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http://saratogian.com/articles/2012/08/15/news/doc502c29bff3116211012218.txt?viewmode=fullstory
VLT money: Use it or lose it, official says
By PAUL POST August 15, 2012

… “Racing has to do a better job of taking the VLT money and showing a positive result on the racing side from it,” said Dick Powell, of West Milton, a long-time racing consultant and former NYRA executive. “I never thought it was a serious threat until what happened in Pennsylvania. That was more of an adjustment. In Canada they’re talking about taking it away completely. That’s on the table. It’s already happened at Fort Erie. It could happen at Woodbine. Once it starts happening, they can’t keep saying that’s never going to happen.”

Powell was a panelist who discussed “A New NYRA with a New Regulatory Framework” at the Saratoga Institute on Racing and Gaming Law that concluded Wednesday at the Gideon Putnam Hotel. More than 200 industry leaders took part in the two-day event.

However, no NYRA officials showed up. ...

NYRA officials were attracted to a more magnetic meeting with Megna the Magnificent reported below getting down and “dirty”.

http://saratogian.com/articles/2012/08/14/news/doc502af98e20b75505106272.txt?viewmode=fullstory
NYRA seeks ways to build up fan base
By PAUL POST August 14, 2012

… NYRA outlined marketing strategies at the state capitol in Albany with members of a state Franchise Oversight Board that monitors NYRA’s activities.

Nationwide, racetrack attendance is declining, and some board members say NYRA isn’t doing enough to counteract such trends.

… NYRA’s three tracks — Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct — attracted about 1.8 million fans last year. Saratoga averaged more than 22,000 per day, while Belmont and Aqueduct drew 5,000 and 4,300, respectively.

This year, Saratoga’s attendance is down 2 percent, but all-sources wagering has increased 6.5 percent, an indication of the growth in online betting.

Serious handicappers use the 20 minutes between races to study their programs. To casual fans, these down times are “boring” and “slow-paced,” Aurelio said. He also described some racetrack experiences as “seedy.”

… However, NYRA Vice President and Marketing Director Rodnell Workman said such tactics have to be introduced cautiously, so long-time fans don’t get turned off.

“Fans that exist in this sport are very fervent, very passionate,” he said

... NYRA is developing a different marketing strategy for each of its three tracks, because each one has a unique target demographic. Saratoga is by far the most family-oriented of NYRA’s three venues.

McClain said a “grittier” crowd goes to Aqueduct.

“It’s a gritty place,” she said. “There are a lot of people in New York and the suburbs who like gritty.”

Workman added, “Rather than declining, I think the sport is evolving.”

Franchise Oversight Board Chairman Robert Megna said, “We remain focused on this as an issue. I don’t think that’s going to change. As we push you, we push you because we realize how important the sport is.

Seedy?

Grittier? What demographic "likes gritty?"

Evolving into what -- COOTIES? (Chief Operating Officer Terminally Illustrating Executive Shortcomings)

It sounds like the VP of Marketing will become an out-of-work-man.