past several years:
- Hindsdale greyhound
- Seabrook greyhound
- Belmont Park (Laconia area) greyhound
- Rockingham Park
- Pownal, VT (horses then greyhound)
- Hartford Jai Alai
- Milford Jai Alai
- Newport Jai Alai
- Plainfied (CT) greyhound
- Bridgeport greyhound
- Raynham Park greyhound
- Wonderland greyhound
On the biggest day of the year, they were still running races with $1,000 claimers. That's just pathetic. For the big race, a purse that had been $50,000 is now $20,000. I calculated that the top driver at the track had only made $6,850 this year. This is not a sustainable model.
On the upside, the crowd was really nice. Lots of families, activities for kids, etc. I know they can't do this everyday, but it certainly brought in a lot of pleasant folks who wanted to spend a nice afternoon at the track.
One worry is that Plainridge has extremely low takeouts. 15% for all bets, even trifectas. Players keep suggesting that this is the answer for struggling tracks. Yet with Plainridge, it's hard to believe that they fared much better as a result.
And yet you could tell that a lot of owners, trainers, and drivers still hang in because they love the sport. They aren't there to make lots of money. They could probably earn an easier living in another profession. But they stay. I wish I knew how to harness their spirit for the good of the sport.
Sadly, harness racing should be popular in a recession. You can go to the track with $40 and have a fun afternoon. See how long that same money would last in a casino. But people do not appear to be returning to the track.
My VERY short synopsis as to the major problems is thus:
1) Gamblers like casinos better.
2) People don't have the time anymore that it takes to play the horses right.
3) The casual gambler is turned off by pari-mutuel betting. That same person has no disadvantage pulling the lever on a slot machine, but they are at a disadvantage at the track.
4) The tracks don't nurture newcomers. I read a lot of books on my own, but the track has no program at all develop new handicappers.
5) As casual players leave, the ability of the remaining players to turn a profit has sharply decreased.
6) Simulcasting has hurt the experience at the actual track. With so many people betting online and at OTBs, the tracks don't have the energy from the crowds that they once had.
As for my day, I had a great afternoon. I bet four trifectas, boxing three numbers. In each of the four races I got the top 3 out of 4, but another horse snuck in and took one of the money positions. Close but no cigar. I hit a couple of exactas and picked some winners so I finished with a few bucks more than I started with. Even if I lost the same amount I would have felt that it was well worth it for an afternoon's worth of entertainment.
But I wonder if I would have felt the same on a non-feature day. That's part of the reason I stopped going. Most tracks now are depressing.
Nonetheless, I really enjoy an afternoon at the track as a form of leisure. I went to Plainridge Racecourse because some friends were going to be there. It was the track's biggest racing day of the year.
And what did I observe...
Harness racing won't go away, but it will contract. Casinos are a double edged sword. While they have propped up certain pari-mutuels, they have killed those without a casino attached. It is obvious that Plainridge is merely holding on looking for a Hail-Mary from slot machines.
Just look at all of the facilities that have closed in New England during the past several years:
- Hindsdale greyhound
- Seabrook greyhound
- Belmont Park (Laconia area) greyhound
- Rockingham Park
- Pownal, VT (horses then greyhound)
- Hartford Jai Alai
- Milford Jai Alai
- Newport Jai Alai
- Plainfied (CT) greyhound
- Bridgeport greyhound
- Raynham Park greyhound
- Wonderland greyhound
On the biggest day of the year, they were still running races with $1,000 claimers. That's just pathetic. For the big race, a purse that had been $50,000 is now $20,000. I calculated that the top driver at the track had only made $6,850 this year. This is not a sustainable model.
On the upside, the crowd was really nice. Lots of families, activities for kids, etc. I know they can't do this everyday, but it certainly brought in a lot of pleasant folks who wanted to spend a nice afternoon at the track.
One worry is that Plainridge has extremely low takeouts. 15% for all bets, even trifectas. Players keep suggesting that this is the answer for struggling tracks. Yet with Plainridge, it's hard to believe that they fared much better as a result.
And yet you could tell that a lot of owners, trainers, and drivers still hang in because they love the sport. They aren't there to make lots of money. They could probably earn an easier living in another profession. But they stay. I wish I knew how to harness their spirit for the good of the sport.
Sadly, harness racing should be popular in a recession. You can go to the track with $40 and have a fun afternoon. See how long that same money would last in a casino. But people do not appear to be returning to the track.
My VERY short synopsis as to the major problems is thus:
1) Gamblers like casinos better.
2) People don't have the time anymore that it takes to play the horses right.
3) The casual gambler is turned off by pari-mutuel betting. That same person has no disadvantage pulling the lever on a slot machine, but they are at a disadvantage at the track.
4) The tracks don't nurture newcomers. I read a lot of books on my own, but the track has no program at all develop new handicappers.
5) As casual players leave, the ability of the remaining players to turn a profit has sharply decreased.
6) Simulcasting has hurt the experience at the actual track. With so many people betting online and at OTBs, the tracks don't have the energy from the crowds that they once had.
As for my day, I had a great afternoon. I bet four trifectas, boxing three numbers. In each of the four races I got the top 3 out of 4, but another horse snuck in and took one of the money positions. Close but no cigar. I hit a couple of exactas and picked some winners so I finished with a few bucks more than I started with. Even if I lost the same amount I would have felt that it was well worth it for an afternoon's worth of entertainment.
But I wonder if I would have felt the same on a non-feature day. That's part of the reason I stopped going. Most tracks now are depressing.