the slide continues

[clicknow]

Originally Posted by Afleet

why would an animal cost so much more than a human

Ask the veterinarians.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

C O N S O L I D A T I O N

Who is there to spearhead this "C O N S O L I D A T I O N"?

[bob60566]

I thought i heard Jim Cassidy mention there was thirty eight jurisdictions with all different rules in USA horse racing. That is lot work to consolidate.

Near impossible goal.

[thaskalos]

There is no hope for consolidation, because the very tracks that need to be consolidated couldn't care less about the quality of their racing product. They need their racing licences only so they could satisfy the legal requirements entitling them to their casino businesses. And, when the laws change and the tracks are allowed to carry the casinos without the attached horse racing requirement...then the horsemen will be looking for a new line of work...just as the horseplayers will then search for a new game to play. But my guess is that the horseplayers will have a much easier transitional period than the horsemen will.

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

There is no hope for consolidation, because the very tracks that need to be consolidated couldn't care less about the quality of their racing product. They need their racing licences only so they could satisfy the legal requirements entitling them to their casino businesses. And, when the laws change and the tracks are allowed to carry the casinos without the attached horse racing requirement...then the horsemen will be looking for a new line of work...just as the horseplayers will then search for a new game to play. But my guess is that the horseplayers will have a much easier transitional period than the horsemen will.

i am a perfect example. i no longer spend all my time watching and betting on horseracing every day. i found other things more productive to do with my time. i even gave up The Mountain at night after i learned that i have no clue about track bias after 40 years of this.

[biggestal99]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Even that is very misleading since the real curve of the decline over a period of time more applicable to this discussion is quite steep. Over 50% drop since 1990.

But it did stop the decline in 2015. Only to continue 2016 and beyond.


Allan

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by biggestal99

But it did stop the decline in 2015. Only to continue 2016 and beyond.


Allan

It's gone up a few years by insignificant amounts since 1990. But the numbers don't lie:

1990: 44143
2018 (est): 21500

Imagine if every NFL team lost 1/2 its roster but still played all its games and no teams disappeared.

[JeremyJet]

As sports betting continues to expand, how does racing expect to compete under the current pari-mutuel system? The first time a newbie encounters a situation where there is late odds fluctuation that person will never bet another race again. It's just common sense. I don't see how racing can go forward without fixed odds wagering.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

Who is there to spearhead this "C O N S O L I D A T I O N"?

State governments that are tired of using casino cash that could be in their coffers using it to subsidize racing instead finally say enough. That would cause some of the weaker players to go out of business.

That leaves the horses and handle free to move to the remaining stronger ones and so on.

I'm surprised it's taking so long, but racing has voices and jobs also.

[Afleet]

Originally Posted by JeremyJet

As sports betting continues to expand, how does racing expect to compete under the current pari-mutuel system? The first time a newbie encounters a situation where there is late odds fluctuation that person will never bet another race again. It's just common sense. I don't see how racing can go forward without fixed odds wagering.

I had two horses that i bet fairly heavily yesterday at Indiana, one tossed the jockey at the start and another clipped heels on the first turn and was taken out of the race. Just think if those were the first horses you ever bet-you didn't even get a chance but you still lost-doubt a new bettor would be signing up for more of that. I think Indiana had 3 horses not finish races-all in stakes races. That was the kind of day I had yesterday.

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

It's gone up a few years by insignificant amounts since 1990. But the numbers don't lie:

1990: 44143
2018 (est): 21500

Imagine if every NFL team lost 1/2 its roster but still played all its games and no teams disappeared.

Your analogy is totally incorrect, and in fact the number of races ("games") each year has nearly exactly matched the foal crop decline.

Per Jockey Club Fact Book (using last years that number is not estimated)

Foal crop:
1990: 40,333
2016: 21,024
47.9% decline


Number of races:
1990: 72,664
2016: 38,284

47.3% decline

Consolidation has continued at a rapid rate for decades now. If you're arguing we need 80% fewer races, that's one thing, but that requires some sort of power to close businesses against their will, which isn't happening.

[Parkview_Pirate]

It seems this year the decline has hit an inflection point, and accelerated. Short of PETA getting their way, racing will always be around, but the next step down to equilibrium is a doozy.

A couple of the recent brighter spots in racing like with Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park enjoy a lower cost of operation over the major urban areas, but their success will probably be short-lived.

The magic bullets needed to restore racing to its former glory don't exist any longer. Those would be an authentic and expanding economy with the corresponding disposable income (and not the fake recovery economy we have now), less competition for gambling dollars, and a favorable tax environment that would allow owners to more easily write off losses.

It's human nature to protect the status quo and the turf you're dependent on for a living, and outside of Kentucky it's going to be a hard row to hoe to see any meaningful changes from the "revenue" stream the parasitic politicians require.

[bob60566]

The pools are using horse racing tote system as there own private playground and yes they increase overall revenue but is still in the decline overall.

Que Sera Sera

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by castaway01

Your analogy is totally incorrect, and in fact the number of races ("games") each year has nearly exactly matched the foal crop decline.

Per Jockey Club Fact Book (using last years that number is not estimated)

Foal crop:
1990: 40,333
2016: 21,024
47.9% decline


Number of races:
1990: 72,664
2016: 38,284

47.3% decline

Consolidation has continued at a rapid rate for decades now. If you're arguing we need 80% fewer races, that's one thing, but that requires some sort of power to close businesses against their will, which isn't happening.

As noted above, the racing has consolidated immensely but certainly hasn't improved quality. Next theory?

[Robert Fischer]

slide or no slide I love this game.

I love what we got.


paradise or heaven or whatever... access to enter a market... even at an insignificant scale... is significant for me. I love what we got.