Sad times for the great race place.

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by davew

That is great, handle pays the bills and purses. I just look at the pools I am betting into and not the entire handle.

What has the handle at Santa Anita done through the years? If horse numbers drop and handle maintains is that a bad thing?

The pools you are betting into comprise the handle. Handle doesn't maintain when horse numbers drop. That's an odd question to pose. I was merely pointing out the inaccuracies of your comments about Aqueduct.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

In the 1930's through 1960's? 380 mile moves happened a lot. Every year between New York (and other Eastern tracks) and Florida- far more than 380 miles.

Literally almost every stable at Oaklawn makes a 380 mile move from somewhere. And Oaklawn is successful.

Horsemen DON'T WANT to move north and south. That's understandable. They'd rather stay and watch Santa Anita run small fields that they can win. We know that.

But they spread a bunch of false propaganda about how they can't do it or they will have to go to other circuits. The reality is that if they had to move, they'd move. Indeed, Golden Gate trainers would also move down to SoCal tracks as well. We'd have bigger fields.

Honestly, year round SoCal racing was a huge mistake in the first place. Oak Tree and Hollywood Park fall should have never happened.

If Golden Gate was more than a B level track there might be some enthusiasm. A circuit normally comprises tracks running similar stock. When So Cal racing completes their decline from excellence to mediocrity the one California circuit theory might work.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by AndyC

If Golden Gate was more than a B level track there might be some enthusiasm. A circuit normally comprises tracks running similar stock. When So Cal racing completes their decline from excellence to mediocrity the one California circuit theory might work.

I never said we're going to have A level racing with one circuit. We would absolutely have to run a lot of $3,200 open claimers and $12,500 maiden claimers at SoCal tracks.

But they might have 10 horses in them.

(Having said that, we'd probably have some decent stakes racing, north and south.)

[Al Gobbi]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

I never said we're going to have A level racing with one circuit. We would absolutely have to run a lot of $3,200 open claimers and $12,500 maiden claimers at SoCal tracks.

But they might have 10 horses in them.

(Having said that, we'd probably have some decent stakes racing, north and south.)

I am a bit surprised that Santa Anita hasn't lowered it minimum open claiming race from $10k.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

I never said we're going to have A level racing with one circuit. We would absolutely have to run a lot of $3,200 open claimers and $12,500 maiden claimers at SoCal tracks.

But they might have 10 horses in them.

(Having said that, we'd probably have some decent stakes racing, north and south.)

It sounds like a race to the bottom.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by AndyC

It sounds like a race to the bottom.

Cheap races can be good product for bettors.

[Andy Asaro]

Twitter

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Cheap races can be good product for bettors.

If you go by what type of races have historically produced the highest handle that would indicate otherwise.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by AndyC

If you go by what type of races have historically produced the highest handle that would indicate otherwise.

Not recently. Several successful tracks run a ton of cheap races.

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

In the 1930's through 1960's? 380 mile moves happened a lot. Every year between New York (and other Eastern tracks) and Florida- far more than 380 miles.

Literally almost every stable at Oaklawn makes a 380 mile move from somewhere. And Oaklawn is successful.

Horsemen DON'T WANT to move north and south. That's understandable. They'd rather stay and watch Santa Anita run small fields that they can win. We know that.

I would think the cost of housing in both the north and south makes this a much more difficult situation in CA now than in the 30's-60's.

The other circuits mentioned likely don't face that kind of pressure today.

[horsefan2019]

I would think the poor attendance would also have a hand in this. The poor attendance is a result of lack of interest. Other than the big days (Breeders Cup, Del Mar summer meet, Santa Anita Derby day, etc), the attendance has gone downhill since the glory days. This is because of the result of internet and satellite wagering, but also a downturn in the general interest. Poor attendance means they can no longer make much money from admission, not to mention there is far less handle from on track attendance. Since the track is taking in less money from attendance and wagering they can no longer offer big purses which reduces interest from the owners. So you can't really fix the problem unless you somehow get people interested again.

[TMQ]

https://amp.horseracingnation.com/ne...field_size_123

Handle is down almost 10%

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Not recently. Several successful tracks run a ton of cheap races.

That doesn't address what I wrote. Are you suggesting cheap races create more handle than the races run by non-cheap horses?

[CaptainObvious]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

https://twitter.com/racetrackandy/st...78367261495296

What’s the ave field size of dirt races? 5.5? Most days, the product is garbage.

[Al Gobbi]

Originally Posted by TMQ

https://amp.horseracingnation.com/ne...field_size_123

Handle is down almost 10%

Keep in mind Golden Gate was closed for the first couple of weeks of SA’s winter/spring meet last year

Also, only 51 entries (not counting 3 AE’s) for Monday’s Presidents Day holiday card