Davidowitz Sounds off on California Racing

[jelly]

With all due respect to those in California who have some official status and/or can influence people in power. It is obviously embarrassing for anyone in the TOC, or close to the CHRB to admit they made a major mistake with the increased takeout percentages that have been in play for well more than a year in the Golden State.

But real leadership requires courage; real leadership requires the ability to admit a mistake and correct it as soon as the law will allow. So where is that leadership? Where are all the people who profess the desire to straighten out Cal racing and push it once more to the top of American horse racing?

Consider: Purses were artificially inflated by the takeout increase to no noticeable gain in field size, or in gross wagering handle.

In fact the reverse has proven true as the "Players' Pick Five" has demonstrated repeatedly via larger than expected handles on that bet while others have stagnated or declined.

More evidence has been piling up on both counts, yet the voices for reason in high places remain silent. It is mind boggling, frustrating to observers and horseplayers alike

http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/2012/02/davidowitz-sounds-off-on-california.html

[pondman]

Consider: Purses were artificially inflated by the takeout increase to no noticeable gain in field size, or in gross wagering handle.


If you took purses in the aggregate, considering cuts in the number of days racing in Cal, there isn't anyway to state horsemen in Cal have more opportunities to make more money today than they did 5 years ago. The result is horsemen will leave leave the business or Cal. The purses in the aggregate are dreadful in California. They are less than Mountaineer in N. California. Who's going to bet a $4,000B claimer on a Saturday or a Sunday? I'm not.