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[Jeff P]

I'll make the argument that the ONE thing horsemen, tracks, and players should be trying to do is figure out how to GROW HANDLE. When handle grows so does purse money.... which means more money for the horsemen. When handle grows so do profits... which means more money for track execs. When handle grows so do betting opportunities... which means more money for the savvy player.

Handle growth as the industry's primary goal seems like a no brainer to me. Please, TELL ME WHAT I AM MISSING here.

I'm convinced one of the primary reasons the game hasn't undergone handle growth on the same scale as casino gambling and poker has everything to do with parimutuel takeout (especially on exotics) being ridiculously high compared to other gambling games. I'm also convinced that reduced takeout and/or widespread rebates (same thing IMHO) CAN be made to drive explosive handle growth if done in the right way.

Not only have track execs dropped the ball on growing handle - but they seem to be doing everything within their power to prevent it - fighting it tooth and nail at times (almost knowingly IMHO) hell bent on running their own industry into the ground.

Now the horsemen want a bigger pct piece of the pie. Thing is, if they get what they are after, reduced takeout and/or widespread rebates - and handle growth that comes as a result of that - becomes that much more difficult to achieve.

This whole infighting thing is a no win situation for all concerned. Doesn't anyone in this industry have one smidgeon of common sense?


-jp

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