This is not a good start for the year.

[Half Smoke]

.


every year prolly 6 or 7% of horseplayers pass away or become unable to function normally

who's going to replace them_______?

not many young people have an interest in this


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[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

I could be wrong but ADW business increased dramatically during the pandemic because people could bet from home. The aggravation level for people betting on horse racing is off the charts and eventually people tell themselves they don't need the aggravation. I think this year handle will be down anywhere from 5-10% overall.

IMO the pandemic era was a one off that should probably be ignored other that what we could learn. There was pent up demand after everything was closed, stimulus checks were flowing, some other sports weren't active for part of that period, more people were home and bored.

On one hand sports are stiffer lower cost competition and easier to attract and steal new customers because most potential gamblers already watch sports and know all the teams in their favorite sport(s). On the flip side some sports bettors may get exposed to horse racing for the first time, try it, and like it. Intuitively, I think it will net out to a negative in the same way lotto, scratch offs, and casinos took a percentage of the overall gambling pie. I'd love to know how the experts will try to measure that impact.

[$w1fT]

Small field sizes, high takeout, poor overall product (due to small field sizes and cheating trainers), a lot more competition (with lower take).

[big frank]

I love the fox sports shows with Andy/Greg/Mig and the gang-----i believe the show can bring in new players.....and Fanduel/tvg have actually been doing a good job covering racing and trying to explain to the new players---I know many here hate tvg----and i have at times--but they haven't been bad since fanduel has stepped in ....maybe Andy would know--i am curious about the rating fox is getting---they have dropped a few days lately--The little guy are you still around ??

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by big frank

I love the fox sports shows with Andy/Greg/Mig and the gang-----i believe the show can bring in new players.....and Fanduel/tvg have actually been doing a good job covering racing and trying to explain to the new players---I know many here hate tvg----and i have at times--but they haven't been bad since fanduel has stepped in ....maybe Andy would know--i am curious about the rating fox is getting---they have dropped a few days lately--The little guy are you still around ??

The rating does not matter. FOX owns a percentage of NYRA Bets, and NYRA Bets handle has skyrocketed. The races are aired to drive eyes and handle to NYRA and have been very successful in doing so.

(Not speaking for Andy and I don't know the exact numbers. Just saying I can't imagine FOX isn't happy with how things are going based on the handle increase.)

[rastajenk]

Originally Posted by Half Smoke

every year prolly 6 or 7% of horseplayers pass away or become unable to function normally

who's going to replace them_______?

not many young people have an interest in this

I have been either an insider of sorts or an active observer of this game since the 80's and I have heard that the entire time since then. It's not young people who replace the oldsters who have moved on beyond participating anymore; it's the about-to-soon-retire person, or the retired while relatively young, or the middle-ager who has managed his affairs so far well enough to have some fun before
he becomes a pre-geezer. And if we're lucky, some of those types will buy into a horse and become even more integrated. And in this late-boomer bellcurve there are currently plenty of potential people like that out there; I see them all the time. I wish we could attract more, but cultures change. Some things are beyond our control.