Can low takeout bring a track back to glory?

[andtheyreoff]

That's going to be the question on Friday when Hialeah opens a second QH meet. But this time, they will have done what fans have been clamoring for for years: A nearly 50% takeout drop, from a blended rate of 22% last year to just 12%, the lowest take in the nation.

We've already seen what high takeout can do to a track at none other than: Hialeah.

In 1993, after coming back from a three year vacation (excluding a short fall meet in 1991), owner John Brunetti created an outrageously high takeout structure for the season: A combined 25.5% rate. This structure, far and away the highest takeout in the nation. And, while it probably did not contribute to Hialeah's demise in 2001, it did lead to a severely diluted stakes program, with once-great races like the Flamingo, Wiedner, and Hialeah Turf Cup becoming G3s with little bearing on the racing calendar.

Now, after a moderately successful season, HIA is going to make a huge bid at becoming a major-league throughbred track again, and also provide the ultimate test for takeout.

If your betting outlet takes Hialeah, bet this meeting with both fists. Why?
Because, if successful:

1. Track management will look at this and say "Hey, Hialeah cut their takeout in half and they had major handle growth. What would happen if we did the same?" For tracks with already low take (Portland, Retama, Sam Houston) this will send their tracks into dream places to bet the horses, and for the others, they will be pretty darn close.

2. Hialeah will rise back to thoroughbreds. For a track regarded as one of the most beautiful in the country, and one that has hosted the likes of Seattle Slew, Kelso, Citation, and Forego, this will be a huge accomplishment. And with Gulfstream destroyed and Calder not offering much, who wouldn't want to see Hialeah bounce back?

So, this is the test. No special wagers. No major non-wagering promotions. Just some QHs and a 12% takeout.

This winter, make sure to:

BET HIALEAH!

[CBedo]

I would if I knew what a quarterhorse was, lol.

[Horseplayersbet.com]

Originally Posted by CBedo

I would if I knew what a quarterhorse was, lol.

[lamboguy]

i am going to say that this quarter horse meet in southern florida will have a very small handle increase if any.

[Stillriledup]

People are still bitter over the takeout hikes years ago...i doubt people are going to want to do Hialeah a favor and bet their product.

[Charli125]

Originally Posted by CBedo

I would if I knew what a quarterhorse was, lol.

At 12% blended takeout, I can afford to learn how to handicap quarterhorses. I'm going to shovel every dime I reasonably can through their windows(and by windows, I mean my ADW).

[The_Knight_Sky]

This is but another gimmick.
Let's see some wholesale changes to the wagering pools
with a long term commitment to the new pricing.

In recent years we have seen takeout decreases on:

a) the wrong breed of horse (Hialeah)
b) the wrong pools (Pick 5 at Monmouth)
c) wrong clientele (exactas for Delaware Park's ontrack only)
d) too short a duration to make any meaningful progress (Laurel)
e) level C tracks (Sam Houston and Ellis Park)
f) one wagering pool only (Pick 4's at Portland Meadows)

I look forward to the day when a bold racetrack puts
the entire package together - for the long haul.

[andtheyreoff]

Originally Posted by The_Knight_Sky

This is but another gimmick.
Let's see some wholesale changes to the wagering pools
with a long term commitment to the new pricing.

In recent years we have seen takeout decreases on:

a) the wrong breed of horse (Hialeah)
b) the wrong pools (Pick 5 at Monmouth)
c) wrong clientele (exactas for Delaware Park's ontrack only)
d) too short a duration to make any meaningful progress (Laurel)
e) level C tracks (Sam Houston and Ellis Park)
f) one wagering pool only (Pick 4's at Portland Meadows)

I look forward to the day when a bold racetrack puts
the entire package together - for the long haul.

While it is great that Hialeah is at 12% take, it's not really about the QH season. It's about the fact that, if this meet is successful, tracks are going to start lowering takeout, and some tracks might put together "the entire package". But, if people (like you) demand that everything must be the way they want it, and handle goes down, there won't be incentive to lower takeout, and there will not be a change for a while.

Like I said, this is the ultimate test. Bet.

[The_Knight_Sky]

Originally Posted by andtheyreoff

But, if people (like you) demand that everything must be the way
they want it, and handle goes down, there won't be incentive to lower takeout, and there will not be a change for a while.

I understand that. And I do wish success upon those who know about handicapping quarterhorses, the horsemen and the entire game inside out. Right now they have but one season at Hialeah (2009) to do the requisite research.
Be prepared.

Unfortunately for me this is not my game, nor are the post times to my liking.
To ask dyed-in-the-wool thoroughbred handicappers to change over to quarterhorses or standardbreds is like asking a Poker Star to take up Blackjack because the pots are juicier there for the next 2 months.

Handicapping proficiency is sure to vary across different breeds.
I'm not willing to take that chance. If others are - good luck
and I hope you guys and gals can at least double the average handle at Hialeah.

I remain convinced however that it will take a similar experiment on
thoroughbreds with larger wagering pools to form any solid conclusions on an experiment such as this.

[karlskorner]

You people really trust John Brunetti ? It's the Casino he is after and he will do anything to reach that goal.

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by karlskorner

You people really trust John Brunetti ? It's the Casino he is after and he will do anything to reach that goal.

he ran the old thoroughbred meet out the door, his exacta takeout was 27% if memory serves me right. he wants slot machines and Berube in Tampa can't get them, he went from $300k a day to $3million and they don't want to give him the slots.they gave him stupid $2 poker tables.

[Horseplayersbet.com]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

he ran the old thoroughbred meet out the door, his exacta takeout was 27% if memory serves me right. he wants slot machines and Berube in Tampa can't get them, he went from $300k a day to $3million and they don't want to give him the slots.they gave him stupid $2 poker tables.

Wasn't that Brunetti sr.? Isn't under Brunetti jr. now? I'm not 100% sure, but someone posted that a while back.

[Horseplayersbet.com]

Originally Posted by karlskorner

You people really trust John Brunetti ? It's the Casino he is after and he will do anything to reach that goal.

Do you mean that because it is Brunetti, the track takeout isn't really 12%?

[The_Knight_Sky]

.

[showbet]

Originally Posted by andtheyreoff

This winter, make sure to:

BET HIALEAH!

I'd like to, but as of now Hialeah isn't on Twinspires' calendar or on XpressBet's calendar. YouBet carried the 2009/10 Hialeah meet, and it was profitable for me.