coronavirus and the TC

[cj]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

I don't get your point.

Does the governor not like FS1?

The governor in Maryland shut down racing in Maryland. It can happen other places too, and likely will.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by Tom

At least we have on line chess......not much else to do.

Tomorrow starts the Candidates Tournament. That's the tournament to see who is going earn the opportunity to face the world chess champion later this year. Magnus Carlsen is the champion. He's at least in the early stages of being in the conversation for greatest player ever.

It's a double round robin event with 8 of the greatest players on the planet outside the champion.

You can follow the moves here:

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2020...ess-tournament

I'm sure there will be several streaming shows where they analyze the action also.

Caruana and Liren are the favorites (ranked #2 and 3# behind the champion).

Caruana won it last time. He played the champion to all draws and arguably had the better chances to win, but eventually lost in a tiebreaker where they play a more rapid form of chess and the champion is much better.

I think Nepomniachtchi is a live longshot. He's kind of an in and out player, but on his good days, he's brilliant enough to beat anyone. If he goes on a roll at the right time (now) he could shock everyone.

Here are the current chess rankings.

https://2700chess.com/

[Tom]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

Tomorrow starts the Candidates Tournament.

I remember following the Spasky/Fischer matches in the 60s.
Big stories in the papers every day, with the little chess maps of
the winning moves.....big deal at the time.

Deja vu!

[deelo]

Originally Posted by cj

The governor in Maryland shut down racing in Maryland. It can happen other places too, and likely will.

So now they seem to be racing after all? Man, I can't keep up with all these announcements.

Rosecroft to Temporarily Close
March 15, 2020

MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE LAUREL PARK, PIMLICO AND ROSECROFT RACEWAY TO THE PUBLIC IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19; RACES TO CONTINUE WITH LICENSED PERSONNEL



LAUREL, MD - With the utmost regard for the safety and well-being of our customers and employees and in following the best available guidance from local and international health authorities, the Maryland Jockey Club will temporarily close Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and Rosecroft Raceway to the public effective immediately.



The Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park and Rosecroft Raceway will continue live racing as scheduled with personnel licensed by the Maryland Racing Commission in attendance which will provide our fans at home with the opportunity to stay connected via our 1/ST BET and Xpressbet apps.



We will continue to monitor the situation and will look forward to welcoming our fans and guests again soon.

[deelo]

Originally Posted by Robert Fischer

I don't get your point.

Does the governor not like FS1?

I just meant Arizona and New Mexico shut down at the direction of the governor so Aqueduct could too. I thought Maryland was shut down as well but that may not be true now.

[cj]

Originally Posted by deelo

So now they seem to be racing after all? Man, I can't keep up with all these announcements.

I guess they are ready to fight the governor on this? Good luck with that.

[Muddy]

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has issued an emergency order to close all Maryland casinos, racetracks, and simulcast betting facilities to the general public indefinitely, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.


The emergency order takes effect at midnight on Monday, March 16, and will remain in effect until the state of emergency has been terminated or until superseded by other orders. The following facilities will be affected:

MGM National Harbor
Live! Casino & Hotel
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore
Hollywood Casino Perryville
Ocean Downs Casino
Rocky Gap Casino Resort
Laurel Park
Pimlico Race Course
Timonium Race Course
Fair Hill Races
Rosecroft Raceway
Ocean Downs
All simulcast betting facilities in the state
The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency will work with casinos to facilitate the termination of operations.

[deelo]

Originally Posted by cj

I guess they are ready to fight the governor on this? Good luck with that.

Yeah, right. I imagine they back down.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by clicknow

It sort of humorous to worry about 5 or 6 people standing outside for a photograph in the face of this....if you want to do a double take that will give you whiplash, here's the airport ... now THAT's social distancing! And this is only one of the airports here:

It wasn't 5 or 6. It was a large number, a crowded winner's circle, bunched together.

[therussmeister]

Originally Posted by cj

I guess they are ready to fight the governor on this? Good luck with that.

From what I read Laurel management is not sure whether the governor's order prohibits racing without spectators. They are seeking a clarification.

[dilanesp]

The CDC is saying no events with more than 50 people for the next 60 days. That definitely means no Derby, and it probably means no horse racing at all.

[clicknow]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

The CDC is saying no events with more than 50 people for the next 60 days. That definitely means no Derby, and it probably means no horse racing at all.

Maybe I'm not thinking about this right. In which case I know ya'll will let me know.

But horses don't need spectators to run in races.

Get rid of the stuff like what went on at OP with people standing in winners circle shoulder-to-shoulder to pose for photos..... just let the horses race? The barns have to keep working anyway, everyone still needs the $$ and people can bet from home.

Why is this a bad idea?

Yes we won't get to enjoy the pomp and circumstance, and pretty hats, but at least we keep the economy of racing going? People need their paychecks and winnings to pay trainers, workers, etc.

This virus stuff could extend deep into Fall. Who's going to pay to feed the horses? They have to run for their keep as it is. Most everyone can bet online now anyway. (and they do).

I'm all for containment. Closing schools, kids can still learn online, etc. So we all live in an online world for a while......seems like most people do that anyway.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by clicknow

Maybe I'm not thinking about this right. In which case I know ya'll will let me know.

But horses don't need spectators to run in races.

Get rid of the stuff like what went on at OP with people standing in winners circle shoulder-to-shoulder to pose for photos..... just let the horses race? The barns have to keep working anyway, everyone still needs the $$ and people can bet from home.

Why is this a bad idea?

Yes we won't get to enjoy the pomp and circumstance, and pretty hats, but at least we keep the economy of racing going? People need their paychecks and winnings to pay trainers, workers, etc.

This virus stuff could extend deep into Fall. Who's going to pay to feed the horses? They have to run for their keep as it is. Most everyone can bet online now anyway. (and they do).

When the racetracks start calculating the expense of having to fund the race purses without the benefit of their casinos and their on track customer-generated commerce...how receptive will they be of the long-term prospects of such a venture? It isn't as if this customerless experiment is guaranteed to be a short-term affair.

[clicknow]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

When the racetracks start calculating the expense of having to fund the race purses without the benefit of their casinos and their on track customer-generated commerce...how receptive will they be of the long-term prospects of such a venture? It isn't as if this customerless experiment is guaranteed to be a short-term affair.

Most tracks have about 1/8 the real life customers they used to have. People bet from home. Whales and CRW Teams are pushing money thru computer terminals. They aren't at the track.

Okay, the restaurants, the beer stands, the $2-$5 parking lot fees don't get paid......and yeah, the casinos, which isn't small potatoes, but the computer generated $$ can actually still be income for the tracks. ??? at least in the short term?

We can't worry about 4-6 months from now. This virus circled the globe and did it very fast. . Once it's life blood is cut off and more contained, this will all go on the back burner. Right now we do have to contain it.......but that will eventually do what it's designed to do (IMHO)

Isn't some money better than no money? But I guess you are right....how to fund purses, esp. when they are raising them all the time.....maybe everybody backs off from that for a while, too?

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by clicknow

Most tracks have about 1/8 the real life customers they used to have. People bet from home. Whales and CRW Teams are pushing money thru computer terminals. They aren't at the track.

Okay, the restaurants, the beer stands, the $2-$5 parking lot fees don't get paid......and yeah, the casinos, which isn't small potatoes, but the computer generated $$ can actually still be income for the tracks. ??? at least in the short term?

We can't worry about 4-6 months from now. This virus circled the globe and did it very fast. . Once it's life blood is cut off and more contained, this will all go on the back burner. Right now we do have to contain it.......but that will eventually do what it's designed to do (IMHO)

Isn't some money better than no money?

That depends. If the racetrack suspends operations entirely for a period of time...then there is no income...but there is also no expense. If a racetrack chooses to continue racing while operating at a financial loss...then running "customerless" would be costlier than not running at all.

PS...

Sorry...I didn't see the late addition to your post.