The Official Del Mar 2018 Thread. Opening Day Wednesday July 18th
 

Email blast and tweet this morning.

Would you plz stop posting your own tweets. Empty tweets like these is why I don't use the app.

No.

The meet hasn't started yet. Once it does more substance will be posted. Wanted to highlight the fact that the San Diego Newspaper hasn't had any coverage yet.

It will be interesting to see how Del Mar goes this summer, I would say last summer was the most competitive meet I can recall with large fields on both dirt and turf. It carried over for most of the fall so hoping it does the same this year but I am unsure since the BC is not in socal which I think was a big reason.

Pretty sure handle will be up. I think the economy is helping handle.

Really looking forward to Del Mar's first big Tournament of the year.

Nice prize pools.

8 BCBC's and 8 NHC's up for grabs.

Bit pricey at $8000 but well worth taking a shot if you want to test your skills vs the country's elite tournament players.

July 28 & 29.

Here's the info....

https://www.dmtc.com/calendar/detail/challenge

I was within a whisker of qualifying for it, twice...dont think its gonna happen.

That's almost as much to enter as the WSOP main event.

Going to strike themselves right out of a job. Between self-service machines and on-track ADW, I never use tellers anymore unless I'm actually cashing out. And even that function is already automated at some tracks, with more surely to follow.

A dying job for a dying breed of customer. Sorry guys, but giving the track the flexibility to lower staffing when there's more tellers than customers is a very reasonable ask. If this is the hill you want to die on, then the tracks will just bite the bullet and move on without you.

God, yeah talk about stupid. I'm not saying I want people to lose their jobs but they obviously are not living in reality here.

I also have not used a teller to place a bet I think more than once or twice in my life

My home track also lets me cash out from a machine too so there's no use for it.

Don't think I have ever seen a cash out machine and i have been to a lot of tracks. I use tellers probably 1-2% of the time I'm playing

Arlington has them. I think maybe last 2-3 years. So, the technology is there. If these tellers think they'll still be needed to cash out, this part can be automated too...

Casinos have had them for several years.

Yeah, Arlington has automatic cash out machines, NYRA as well. Basically the same tech that casinos have had for years, but (as usual) racetracks are just now catching up.

California could get these in place within a matter of weeks if the strike is serious enough. In the meantime, get a few non-union employees to work on dedicated cash out windows, and tell customers that their bets have to be made on self-service machines.

Old timers will grumble about it for the first few days, because everyone hates change (went through the same complaints when tote machines changed in California a couple years ago), but after a few wagers they'll figure it out. The money will keep moving, and tellers will realize that they're really not missed.

I'd be pushing the mobile apps quickly and furiously right now to everyone they can reach.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...713-story.html

Excerpt:

Rubenstein contended that expecting to provide for a consistent level of workforce is “outdated.” At opening day, Del Mar might have more than 40,000 in attendance. On a Thursday, that number could be 4,000 to 6,000.

“We’re simply asking the union to be able to staff based on customer demand, like we do in every other department, and just like every other business operates,” Rubenstein said.

If the strikes does happen for opening day and beyond, Rubenstein said that Del Mar has a contingency plan to use replacement workers to man both the betting windows and aid customers if they choose to bet at machines.

“No matter what happens, we will be open,” Rubenstein said, “and providing the customer service that people expect at Del Mar.”

There are several mobile apps people can use to wager, including dmtc.com, tvg.com and xpressbet.com.

Good for them.
Betting machines are far superior anyways.
The show must go on.

Mobile app in case tellers are on strike.

They must use some sort of system to determine how many they need. My friend was a clerk in So Cal, now retired, and I remember asking him why there were several clerks waiting in an area and not behind the windows. He said they are waiting for the next attendance count(before the first race had started) to determine how many clerks they would need for the day. There was some formula used X number of clerks needed for Y number of patrons. I dont know if they still use something like that now. It was based on seniority. It does mean an employee with a bad number in seniority might show up and not get on for the day, but that is the peril of the job.

Mobile app in case tellers are on strike.

Should be deleted. Put up wrong tweet. THX

Will be very interesting to see the handle numbers from opening day. If they’re at all comparable to 2017, the tracks will have the union over a barrel. Pretty risky gamble.

If a strike comes to fruition, it would impact the entire state, right? Obviously all eyes are on Del Mar, but will be interesting to see what the Sacramento fair and various OTBs will do. Doubtful that they have a slew of replacement workers and customer service reps ready to go like Del Mar has.

I’ll likely be one of those reps (will know for sure after the Monday negotiations), so I’ll make sure to report back on how things go.

From twitter poll.

Andy Asaro‏ @racetrackandy

Who has bigger field size? @DelMarRacing or Saratoga @TheNYRA ?

20% say Del Mar

80% say Saratoga

Field Sizes

Year Saratoga Del Mar
2017 8.25 8.6
2016 8.09 8.31
2005 8.36 8.79
2014 7.87 8.78
2013 8.14 8.8
2012 8.42 8.66
2011 8.23 8.35

That is surprising. I would have been part of the 80% thinking it was Saratoga. #TheMoreYouKnow

Yo, man, didn't what happened to Biggie and Tupac serve as a lesson regarding these East side West side feuds. And furthermore, SPA runs 6 days a week and often cards 11 races a day whereas DM runs 4 days, maybe five and often has 8 races on weekdays. Apples and oranges. And further furthermore, it rains in the Northeast, turf races get taken off... ergo nota bene SPA wins this contest.

Interesting observation. I had someone everyone would know email the same thing after I blasted the numbers to my list. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Its because of the dirt racing, if its not a mdn race at saratoga then the dirt races hardly draw 7. rain also factors in, though last year i cant hardly recall it raining.

agree.

Opening day past performances are up.

R8 Oceanside is a really nice race for a Wednesday. :ThmbUp:



5th, 6th, and 8th look interesting.