What is Racing's biggest problem?

[Robert Fischer]

#1 mass media broadcast is number 1



#2 then the effort has to be made to maximize pools
take all the $ from the 17 simultaneous broadcast races and put it into 1 race.
then multiply that times the number of new viewers from television propaganda.


then we have a big time thing going on. You might catch a race on a weekend with a pool size like the current kentucky derby.


#3
once you have a betting situation then you can focus on eliminating the medication advantages.

[Imriledup]

Originally Posted by hibiscus

I think everyone who’s posted to this thread has a very valid opinion. It’s clear by the responses that racing has many problems and all need to be addressed.

However, in my opinion, racing’s biggest, most immediate, and most serious problem is the ADW issue. I think it’s fairly obvious. Even if one could waive a magic wand and cure all of the other problems mentioned in this thread it wouldn’t amount to a hill of beans if the general public can’t get down a bet. It’s the gambling dollar that fuels the industry and without it the industry is dead in the water.

From my personal experience I can tell you that my own handle is down significantly over the past two years. I’m a big fan of the pick-4 and the pick-6 and I used to greatly enjoy playing the guaranteed pools in California. Let’s look at some facts.

I’ll begin by pointing out that I’m a New York resident, not exactly a cultural or technological backwater. Since opening my very first ADW account with TVG years ago I’ve had to deal with:

-My TVG account being closed against my will due to some agreement between TVG and New York authorities banning TVG from offering services to New York residents.

-Having to open separate accounts with YouBet and xPressBet (due to exclusivity) in order to be able to have coverage for most major racing circuits.

-Having to throw my handicapping skills out the window when dirt tracks were replaced with synthetics in California and Kentucky.

-Currently being unable to bet California, Kentucky, and Florida due to ADW disputes.

-Currently being unable to access any online live video for any New York tracks.

Is it a shock to anyone that my wagering dollar remains in my pocket? The powers that be have gone to every effort to make it impossible and unenjoyable to bet and near unattainable to win. It defies common sense to be in the business of selling a product and then making it as difficult as possible for the customer to spend his dollar on your product. As handles decline and purses are cut the industry fiddles while Rome burns.

The solution is simple. Find a way to allow all ADWs to have access to all tracks and the ability to show all video signals in all states. That would, in a sense, fully open all spigots thereby allowing every horseplayer access to every track. That would fully maximize handle by removing all handcuffs from every player. Then it will be up to the customer as to whether he prefers to go to the track, go to an OTB, or to play online. If he can watch the video of every track online it can then be a personal decision as to which ADW site he prefers. A free market system will be established and it will force the ADW sites to innovate in terms of features and service. Personally I think YouBet is by far the most superior site on the Internet. Their interface is slick and aesthetically appealing, their Wager Pad makes entering bets very easy, and, as far as I can tell, they are the only online site that actually shows “will pays” for pick-4s and pick-6s, which I find astonishing. They are the only site that seems to implement upgrades and enhanced features from time-to-time and it’s sad to see their business suffer as it has.

Once that issue is resolved and handle stabilizes and possibly increases, then and only then can the other important issues such as drugs and integrity be addressed. If it were up to me I’d the tab synthetic surfaces as the second most relevant issue and focus on stopping the spread of synthetics and working toward getting the current synthetic tracks replaced with safe traditional dirt. US racing was founded on dirt races and the current population was bred for dirt. The move to unilaterally do away with and replace something as fundamental as the surface on which the game is played was reckless and poorly thought out. It threw under the bus both handicapper and horseman alike. It’s no shock to see Keeneland handle suffer when handicapping that surface is like throwing darts. California racing has now become two things; turf racing and synthetic racing that favors turf horses. The American dirt horse is left out in the cold, as clearly evidenced by results of this year’s Breeders Cup. I’m still waiting for any proponent of synthetic racing to explain how that’s a positive thing.

Solve those two problems and the racing industry, although still diseased, will at least find itself restored to firm footing from where further reforms and progress can be made and hopefully, with some sound decision making, find itself in a healthy growth mode.

I think this is more of an inconvienience than a problem. Just sign up for all the ADWs, its a one shot deal, its a one time thing. You sign up for every service out there and you take one business day and do it. Do it on a Monday when there's really no prime signals out there to wager on, you can spend your time signing up for every ADW that wants your business.

Sure, it would be nice to have one ADW fits all, but that's just not the way it works at this point. Its a mini pain to bother to do, but once you have it all taken care of, you don't have to worry about it again.

[Charlie D]

Originally Posted by Imriledup

I think this is more of an inconvienience than a problem. Just sign up for all the ADWs, its a one shot deal, its a one time thing. You sign up for every service out there and you take one business day and do it. Do it on a Monday when there's really no prime signals out there to wager on, you can spend your time signing up for every ADW that wants your business.

Sure, it would be nice to have one ADW fits all, but that's just not the way it works at this point. Its a mini pain to bother to do, but once you have it all taken care of, you don't have to worry about it again.

Coming from a country where you can bet on any track in UK/Ireland via any UK/Irish ADW you choose , i'd say it's a pain in backside and it has no place in 21st century

[hibiscus]

Originally Posted by Imriledup

I think this is more of an inconvienience than a problem. Just sign up for all the ADWs, its a one shot deal, its a one time thing. You sign up for every service out there and you take one business day and do it. Do it on a Monday when there's really no prime signals out there to wager on, you can spend your time signing up for every ADW that wants your business.

Sure, it would be nice to have one ADW fits all, but that's just not the way it works at this point. Its a mini pain to bother to do, but once you have it all taken care of, you don't have to worry about it again.

That’s a terrific, albeit inconvenient, solution.

However, it’s my understanding that the horsemen in California, Kentucky, and Florida have withheld approval of out-of-state ADW wagering for all ADWs. It’s also my understanding that New York State racing and wagering board has withheld the New York live videos from all ADWs to in-state residents. As such, I don’t think your solution solves my immediate problem or the problem for most other horse players in the country.

If I’m incorrect please let me know.

[Steve 'StatMan']

Too many problems. Some listed above. Some affect the experienced fan, and the mid-level to serious bettors. Others affect the beginners and the outsiders that we either need to attract, or could quiet their naysaying (whips, perceived animal abuse, too high a learning curve, handicapping too much like school homework.) Too many problems to tackle, not enough money or attention on them all. Plus with casinos/racinos, some tracks don't really have to fix any of those problems to stay in business, just try to keep their racing losses in control.

[ranchwest]

Originally Posted by DanG

I didn’t vote Doug because I couldn’t find the “all of the above” selection.

Even though I agree with 90% of what is written above the main issue that drives me insane is pool integrity.

The drugging of defenseless animals (that is actually defrauding the wagering public and should be prosecuted as such.) The ADW debacle, insane tax rates, lack of full disclosure with equipment / medications etc…all demand immediate attention; but who can overcome some criminal past posting?

That's a danged good post, but I think it really all STARTS with customer service. There is none. Everything else just goes down the tubes from there. If there was anyone who was customer-driven, these other problems would all go away in time.

[Imriledup]

Originally Posted by hibiscus

That’s a terrific, albeit inconvenient, solution.

However, it’s my understanding that the horsemen in California, Kentucky, and Florida have withheld approval of out-of-state ADW wagering for all ADWs. It’s also my understanding that New York State racing and wagering board has withheld the New York live videos from all ADWs to in-state residents. As such, I don’t think your solution solves my immediate problem or the problem for most other horse players in the country.

If I’m incorrect please let me know.

No, you're not incorrect, i just think that there are real problems in racing, like high takeout and drugs/cheating that are really crippling the game. Finding a way to get a bet down on the track of your choice(s) is a personal inconvienience and not as much of a problem as most things. Sure, in a perfect world, everything would be hunky dory and you would be able to bet any track at any time with one provider, but i think i'd rather have a drug free game and a 10% take across the board as the first two things that need to be 'fixed'.

[RichieP]

1) Greed
2) Mismanagement
3) No centralized governing body
4) No long range planning/vision
5) Greed
6) Drugs
7) Good ol boy network
8) Greed

[ddog]

proliferation of "other" gambling outlets.
people do not have the time to go to the track and spend all day ,even if they had the inclination.

it's a slow death, no matter what minor changes may ever get adopted.

You can drive by any casino or keno joint and then check out a local simo and the makeup and numbers of the crowd tell the tale.

The pie is getting smaller all the time and that isn't going to change now.

I do not believe that just the "gambling" end of the "sport" will ever be able to compete for new players and since none of them are going to the track and since 80% of the race tracks are slums how would new players get hooked?

[Imriledup]

Originally Posted by RichieP

1) Greed
2) Mismanagement
3) No centralized governing body
4) No long range planning/vision
5) Greed
6) Drugs
7) Good ol boy network
8) Greed

Explain your definition of greed to me. I think all businesses want and need to do as well as they can, but what can racetracks do to make as much money as possible and yet, at the same time, not be greedy? Is there a point where they say "ok, lets not make as much as we can, lets leave some on the table".

I'm not disagreeing with you that everyone is greedy, i think the word greed and its concept as it relates to racing is worth further discussion.

[boomman]

Originally Posted by Charlie D

Coming from a country where you can bet on any track in UK/Ireland via any UK/Irish ADW you choose , i'd say it's a pain in backside and it has no place in 21st century

Charlie: Spot on! It is absolutely ridiculous that certain tracks aren't offering their signals to ALL ADW's, and IMHO there is an easy solution to this from a player's perspective. DON'T bet them! Don't reward their stupidity by "searching" for that one ADW that may be available. Shut 'em out and if everyone does this we'll see how long this stalemate lasts!

Boomer

[miesque]

Personally, I think the answer to the poll is all of the above. There are so many issues in horse racing which need to be addressed that its a bit overwhelming when you review them as a whole. However, I think the ADW issues are becoming more and more important as an immediate short-term issue with potentially dramatic long term effects as more and more tracks become unavailable to those who wish to play them. It is my opinion that there is no other issue that illustrates the level of dysfunctionality that exists in the industry then the growing ADW crisis. This SHOULD be a non-issue. I should be able to bet any track I want using one account. That is not a horseplayer right but simply a very basic good business practice. I also think no other issue has the ability to create as much collateral damage over a relatively short period of time, especially during the current economic downturn.

[kenwoodallpromos]

New ways of marketing ANY product have to keep evolving, and racing's has not. No ONE is holding comprehensive TBred marketing seminarswhile strategizing about quotas in breeding and logistics targeting racing, betting, and businesses in between.
There is stil little effort to reach AND educate the masses about racing and betting, and making being a "fan" relavent.
I belive no sport can survive on public Bettiing without REAL "fan" non-betting support.
Someone also needs to put out a real "guide to Thoroughbred race watching" for the public pointing out the similarities and differences between types of races and what goes on during the racing "trip" of a horse.
Racing is actually hard to figure out for novices while watching.

[LottaKash]

ADW's are here to stay......Face the Music Racetracks,,,,,Change or Die......

[Charlie D]

Originally Posted by miesque

Personally, I think the answer to the poll is all of the above. There are so many issues in horse racing which need to be addressed that its a bit overwhelming when you review them as a whole. However, I think the ADW issues are becoming more and more important as an immediate short-term issue with potentially dramatic long term effects as more and more tracks become unavailable to those who wish to play them. It is my opinion that there is no other issue that illustrates the level of dysfunctionality that exists in the industry then the growing ADW crisis. This SHOULD be a non-issue. I should be able to bet any track I want using one account. That is not a horseplayer right but simply a very basic good business practice. I also think no other issue has the ability to create as much collateral damage over a relatively short period of time, especially during the current economic downturn.

You can see it's good business practice, i can see it's good business practice , others can see it's good business practice, so it begs question, why don't the racing organisations see it the same way