Big Welcome to "The Tioga Team" - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com

melman · 03-27-2010, 10:09 AM

I see that this web site has a new member "The Tioga Team". Needless to say you gentlemen at Tioga have my full support. As in cash betting support. Please say a "thank you" to your horsemen for going along with this, just wish the Vernon guys would have jumped in also. IMO takeout reduction is the main item to keep the s-bred industry alive. Can you tell me what the betting menu will be for the upcoming meet? I see all exotic's will be at the great rate of 21%. Will you have rolling pic3's? More than one daily double? How about video for your races? Both live racing and for replays? Let's make it that your doing so well with increased handle that Vernon will change there minds and what to jump in the lower takeout plan.

Tom · 03-27-2010, 10:35 AM

Yes - vote with your bets.
Support low take outs and avoid high take outs.
Send a message.

Go Tioga!

willphorse · 03-28-2010, 06:30 AM

Mel,

It still needs to be passed by NYSWAB yet, but looks good in standing though. If passed, the word is more options each race, as far as Multi-race wagers. The 10 cent super though, I believe is staying at races 4-7-10. Although looks like Pick 3's, DD's will be more available this year!

Keep the crowd coming on the betting opportunities! I have referred Jason, the track V.P, to Pace advantage, and you bet he will be seeing all the commotion on these ideas! No better way to get what we want to bet as an option!

Zman179 · 03-28-2010, 11:03 AM

The NYSRWB approved Tioga's request.

The Tioga Team · 03-28-2010, 07:25 PM

..to see the support growing for the TO reduction. We're fortunate to have Jeff Gural let us run with the various ideas and the support of the STHHA. And thanks to HANA, primarily Dean T, who has been with us along the way.

The reduction has been approved by the NYSR&WB and will be in effect when TD opens on Derby evening (May 1 at 6:50). Early & Late DD...three dime Supers...Ex & Tri on all...we are discussing a "jackpot" bet to include this year, jackpot being a term relative to what we can muster with our pools. Kicking around a Pick 5 with a $5000 guaranteed pool, that's about as high as we can go at this stage...and we can get approved (fingers crossed) in time for the start of the live meet. Opinions???...Ideas???

We're listening,
Nick

melman · 03-28-2010, 07:59 PM

The fact that you ended your post with "were listening" is way way above par for most in the racing industry. If it could be done I would like to see rolling pic3's ala Monticello. Talk with your horsemen see if they would go along with moving the horse with the 8 post to a "trailer" position. I feel this would make for more horses able to compete in each race. Thus leading to larger pools. I must stress however a BIG thank you to your horsemen for going along with this plan. It's now up to us the bettor's to support them.

How about this idea for ON TRACK patrons only. A "fan of the day" who gets awarded a $100 voucher to bet as he wishes EXCEPT he or her must bet a min of five races. Don't know if you have an in house show with someone handicapping your races like Saratoga Harness does. If you do that "fan of the day" could be on live in house TV with his/her picks. You could run this promo on a Sat night.

melman · 03-28-2010, 08:16 PM

One other item, walk around your casino floor and pass out dinner "comps" to all young females that you can find. If it becomes known that Tioga Harness has a lot of young females attending on a Sat night guess who will soon follow?

LottaKash · 03-28-2010, 10:22 PM

To the "Tioga Team"...I am excited for you....I hope that your commitment to lowering the rake is a long lasting one....What I mean is that change doesn't occur overnite....As a long time harness player, that looks at "all" tracks, for my "spot plays", I would have to say that my biggest complaints would be the "low Win & Place payouts"....This is where my heart and money goes when I bet, and I have a hard time finding the best horse at a good price on a steady basis at you great facility....Perhaps the lowering of the take-out will help in this area of betting....I alsoi hope that you can attract more competitive horses as well, as that is an area of concern to me also....Warm bodies to race, is a lot different than, a number of warm bodies in shape to win a race, imo....

Good Luck, I will be watching with great enthusiasm, more this year, than at any other time, and I will do my darndest to support you at the "WINDOWS"...

Go Tioga Downs !!!

......

best,

BillW · 03-28-2010, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melman

One other item, walk around your casino floor and pass out dinner "comps" to all young females that you can find. If it becomes known that Tioga Harness has a lot of young females attending on a Sat night guess who will soon follow?

Mel!

Pacingguy · 03-29-2010, 06:40 AM

I am curious to know what the response has been to your takeout reduction from ADWs and other simulcast locations? Are they being receptive or have some locations planning to drop your signal?

Don't know if your horsemen would be agreeable, but if you could get two trailers in one or two races each day, it would be interesting to see if you get more wagering on those races.

You guys are doing fantastic work. Hopefully things will be successful and horsemen elsewhere will see the benefit of changing business as usual.

The Tioga Team · 03-29-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melman

The fact that you ended your post with "were listening" is way way above par for most in the racing industry. If it could be done I would like to see rolling pic3's ala Monticello.
We have concerns over how many pools our handle will support. If we do go with a pick five, or even a four, I don't think we can handle rolling 3's as well. If the pick isn't used, or fails, we could consider rolling 3's.

Talk with your horsemen see if they would go along with moving the horse with the 8 post to a "trailer" position. I feel this would make for more horses able to compete in each race. Thus leading to larger pools. I must stress however a BIG thank you to your horsemen for going along with this plan. It's now up to us the bettor's to support them.

How about this idea for ON TRACK patrons only. A "fan of the day" who gets awarded a $100 voucher to bet as he wishes EXCEPT he or her must bet a min of five races. Don't know if you have an in house show with someone handicapping your races like Saratoga Harness does. If you do that "fan of the day" could be on live in house TV with his/her picks. You could run this promo on a Sat night.

Interesting ideas...

Thanks

The Tioga Team · 03-29-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacingguy

I am curious to know what the response has been to your takeout reduction from ADWs and other simulcast locations? Are they being receptive or have some locations planning to drop your signal?

[B]We are just now seeing the returns, so too early to know. J Settlemoir is doing all he can to impress on all how important it is to allow this a fair chance. It is not an overwhelming reduction and they should realize that. We also discounted the price to help offset their liabilty.[/B]

Don't know if your horsemen would be agreeable, but if you could get two trailers in one or two races each day, it would be interesting to see if you get more wagering on those races.
Good thought

You guys are doing fantastic work. Hopefully things will be successful and horsemen elsewhere will see the benefit of changing business as usual.
Thanks

Thanks

rrbauer · 03-29-2010, 11:50 AM

Imagine that! A racing venue, that instead of figuring out ways to get your money in return for the same, tired, old product; offers up an opening gambit of reducing their prices and commits to keeping them at that reduced level for at least a year. HANA needs to dust off its "procott" process for the Tioga May 1 opening. I don't know beans about harness racing, but I think that I can get Melman to let me look over his shoulder that night.

melman · 03-29-2010, 02:30 PM

You sure can Rich. Tioga will start right after that small race called "The Derby".

I would love to see Tioga's opening night handle the highest in there history.

Charli125 · 03-31-2010, 07:30 PM

I don't play harness either, but I'm going to be playing at Tioga this season. I figure if I keep pestering Dean and Cangamble enough one of them will be able send some knowledge my way.

As it gets closer of course, it would be great if any of you have historic data/advice on playing Tioga. I fully expect to lose all of my Tioga bankroll, and am happy to donate to the cause, but it sure would be nice to lose it slowly!