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[raybo]

Well, as a resident of a state that has a disproportionately high percentage of gamblers, and thus a huge amount of money available with which to wager, we also are one of the largest states, in terms of area, and yet we have only 3 race tracks statewide (set up that way when racing was finally legalized again), and only one at a time running live races (hundreds of miles between tracks and thousands of people unable to drive to one of those 3 tracks on anything remotely resembling a regular basis). Contraction? We had contraction here from the get-go, and yet our racing industry is failing, due to all the previously stated failures by the industry, and the added failure by the state regarding internet wagering (we also don't have OTBs, so to bet you have to drive to one of the 3 tracks in the state).

So, when you talk about contraction being the savior of racing nationwide, where is your proof? Where are the huge pools you speak of going to come from? Do you really think that states that no longer have race tracks within their borders are going to participate in allowing their residents' wagering money to leave the state and travel to the other states that are fortunate enough to have one of the few remaining race tracks?

I think some of you people really need to get a grip. Until the horse racing "powers that be" come to the realization that the bettors are the customers that keep tracks running, and start treating their customers better, then racing will continue to decline. And, what makes you think that when it gets down to 10 tracks that those 10 will not also close? They will become monopolies, and monopolies are almost always a bad thing. The few customers left will still be treated badly, maybe even worse because of the lack of competition due to the existence of fewer tracks.

The key to saving the industry is not contraction, the key is treating the existing customer better, and making your product more attractive to potential new customers.