Review of Los Al Takeout Increase

[Jeff P]

The Commissioners are going to once again review Los Al's increased takeout experiment. It's slated as agenda item 15 for the next CHRB meeting on Thurs 7/22/2010 at Del Mar.

The "package" is now up on the CHRB site:
http://chrb.ca.gov/board_packages/July-2010.pdf

After the page loads, click the bookmark on the left for agenda item 15. There you'll find a description of the experiment's history along with player efforts to fight it.

I will be in attendance attempting to make the case that the experiment has been a failure.

It is my contention that the takeout increase is one of the driving factors behind Los Al's ON TRACK handle performance:

2010 vs. 2009 from the start of the experiment through the end of June, 2010:

Down 27 percent

If you would like to make your own thoughts known about this or any of the other agenda items, email your comments to the CHRB at:

BonS @ chrb . ca . gov
(remove the blank spaces first)


Thank You,


Jeff Platt
President, HANA



HANA Sign Up Link:
http://www.jcapper.com/HANA/SignUp/H...m.asp?source=0


.

[andymays]

Jeff, you cite ON TRACK handle decrease. Has the overall handle decreased?

At the last meeting the other side seemed to be using a different method to calculate handle. Didn't they assert that handle had gone up? Or was is average daily handle with the elimination of one racing day per week? A track representative came on the Roger Stein show a while back and said handle had gone up since the increase in takeout.

Has anything changed since the last CHRB meeting where they blindsided you guys with different figures? If not how do you intend to counter their argument?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I read the item #

It looks like their conclusion is going to be that they need more time to figure it out. I guess it all depends at how you look at it.

If the handle is down as you say they should stick to their word and reduce the take by 2%.

The CHRB/California racing always seems to have an underhanded trick up their sleeve and this deal has been no different.

Are they going to audio cast this meeting or was the last one a one shot deal?

[Stillriledup]

I was asked the other day by someone, "do you bet Los Al" and i told them, "i used to, but when they raised the takeout, i stopped".

[MickJ26]

I'd imagine their handle is 90% TVG money pumped up by their pick 4 mania, Los Al's purses are still puny. MSW's for under $10,000. Yeah, they have million dollar derbies and futurities, but, their daily purses are very low.

[thespaah]

Takeout is a tax.. Historically, when taxes go up, revenues go down.
Why politicians or whomever is reponsible for takeout percentage levels, examine mistakes and keep repeating them expecting a different result is a mystery.

[BombsAway Bob]

TVG has splintered "The Quarters" crew over the past year.
Dave Weaver & Mike Joyce seldom get paired up anymore,
as TVG moves their shifts around to other time slots.
(Sorry,Chris Kotulak & Kyle Kaenel aren't Los Al Q'horse experts.)
Les has his roving handicapping tour, so he's on 'les' often.
At one time, TVG started promoting the night's Los Al races
about 90min. before the opener, showing Ed & Les Pick-4 tix.
Now, it's 15min. before opener before TVG starts talkin' LosAl.
Los Al racing secretary should also get a few jabs, as they
have moved more T'Bred races to the 5th & 6th race on their
10-race card, removing them from Pick-4 sequences in hopes
of improving the anemic handle on non-pick-4 races.
July 1st, Los Al was asleep at the wheel, not running a Thursday
card to coattail the nights Hollywood card, when they knew they
weren't going to run on the 4th of July.
FREE PP's, a smart promotion run every other month or so,
has also been discontinued by their marketing gurus.
ALL in All, it hasn't been run with maximum promotion this year!
(by design, to get more % of takeout?)

[rwwupl]

Originally Posted by Jeff P

The Commissioners are going to once again review Los Al's increased takeout experiment. It's slated as agenda item 15 for the next CHRB meeting on Thurs 7/22/2010 at Del Mar.

The "package" is now up on the CHRB site:
http://chrb.ca.gov/board_packages/July-2010.pdf

After the page loads, click the bookmark on the left for agenda item 15. There you'll find a description of the experiment's history along with player efforts to fight it.

I will be in attendance attempting to make the case that the experiment has been a failure.

It is my contention that the takeout increase is one of the driving factors behind Los Al's ON TRACK handle performance:

2010 vs. 2009 from the start of the experiment through the end of June, 2010:

Down 27 percent

If you would like to make your own thoughts known about this or any of the other agenda items, email your comments to the CHRB at:

BonS @ chrb . ca . gov
(remove the blank spaces first)


Thank You,


Jeff Platt
President, HANA



HANA Sign Up Link:
http://www.jcapper.com/HANA/SignUp/H...m.asp?source=0


.

Jeff,

I sent in my thoughts to bons@chrb.ca.gov (Richard"Bon" Smith), with a copy to Mike Marten mikem@chrb.ca.gov.

Excerpt:

Please stand back, and take a clear look at what is happening here...

When you want to make something more exclusive,you produce less product and increase the price... but that only works if your product is in demand over the competition, and I think most of us know that the competition has the advantage on cost already...Horse racing is losing ground to other forms of gambling now.

When you want to sell more of something, you lower the price,not increase the price.

We are being told that the law of economics does not apply to horse racing.

Thank You.

P.S. I also sent in some thoughts on Item 16#

[andymays]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

Jeff,

I sent in my thoughts to bons@chrb.ca.gov (Richard"Bon" Smith), with a copy to Mike Marten mikem@chrb.ca.gov.

Excerpt:

Roger, they know what's happening they just have to do what they're told to do before these meetings. The outcome for almost everything important is set before the meeting.

The only way to get stuff done is to put public pressure on them.

Radio shows, email, phone calls, ariticles. If we are telling the truth and the truth gets out then things will change. The problem is that the word only gets out to a few people. The bad guys have cover.

[rwwupl]

Originally Posted by andymays

Roger, they know what's happening they just have to do what they're told to do before these meetings. The outcome for almost everything important is set before the meeting.

The only way to get stuff done is to put public pressure on them.

Radio shows, email, phone calls, ariticles. If we are telling the truth and the truth gets out then things will change. The problem is that the word only gets out to a few people. The bad guys have cover.

Andy,

If the outcome is pre-determined,we are all wasting our time... the people being addressed are the decision makers. They are not bad guys...they just need to see the picture more clearly...and you can help.

Yes, we are telling the truth,as we know it. We do not win on all issues all the time, but our visability is greater than ever and progress is being made, as the right people now care what we think.

You have done a fine job of getting the word out on a variety of subjects, with the print media and and other and we join you in that approach,as much as we can.

I hope you put your thoughts,as invited,on this issue,on paper and help make a difference to those in charge of this current CHRB agenda item#15, or any other agenda item that you wish to be heard . You can get the details known on each issue as pointed out in Jeff's lead in thread.

Your thoughts and vote will count... if you get it to the right people in charge.

Thanks, Roger roger@hanaweb.org

bons@chrb.ca.gov

mikem@chrb.ca.gov

[andymays]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

Andy,

If the outcome is pre-determined,we are all wasting our time... the people being addressed are the decision makers. They are not bad guys...they just need to see the picture more clearly...and you can help.

Yes, we are telling the truth,as we know it. We do not win on all issues all the time, but our visability is greater than ever and progress is being made, as the right people now care what we think.

You have done a fine job of getting the word out on a variety of subjects, with the print media and and other and we join you in that approach,as much as we can.

I hope you put your thoughts,as invited,on this issue,on paper and help make a difference to those in charge of this current CHRB agenda item#15, or any other agenda item that you wish to be heard . You can get the details known on each issue as pointed out in Jeff's lead in thread.

Your thoughts and vote will count... if you get it to the right people in charge.

Thanks, Roger roger@hanaweb.org

bons@chrb.ca.gov

mikem@chrb.ca.gov

Thanks Roger, the way I read item #15 they're gonna keep it the same till September 8th. Is that the same way you read it?

I don't really believe they are all good people. I think some are incompetent. Some don't have any authority and just go along to get along. And some are egomaniacs only interested in their own power and short term interests. Those are the ones that have been ruining California racing. Are there good people? Of course. Change is coming one way or the other.

If HANA wants to make more of an impact you have to get more members by going on Radio Shows and things like that. You have to recruit people that want to get involved. It doesn't cost anything to be a force if you have an organized membership that participates by phone or email when serious issues come up. But you have to allow members to be involved on a regular basis and not once or twice a year (I don't mean myself because I get involved anyway).

[rwwupl]

Andy wrote:

Change is coming one way or the other

We agree, carry on.

[Igeteven]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

Andy wrote:




We agree, carry on.

oh yea, it's really coming when there is nothing but horsemen on the board.

When you see businessmen and non horse owners on the board, who care about the sport and who don't have a vested interested in a horse, their pocket book, then one will see change. This will come in the next century, maybe.

[rwwupl]

Originally Posted by Igeteven

oh yea, it's really coming when there is nothing but horsemen on the board.

When you see businessmen and non horse owners on the board, who care about the sport and who don't have a vested interested in a horse, their pocket book, then one will see change. This will come in the next century, maybe.

You should express yourself to someone who can do something about it...like the Gov...or hmmm...but for now we have to deal with reality,with those who occupy the seats. soooo... get busy and work for change as you see it.

Don't just be a wisher and complaint monger.

[Igeteven]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

You should express yourself to someone who can do something about it...like the Gov...or hmmm...but for now we have to deal with reality,with those who occupy the seats. soooo... get busy and work for change as you see it.

Don't just be a wisher and complaint monger.

Andy, Help

[InsideThePylons-MW]

Originally Posted by rwwupl

If the outcome is pre-determined,we are all wasting our time...

Truer words have never been spoken.

The outcome is pre-determined. I'm on many years of wasting my time. I'm not wasting any more on the people in charge. I gave up after I got an email outlining communications between the people in charge of CA a couple of months ago.

It discussed the possibilty of a very limited takeout reduction. Let's just say it was sickening to read their thoughts.