The Problem With Horse Racing

[Dave Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Dream_Police

I guess I should have come out and just said the crowds at Keeneland are a result of great racing, great venue and a shorter meet, something a lot of tracks should look at. I was just commenting that Saratoga and Keeneland are doing things right and others might benefit from looking at what they are doing.

What you wrote is right.

As someone responded, these are boutique meets and are the exception rather than the rule.

This thread shows that racing has problems. Unfortunately, the industry refuses to address the biggest ones of all: Integrity & take out.

As long as young people think the game is crooked and a stupid bet, things will continue.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Dream_Police

I guess I should have come out and just said the crowds at Keeneland are a result of great racing, great venue and a shorter meet, something a lot of tracks should look at. I was just commenting that Saratoga and Keeneland are doing things right and others might benefit from looking at what they are doing.

Take away the picnic tables ans what is Saratoga doing so great?
I would guess more people go there to picnic and party than play races. They would be dean in winter. Look at Delmar with two meets.

[Dave Schwartz]

Originally Posted by Tom

Take away the picnic tables ans what is Saratoga doing so great?
I would guess more people go there to picnic and party than play races. They would be dean in winter. Look at Delmar with two meets.

Tom,

Well, they do have that very good chowder, right?

Seriously, though, you actually uttered a golden thought: SAR is committed to the success of SAR. Not just the track, but the whole town.

They care.

And the track is reasonably responsive to customer needs. Name another major track that does that.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by Dave Schwartz

What you wrote is right.

As someone responded, these are boutique meets and are the exception rather than the rule.

This thread shows that racing has problems. Unfortunately, the industry refuses to address the biggest ones of all: Integrity & take out.

As long as young people think the game is crooked and a stupid bet, things will continue.

Unfortunately...this thought has gradually been conveyed to the OLD people, as well.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Dave Schwartz

........As long as young people think the game is crooked and a stupid bet, things will continue.

I don't recall a time when racing wasn't considered crooked. I think many handicappers prefer this viewpoint as an excuse for losing despite perfect handicapping.

I haven't heard or read that young people weren't betting because they thought the game was crooked. I have heard that they prefer other games with more favorable odds.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by AndyC

I don't recall a time when racing wasn't considered crooked. I think many handicappers prefer this viewpoint as an excuse for losing despite perfect handicapping.

I haven't heard or read that young people weren't betting because they thought the game was crooked. I have heard that they prefer other games with more favorable odds.

In all my years at the racetracks and the OTBs, I don't think I've ever met a person, young or old...who has described horseracing as an "honest" game to play. The most that I've ever heard as a testament to the game's "integrity" is that, "only a minority of the trainers cheat"...and this has been the minority view, by my experience; most people think that cheating is much more prevalent than that.

In the old days...the sport could survive its tarnished reputation and its unfavorable odds, because it was the only legal gambling game in town. Alas...those days are long gone.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

In all my years at the racetracks and the OTBs, I don't think I've ever met a person, young or old...who has described horseracing as an "honest" game to play. The most that I've ever heard as a testament to the game's "integrity" is that, "only a minority of the trainers cheat"...and this has been the minority view, by my experience; most people think that cheating is much more prevalent than that.

In the old days...the sport could survive its tarnished reputation and its unfavorable odds, because it was the only legal gambling game in town. Alas...those days are long gone.

I just have a hard time believing that the "tarnished reputation" is much of a factor.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by AndyC

I just have a hard time believing that the "tarnished reputation" is much of a factor.

When the winning horse's odds are cut in half at around the time the horse rounds the final turn...what thought do you suppose is occupying the minds of the majority of the wagering customers?

[barn32]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

Would the young people start flocking to the track if the music of Dr. Dre became the main listening attraction?

Who?

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

When the winning horse's odds are cut in half at around the time the horse rounds the final turn...what thought do you suppose is occupying the minds of the majority of the wagering customers?

Good point, it just never hit me as being crooked.

[Dave Schwartz]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

In the old days...the sport could survive its tarnished reputation and its unfavorable odds, because it was the only legal gambling game in town. Alas...those days are long gone.

Indeed!

Back in the 70s and 80s I used to buy a "sports almanac" every year. I remember that the #1 spectator sport in the world was always horse racing.

That all changed around 1986 or so. As I recall, that was when the tax laws changed. Really has been the kiss of death for racing.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by AndyC

Good point, it just never hit me as being crooked.

Never occurred to me it wasn't.
I realize now much of what I thought was crooked was just plain old incompetence.


But there is still a lot of crooked stuff going on in racing.
Past posting, doping, stiffing.....

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Tom

Never occurred to me it wasn't.
I realize now much of what I thought was crooked was just plain old incompetence.


But there is still a lot of crooked stuff going on in racing.
Past posting, doping, stiffing.....

I was referring to the late-odds changes. Everything else is/was suspect.

[bob60566]

[QUOTE=thaskalos;2475855]When the winning horse's odds are cut in half at around the time the horse rounds the final turn...what thought do you suppose is occupying the minds of the majority of the wagering customers?[/QUOTE]

It is a joke played out to often.

[Lemon Drop Husker]

How about a DFL wager?

Which horse will finish dead ass last?

Everybody complains about being a loser at the track; even the 1st timer. How about a wager on the horse that will finish dead last? Would be the same as any other pool, right? At least give everybody's lovable loser a shot at glory, amirite?

How about a $.10 P6 DFL jackpot carryover as well?

A 99/1 now becomes 1/5.

You could roll home and say my picks finished dead last every race, and yet I won $5K.