Quote:
Originally Posted by ubercapper
The people that run the track are very good business people. Corey Johnson, for example, understands all the various groups - stakeholders, constituents and the betting customer. Corey is a handicapper, horse owner, bettor and plays in contests. He has managed Lone Star, manages Kentucky Downs and now is one of the principals at Arizona Downs. C J (his son, who owns horses, bets and plays in contests) is also one of those in charge of Kentucky Downs and helped put it on the map.
My best guess (and I have NO inside information) is the first step is to run a meeting, perhaps two, three or more, and help the circuit, also establishing a brand name for Arizona Downs.
Then at some point they will attempt to establish Historical Horse Racing (HHR). If the pari-mutuel regulations in Arizona are similar to other states, they will be able to get HHR at Arizona Downs. Of course there will be court challenges, but in only a couple of states have those challenges succeeded. When legislators see the $$ flowing into the state treasury in pari-mutuel taxes and corporate taxes, they will get on board.
My belief is they're playing the long game just like they did at Kentucky Downs.
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That sounds like a fine plan run by people who are somewhat in touch with the market . You do understand that historical race machines only work in a market like Kentucky that has ZERO existing casinos? You could drop 300 historical race machines into Arizona Downs today and you would still hear crickets .
There is no market here for those. We have full blown casinos every 50 miles in this state . The tribes that run those casinos will never allow it. The law in Arizona is clear . Any new forms of gambling introduced has to be approved by the collective tribal casinos or they can cut there tax obligations to the state itself . Don't think for a second that the state of Arizona would allow there racetracks that contribute next to nothing in revenue to do something that would put a single penny of that at risk.
We are talking about a state that has banned harness racing . Do you understand? Dog racing is gone . The projected yearly tax revenue on sports gambling to the state is projected to be 2.3 million. Do you see how small a number that is?
There is a huge difference between running a 3 week boutique meet in the birth place of horse racing with blue blood full fields and top jockeys as opposed to running a 90 day meet in the high desert with cheap claimers and apprentice jocks and has beens
