Changes you would like to see in racing.

[RacingFan1992]

I would like to say "Thank You" to all who responded on this post. You might not agree with my ideas but the fact is I am not always thrilled with the ideas of people who regularly post.

[MYKE]

Irs comes in at wins of $1200 or more just like slot machines in casino's

Pay out all winnings no holding taxes on winning $5,000 or more

[thespaah]

1.Eliminate race day meds. If they can race no meds in Europe HK and Japan, they can do the same here.
2. Create a national racing commission to standardize racing rules, enforcement, drugs. The same will create a national marketing program to get people to come to the track/ create new fans and bettors.

3.Eliminate jurisdictional competition. it's killing the game. Stop tracks that are in close geographic proximity from A) running on top of each other. B) competing for the same racing stock
4.Tracks MUST start treating fans like valued customers instead of trying to fleece them for every dime.
5.Copy the Saratoga/Keeneland method of doing business.
6 Eliminate the mindset of 'extended' meets. No race meet should be more than 35-40 days.
7. Past performance information should not cost more than a dollar or two....$7+ for a DRF is ABSURD
8. Tell horsemen to back off on issues of take out. Drop the takeout to no more than 10%...These people who think taking 35 to 30 cents per dollar is a good idea are NUTS. Lowering takeout will attract more large volume bettors to the game AND it makes the smaller bettor more competitive.
In business, a quick nickel is always better than a slow dollar.
9. Wrest the stranglehold control horsemen have over the sport. The sides should be balanced. Each should have an equal say on the issues. No one entity should have the ability to shut down or ban something just because they disagree. Let the thing go on while negotiations continue.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by MYKE

Irs comes in at wins of $1200 or more just like slot machines in casino's

Pay out all winnings no holding taxes on winning $5,000 or more

Why should gamblers get preferential treatment when it comes to income tax?

My solution to the withholding issue is to allow ADWs to withhold 25% of the net winnings in the account for the year. So if a player is stuck $15,000 and hits a winning P-6 for $16,000 they would only have withholding of $250 representing 25% of the net. If the player then proceeds to go negative in their account any previous withholding would be released.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by AndyC

Why should gamblers get preferential treatment when it comes to income tax?

My solution to the withholding issue is to allow ADWs to withhold 25% of the net winnings in the account for the year. So if a player is stuck $15,000 and hits a winning P-6 for $16,000 they would only have withholding of $250 representing 25% of the net. If the player then proceeds to go negative in their account any previous withholding would be released.

Cashing a winning bet is completely different from actual income.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Cashing a winning bet is completely different from actual income.

Hence my withholding recommendation.

[arno]

1. Saddle cloth colors the same at every track.

2. Results the same at every track. Presently, there are tracks that show $2 exacta prices and some show $1 exactas. Some show supers as $2 others at $1 some at 50 cents some at 20 cents some show dime prices.

3. Time between races maximum 25 minutes closer to 20 if possible.

4. Reduce amount of tracks

How about a dozen at 10 races a day?

One track opens at Noon
Two at 1 PM
One at 2 PM and 3 PM
Two at 4 PM
One at 5PM and 6PM
Two at 7 PM
One at 8 PM

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by RacingFan1992

I know there are people who say "Horse racing would be better if this happened..." or "Horse racing would be better if that happened..." What are somethings that you would like to see change in horse racing? Here are some of mine:

1.) Eliminate all synthetic tracks in the United States. (Dirt or Turf only)

2.) The purse size should correlate with distance of race. (ie, the longer the race the bigger the purse.)

3.) Eliminate the point system of the Kentucky Derby. The system designates certain races as being more important than others.

4.) Stop the block buster days at the tracks. Belmont hosted the Acorn, Belmont, Met Mile, and Brooklyn Handicap on the same day in 2014.

5.) Bring back the original seven races of the Breeders' Cup. Remove all the watered down turf and sprint races cluttering the schedule.

6.) Stop the "Win and You're In" series. I consider the Breeders' Cup as being an overrated monster everyone shoots for instead of more prestigious races.

7.) Restore the dates of some of the prestigious dates so a horse is given the opportunity to compete in such events. The Champagne and the Belmont Futurity were once two weeks apart but now are back to back. The Bay Shore, Gotham, and Wood Memorial were are good series spaced two weeks are part but Bay Shore and Wood Memorial are hosted on the same day in 2014.

8.) Good Bye Lasix.

9.) Harder drug scrutiny and stiffer suspensions for trainers who are caught.

10.) Bring back the longer races such as the 2 mile Jockey Club Gold Cup or the 1 1/2 Coaching Club American Oaks.

11.) Reduce the number of turf races and increase the number of dirt races.

Those are mine. Please feel free to add and respond.

I could comment specifically, but at the center what you are really complaining about is that the Breeders' Cup came and changed New York's fall racing schedule from divisional-championship deciding into relatively meaningless preps for the Breeders' Cup. That accounts for many of your complaints

Not only has that ship sailed, but I think it was probably good for it to sail. The Breeders' Cup is flawed, but it also garners the sport a lot of attention, and unlike NYRA, which is incapable of drawing New York City fans to the track except for the Belmont (and didn't even used to do that well), the Breeders' Cup actually puts butts into the seats. Further, although I don't hate New York as a site for the Breeders' Cup (Belmont is very nice on a big raceday), the Breeders' Cup also gives us a better shot that championship races won't be decided on off tracks.

The Breeders' Cup was a very good idea. And at its center really was the idea that California and (in the past) Florida were better sites for fall championship races from New York, because of attendance and weather. That hasn't changed.

[Robert Fischer]

1. better use of the media

2. better use of takeout optimization

3. lots of little business inefficiencies that I see

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

CORRELATE THE TAKEOUT TO THE SIZE OF THE FIELD

The onerous takeouts of this game are a big burden for the player...but this burden becomes unbearable when the fields get down to 5-7 horses. The crushing effect of the takeout on the short field was showcased not too long ago at Parx Racetrack...when late scratches due to inclement weather reduced a field down to two horses. The track extracted its full takeout, of course, and the result as evidenced by the tote board was startling. One horse went off at 2/5...and the other at 4/5.

In this game, the smart player's only chance of surviving against this sort of takeout is to take advantage of mistakes that the less sophisticated players make in their betting. When the fields get down to 5-7 horses, the "puzzle" of the race is simplified greatly...and these advantageous "mistakes" are drastically reduced. It's understandable to have the occasional short field...but what we have today defies reasonable explanation. We understand that the trainers love these short fields...but the players' concerns have to be addressed eventually too. In poker...when the game gets short-handed, the players ask for a reduction in the rake...and they get it.

Correlate the takeout to the size of the field...and put some pressure on the trainers to enter more horses in these races. They've had it their way long enough.

FYI, most online poker and at least many live poker rooms reduce rake in shorthanded games. That's similar to what you are proposing.

[BlueShoe]

Sharply reduce or eliminate entirely conditioned claimers. Beaten claimers with conditions that a lawyer would find confusing, and NW lifetime of fields of professional losers are often horrible betting propositions. State bred races are even worse. Here you find a 6 or 7 year old that might be 1-37 lifetime that won a low level maiden claimer years ago. These types don't belong. Run open claimers, with tags as low as required. Eventually even most of the habitual losers should find a level and field that they can beat. While the idea of running $2000 claimers at Del Mar or Saratoga might seem shocking, why not?

As an aid to horsemen that want to keep even their money burning slow losers, and to somewhat protect an in form horse running where it belongs, enact a stricter claiming rule policy. No more "super trainer" claiming a sharp horse, running it back quickly while dropping it in class, winning at a very short price, and still making a small profit off of the purse if the runner is claimed. Rules: Must run for a claiming price 25% or higher than the claimed price for 30 days. 31-60 days, may run for the claimed price, but not less than that. After 60 days, no restrictions.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by BlueShoe

Sharply reduce or eliminate entirely conditioned claimers. Beaten claimers with conditions that a lawyer would find confusing, and NW lifetime of fields of professional losers are often horrible betting propositions. State bred races are even worse. Here you find a 6 or 7 year old that might be 1-37 lifetime that won a low level maiden claimer years ago. These types don't belong. Run open claimers, with tags as low as required. Eventually even most of the habitual losers should find a level and field that they can beat. While the idea of running $2000 claimers at Del Mar or Saratoga might seem shocking, why not?

As an aid to horsemen that want to keep even their money burning slow losers, and to somewhat protect an in form horse running where it belongs, enact a stricter claiming rule policy. No more "super trainer" claiming a sharp horse, running it back quickly while dropping it in class, winning at a very short price, and still making a small profit off of the purse if the runner is claimed. Rules: Must run for a claiming price 25% or higher than the claimed price for 30 days. 31-60 days, may run for the claimed price, but not less than that. After 60 days, no restrictions.

Get rid of claimers altogether. With no claimers this would force owners to invest more skin in the game. If you want to get involved in ownership, go to a sale or buy privately.

[biggestal99]

1. raceday meds to be eliminated.

2. major race tracks race Fri-sat Minor Mon-Thurs.

3. exchange wagering to be implemented nationwide with 7% takeout

4. Penalize trainers for trainer scratches, don't enter if you aren't going to run

5. Expand the BC to 5 days and make it like Royal Ascot (6 races a day)

6. lower the takeout on PM wagering

7. raise the purses for full fields.

8. correct the deficiencies in the Graded stakes calendar

9. Free admission to the track.

10. when at the track promote the game to newbies

11. weight the horses pre-race the day before and publish the findings.

12. promote Handicapping contests; this is a huge growth area for horse racing

13. eliminate rebates and pay 5% more on track

14. announce the reason for an inquiry--too many times not properly communicated.

Allan

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by biggestal99

1. raceday meds to be eliminated.

2. major race tracks race Fri-sat Minor Mon-Thurs.

3. exchange wagering to be implemented nationwide with 7% takeout

4. Penalize trainers for trainer scratches, don't enter if you aren't going to run

5. Expand the BC to 5 days and make it like Royal Ascot (6 races a day)

6. lower the takeout on PM wagering

7. raise the purses for full fields.

8. correct the deficiencies in the Graded stakes calendar

9. Free admission to the track.

10. when at the track promote the game to newbies

11. weight the horses pre-race the day before and publish the findings.

12. promote Handicapping contests; this is a huge growth area for horse racing

13. eliminate rebates and pay 5% more on track

14. announce the reason for an inquiry--too many times not properly communicated.

Allan

I agree with #4, if you enter, you run unless there's an official medical reason given by a vet that doesn't have a conflict of interest.

[ronsmac]

1. Huge takeout reduction, thus no need for rebates 2. Eliminate CRW 3. Longer suspensions for trainers who's horses fail drug tests.