And down we go

[ultracapper]

I would prefer a better class of horse at SA also. But, from a betting perspective, I'm finding a 10 horse field of $16K N2L is a hell of a lot better race to bet into than a 6 horse field of $40K claimers. The tote board may be the only thing about the $16k claimer that's attractive, but that's my involvement in the game.

[Gekish]

At the Los Al Satellite Wagering the average age of bettors is about 60 including me who turned 81 yesterday. This is a dying game.

[cj]

Originally Posted by Gekish

At the Los Al Satellite Wagering the average age of bettors is about 60 including me who turned 81 yesterday. This is a dying game.

I'm not disagreeing, but sure, places like that draw an older crowd. A lot of younger people (and older too, for that matter) are betting from home. Horse racing is always going to lean towards older people that have more time and disposable income.

[oughtoh]

16nw2 big field is fine. But mdn clm after mdn clm, especially 25k, you can have. No interest in them.

[FakeNameChanged]

Originally Posted by Gekish

At the Los Al Satellite Wagering the average age of bettors is about 60 including me who turned 81 yesterday. This is a dying game.

Well Happy Birthday. IT's good to have hobbies during retirement.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by cj

I'm not disagreeing, but sure, places like that draw an older crowd. A lot of younger people (and older too, for that matter) are betting from home. Horse racing is always going to lean towards older people that have more time and disposable income.

I would argue that a lot of older players who regularly play the game when they have disposable income likely still started when they were younger.

I think gambling is going to expand in this country and not contract, sadly racing has positioned itself as the least desirable form in many of the statistical standpoints.

[cj]

Originally Posted by GMB@BP

I would argue that a lot of older players who regularly play the game when they have disposable income likely still started when they were younger.

I think gambling is going to expand in this country and not contract, sadly racing has positioned itself as the least desirable form in many of the statistical standpoints.

I agree they started younger, but those starting younger now are not going to be showing up in OTBs for the most part.

Racing has been stayed pretty level the last several years after a big dropoff, but I agree it is not positioned well for the future. Some serious changes are going to have to be made.

[Robert Fischer]

Having fun guessing along with the cheap claimers, but it is normally a class that I pass over.

Mainly a fan of colts and/or older horses running for a decent purse in a decent sized field. The other races I play are typically extensions of a multi-race sequence from one of those races, or an angle play that happens to jump off the page.

I think today was like 99% fillies and/or claimers.

Playing around a little with looking at the purse levels in comparison to today's purse and class. So far I think I'm 0-for-3 with what I would've come up with, although they weren't 3 amazing discoveries. More of just working through the process for 3 races to see what I came up with.

[dlivery]

Read the Conditions of the race until it becomes Fuzzy
Like betting on a horse 1/51
Nay I will pass

[ubercapper]

Originally Posted by Gekish

At the Los Al Satellite Wagering the average age of bettors is about 60 including me who turned 81 yesterday. This is a dying game.

Quite the opposite at Keeneland, where there hundreds of 20 somethings attending the races daily, thousands on the weekend. This is not a dying game.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by ubercapper

Quite the opposite at Keeneland, where there hundreds of 20 somethings attending the races daily, thousands on the weekend. This is not a dying game.

Plenty of younger people at the botique meets where they show up for the party.

There will be 10's of thousands of young people at the Phoenix Open next week, still a dying game....they are not there for the golf.

[BadGnus]

If this is any help to the discussion of whether this sport is on the decline....

[green80]

Originally Posted by cj

Field size is important, but it certainly isn't everything for bettors. If it was EvD and DeD would be the kings of racing I'd guess. There is a balance between field size and quality.

Constantly bashing our Louisiana racing.

[cj]

Originally Posted by green80

Constantly bashing our Louisiana racing.

That wasn't a bash, just facts. Fields sizes are really good there last I checked, but people still don't bet the product much.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by cj

Racing has been stayed pretty level the last several years after a big dropoff, but I agree it is not positioned well for the future. Some serious changes are going to have to be made.

I'm worried that the sharp decline occurred during the financial crisis and now we've been in a somewhat level period while the economy has been growing for the last 8-9 years.

What happens in the next recession?

We could have another significant drop.

The cyclical growing economy may just be masking the long term secular downtrend for awhile.