Younger fans needed at racetracks

[trying2win]

I was just reading this interesting article about the need for attracting a younger crowd to the racetrack. Sorry, about the fact that the article is about four months old, but I don't recall seeing it here at the PA site before, so I thought I'd list it anyways. Here's the link:

http://www.gamblersworld.com/artman/publish/article_1640.shtml

I've read articles with a similar theme before. Some racetracks in the past have made an attempt to attract younger people with various promotions. I suspect most of them failed in the long run.

Just looking at the crowd at our local racetrack...mostly older people, including middle-aged me. Hmm...I see I'm getting a little grey around the muzzle, but so are a lot of the other galoots, oafs, and refined handicappers out at our track. Just looking at some of the older ladies attending our local racetrack...all I can say is, some of the hair-coloring companies must be making a lot of money these days! How about the clientle at your home track, same story, or ???

In my opinion, after reading this article , Joe Harper the president of Del Mar I think has come up with some good ideas for getting the younger generation out to his racetrack. Other racetrack managers would do well to emulate him.

I had mentioned this in a previous post, how during the first week of the Del Mar meet of 2003, I couldn't access the live video.
The server kept reaching capacity. So I e-mailed Joe Harper. He said he'd do something to correct the problem. He did! Within a short time I could enjoy watching the Del Mar races on live video without any problem. I assume Joe asked the live video producer to increase server capacity for his customers. Now that's being proactive, looking after the wants of your customers, and getting results!

Can anyone else relate some other positive stories about excellent customer service? How about at the Saratoga Getaway of 2003, or any other racetrack? Know of any other racetracks who have good promotions for attracting a younger crowd?

Thanks,

Trying2win

[Bubbles]

Well, what am I, chop liver? :D

[VetScratch]

Can anyone else relate some other positive stories about excellent customer service?Yes! A nice fellow at the Information Window was kind enough to offer me a coat hanger when I reported that a toilet was clogged and overflowing!

[Valuist]

Magna wants younger fans so they have concerts with performers who were in their hey day in the early 80s/late 70s. Will the young crowds come out to see a REO Speedwagon or Styx? Maybe Magna can orchestrate a Zeppelin reunion.

[JimG]

When I started going to the races in the 1970's at an age even younger than Bubbles, there were articles about how only older people frequented racetracks. Obviously, those people in their 60's then have since passed on and been replaced by other "older" people who were infrequent visitors when they were younger.

My point is the crowd will remain older as long as racing is held in the daytime and is a pari-mutual sport. The majority of younger people work during the day supporting their families and do not have discretionary income for racetrack gambling.

How did they get 30,000 plus at the track during a weekday at Belmont? Beats me, but I guess alot of those people play the lottery and casino gamble now. The average age was still quite old of the racetrack patrons.



Jim

[JustRalph]

Originally posted by trying2win
In my opinion, after reading this article , Joe Harper the president of Del Mar I think has come up with some good ideas for getting the younger generation out to his racetrack. Other racetrack managers would do well to emulate him.

Now that's being proactive, looking after the wants of your customers, and getting results!

First off........the manager of Del Mar was not being pro-active. He was reacting after the fact to his server overload. I can pretty much guarantee that you were not the only one who complained. You don't upgrade your server capacity because one person complains.

I didn't see much at all in the article about attracting young horse players. If you have ever been to Del Mar, one problem I see for young players is the cost. Seat licenses....season tickets whatever you want to call it start at $3000 a meet. At least that was what I was told by a person who was sitting in a 3k seat. I inquired as to the price of the seats from behind the proverbial velvet rope. The nice lady was very informative and told me that her husband gets the seats every year (waiting list) and uses them about 5 days a year.

$7 basic admission and this doesn't include a seat. I paid $12 bucks a piece for admission and a seat. When I got inside all the crappy $12 seats were filled and I found that the seat I paid for was first come first serve. They had over sold it. Most of the seating is assigned and the seats that are not assigned suck. The food and beer prices are very high (and the food sucks) compared to other places. It is about the same as major league baseball. I don't see young newbie horse players becoming permanent players after visiting Del Mar. Del Mar appears to cater to the crowd that cares much less about the racing, and much more about being seen at Del Mar. As usual, the off track handle supports their venue. Most people who play Del Mar will probably never enter the gates. I know I won't ever again unless for a special event. Although it was an absolutely gorgeous venue.

Hollywood Park was a little cheaper and almost as nice. The food wasn't as expensive and was actually good. I spent a night in the Turf Club as a guest of TVG guy Greg Wolf. Tvg picked up my entry fee of $40 dollars for the wife and I, by providing me a press pass. It was Friday night racing. Televison stars and more. The seats were right on the finish line 2nd level and the food prices were reasonable. Almost as beautiful a place (landscaping etc) and more affordable. But the young players won't be taking in the Turf club. The demographics just don't fit. I did spend some time downstairs at HOL checking out the cheaper area. It was clean and plentiful compared to Del Mar. Both places have dress codes for different sections.

[Alc]

Casinos and their slots provide instant gratification and require virtually no knowledge or sophistication. In comparison, race betting is a relatively slow and complex activity requiring significant effort and knowledge. Even with that effort one soon learns that it is difficult to just break even. Casinos offer a more pleasant physical environment with other amenities,i.e. reasonably priced and quality restaurants, attached hotels.etc.. Fewer and fewer people want to visit our tracks except for the unique environments like Delmar and Saratoga. Perhaps our efforts should be concentrated on the home market via television and the internet(TVG,YOUBET,etc,) Love this game and want to see it stay alive. Al

[Observer]

I was a younger fan once!
:p

(And at what age does one go from being a younger fan to an older fan???)
:confused:

[Observer]

Originally posted by Alc
.. race betting is a relatively slow and complex activity requiring significant effort and knowledge. Even with that effort one soon learns that it is difficult to just break even. ..

Requiring significant effort and knowledge?? I've known many people who have had beginners luck at the races .. and while they may not have turned into regular gamblers, they still enjoy a trip out.

difficult just to break even?? Like it's easy to come away from Vegas, Atlantic City, etc. with a profit or even break even??? Not based on the people I know.

[Pace Cap'n]

From JimG:

My point is the crowd will remain older as long as racing is held in the daytime and is a pari-mutual sport. The majority of younger people work during the day supporting their families and do not have discretionary income for racetrack gambling.

I think you hit the nail on the head there. Time and money will probably always keep the young from being regular horseplayers.

The trick would be to get the younger crowd out to the track a couple or three times a year in order to introduce them to the sport. Personally, I attended my first horse race at age 16 and just absolutely fell in love with it. But my gambling budget never took priority over my beer budget. Now the beer and partying are part of the past, and I've turned into one of those older players you see on regular basis.

Just get the youth exposed to the track. One of these days they very well might be back, and back, and back. Just requires a looong lead time.

[Dave Schwartz]

Bubbles,

Well, you might actually be a bit younger than what they had in mind. <G>

You know, on that subject, I must say that you were pretty impressive (as far as adult-like behavior goes) at Saratoga. It was a real pleasure meeting you and your dad.

Dave

[DJofSD]

It cost less to get into Del Mar (general admission) than it does to go see a movie.

Yes, it's true, admission does not include a reserved seat. There are seats available at no charge, even in the club house, but you need to get there early enough to stake one out. Heck, they even have lots and lots of rooms with TV monitors and -free seats- all throughout the facility. Seats on both halves of the paddock area and places to sit out in the plaza area. So, you can find a place to park your keister but they're not the best seats in the house. What do you want for free?

Oh ya, for general admission only, you can bring in a folding lawn chair and sit out on the tar mack. This is an area from the top of the stretch to immediately behind the winners circle and the gap where the horses enter the track from the saddling ring.

$3000 is for a table in the turf club.

And as long as I can remember, at least 20 years, there's a waiting list for turf club membership. As you already know, having connections, knowing an owner, etc., etc., can easily get you into the turf club during the meet. And even with the larger facilities with the remodel that was done a few years back, it's still very crowded.

Up to the point I got marriage, I had two seats ON THE FINISH LINE in the club house. Immediately behind where the owners and trainers sit. It used to cost a measily $7 per seat per day. (And I got these seats every year because my good friend and his wife would take the time every year to present themselves at the ticket office the first day tickets went on sale and purchased them then and there. Worked every year.)

Yes, the food and drinks are outragously priced. Rubio's fish tacos cost twice what they normally cost. A hotdog and medium drink is $5.50. Called drinks average about $7-9 and promotional liquor offereings were twice that.

One thing Joe Harper has that even HOL and SA don't have is the time of year and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Oh ya, one more thing - the BABEs are totally awesome, dude! (Crush humor there.) Matter of fact, the local advertising blitz this last summer was billboards showing a women's face with the runners in the background and the caption reading "don't forget to watch the horses!"

HOL can't charge any more than they do because of their location. Heck! Inglewood used to be a very nice place - 40 years ago. Not now.

Maybe Joe Harper didn't have the server problem fixed just because of one email. But he is a very approachable, outgoing person, very much enjoys his job and I feel is genuinely trying to please his clientel.

The biggest problem I ever had at DMR was parking. But I eventually found the solution to that. And now, no problem!

Having been to the east coast during the summer a few times but not to SAR, I don't know how it could be any better than DMR. A bad day at DMR is better than a good day at work!

DJofSD

[kenwoodallpromos]

They need to get a track announcer who can rap while calling the race!!LOL!! Younger people like sev and violence. Maybe having some famous horses at stud doing live breeding in front of the crowd?? Maybe showing trainers throwing dice for post positions??

[JustRalph]

Originally posted by DJofSD
It cost less to get into Del Mar (general admission) than it does to go see a movie.DJofSD

DJ, in relation to the crux of this thread, you proved all my points with your post. Thanks for the clarification on some points. I have only been to Del Mar twice, I think my impressions prove a point. Young people (see JimG's post above) can't afford to attend Del Mar. Which was my point. Thus they don't become wild eyed players like many of us. I have only been playing for about 2.5 years now. If I couldn't play from home, I wouldn't participate. Young people can afford to go to a movie (reference to your admission price info) but at the movie they don't need to come up with extra money to place wagers etc. You are right about Inglewood. But I didn't see very many people from Inglewood when I was there. Of course I am not so familiar with Inglewood, so maybe I am wrong. you get my drift. Of course I didn't crawl everywhere. Who knows what the break down really is. Thanks

[trying2win]

--Hey, a lot of great comments on this topic of attracting younger fans to the racetrack. Thanks for taking the time to elaborate on some of your experiences out at the racing venues.

--It was interesting to read about Bubbles. I don't know how old you are, but from reading the posts on this thread, I'm assuming you must be one of the younger generation who enjoys playing the races. Not only that Bubbles, but since you're a PA member, you'd have to be in the refined group of handicappers that attend the racetrack. Why? Well, for one thing, I don't think too many in the other group I mentioned (galoots or oafs), would have the knowledge or savvy to discuss horse racing topics at the PACE ADVANTAGE site!

--Even I started going out to the racetrack at a young age. Let's see now, I've been going out to see the thorughbreds run since about 1955. As for the harness races, since about 1961. My, how the years seem to fly by!

Thanks,

Trying2win