Belmont Handles $10,879,699 Sat. Jul.10th

[Dahoss9698]

With the circuit's premier meet a few short weeks away, Belmont had another solid Saturday, handling nearly $11 million. The day also saw a return to winning ways for 2009's champion older and turf horse Gio Ponti, who won his second straight running of the grade 1 Man O' War. Another horse who impressed was Tahitian Warrior, who easily defeated a group of allowance foes while earning a 103 Beyer.

[miesque]

Ok, now that we have dueling handle threads on a single day I have to comment that handle figures posted by themselves are not the whole story (although obviously declining handle anywhere is obviously less than optimal). What really matters to the economic viability of any business endeavor is how well the revenue is covering not just variable costs, but also fixed costs. I find it hard to believe that NYRA and Monmouth have carbon copy cost/overheard/capital expenditures in terms of net dollar in. Physically that would seem unlikely because one has three tracks versus two, each larger in size and scope, without even counting organizational staff. Purses and handle are not the only elements in this equation. Not to mention, both are running different numbers of days per week. What I want to know is how the real net income end up on both sides (preferably after the auditors take a look)

[redshift1]

Argue about synthetics vs dirt then RA vs Z and now handle....

[miesque]

The point I was trying to make but failed miserably is that numbers being used to "compete" (and why is beyond me) are not valid in terms of judging success aka gross handle for single days. I think both are losing money in the grand scheme of things and instead of who has the highest handle on a single day it really should be who has the smaller negative profit margin if there really is an incessant need for a competition.

[alhattab]

Not a great number considering they did about $12.4 million last year on the same date.

[comet52]

The excitement of those 5 horse fields can't be beat.

[David-LV]

Originally Posted by comet52

The excitement of those 5 horse fields can't be beat.

Did you really mean 5 horse fields or less?

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David-LV

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by comet52

The excitement of those 5 horse fields can't be beat.

They actually averaged 7.6 horses a race on Saturday. But hey, who needs facts.

[rrbauer]

Originally Posted by alhattab

Not a great number considering they did about $12.4 million last year on the same date.

That's been the basic pattern all year. Year-over-year results in a decline.

[Grits]

http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2...e805640460.txt

When Saratoga opens what Monmouth is doing will prove of far less consequence. Few will care, particularly on weekends.

One can't feel, though, adding days to the meet was necessary. The week early seems . . well . . . . too early.

[Kimsus]

Originally Posted by Grits

http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2...e805640460.txt

When Saratoga opens what Monmouth is doing will prove of far less consequence. Few will care, particularly on weekends.

One can't feel, though, adding days to the meet was necessary. The week early seems . . well . . . . too early.

Saratoga averaged 14.3 million last year, whereas Monmouth only averaged 3.1 million in handle. I don't think anyone here realistically expects Monmouth to challenge Saratoga this year, but if they improve their numbers to about 6 million or almost double of a year ago, I think most would consider that a success.

[alhattab]

Originally Posted by rrbauer

That's been the basic pattern all year. Year-over-year results in a decline.

I didn't think this was the case at Belmont based on something I thought I read a few weeks ago, but I couldn't find it. I thought NYRA was happy being flat while the rest of the industry was seeing wagering declines.

[David-LV]

I think it is time to stop telling everybody how great NYRA is and knocking what Monmouth is doing an wonder where NYRA is going to get the money next year to keep operating.


Article in the July 12th edition of The Saratogian:

Comptroller lays blame on NYRA, NYC OTB and New York State for insolvency risk

http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2...5669960884.txt


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David-LV

[comet52]

Originally Posted by Dahoss9698

They actually averaged 7.6 horses a race on Saturday. But hey, who needs facts.

How about the fact that Saturday isn't their only race card?

I tuned in Thursday and Friday when they averaged 5.6 horses a race. 51 horses ran on a 9 race card both days. And most tracks even at the lower tiers average better than 7.6 on a Saturday. Do you work for them? Because there's no defending how bad their product has suddenly become.

Let's take a track that people here think is "crap" - Penn National. They averaged 7.1 on Saturday. But that was with lousy weather and hence 21 scratches, which would have been 9.4 average runners at this god-forsaken slot palace in the middle of nowhere. Previous Saturday they did 8.5 a race actual. Thursday they did 7.3. Practically a Belmont Saturday! Maybe Durkin would come out and guest-call a few claimers on some balmy evening, lol.

[David-LV]

Originally Posted by Dahoss9698

They actually averaged 7.6 horses a race on Saturday. But hey, who needs facts.

Wow 7.6 horses per race, impressive.

A little track like Ellis Park averaged 9.44 horses on Saturday and 9.88 horses on Sunday and with much lower purses and no slot machines.

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David-LV