Horse Racing World Keeping Close Eye on Greyhound Racing "Decoupling" Movement

[Overlay]

http://msn.foxsports.com/horse-racin...ovement-070914

Tracks add casinos to prop up racing, and then the casino operators view the racing as an unnecessary burden.

[RXB]

"They could set a dangerous precedent for all breeds of racing," said Lonny Powell, the CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association

LOL, for sure Lonny, we can't have sound economic policy catching on, can we? That would be dangerous. I mean, actually expecting an industry to stand or fall on its own economic merits? Why, how dare they?

[classhandicapper]

Who didn't see this coming?

[Al Gobbi]

The sooner this happens the better. For greyhounds other than Palm Beach, the rest of them handle very little on a regular basis and you know there are many which own/operate thoroughbred and harness facilities that would love to do this.

[Pensacola Pete]

They've been trying to get decoupling through the Florida legislature for six years. They've failed six times. As long as Grey2K is involved, they'll fail in the future. Grey2K gets in the way of PETA and ALF. They're pushy, annoying, and they exaggerate their claims. Legislators resent them, and they show their resentment with votes against decoupling.

The greyhound industry has a strong lobby in Florida, and the horsemen are helping, because they know that if greyhound racing falls, they may be next.

The biggest threat to greyhound racing is the gaming companies themselves. Some of them have contributed to PETA, ALF, and Grey2K. Naturally, the gaming companies would like nothing better than to get rid of the racing side of things, since it costs them money.

[bello]

decoupling started in Rhode Island and moved on to Iowa. No loss in either State. Harness racing is likely first to go in PA and other States where the handle per race and revenue generated by that handle is not even close to the purses distributed. Not a business model that is sustainable.

[tanner12oz]

anyone know if dogs are even running in WV anymore?

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by tanner12oz

anyone know if dogs are even running in WV anymore?

Wheeling Island

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

Who didn't see this coming?

Quite frankly, considering the fiscal situation in most states, it's been a lot slower coming than I'd have though. We've been hearing about casinos cutting horse racing loose for a decade but we've only added more racinos since then.

[burnsy]

Originally Posted by RXB

"They could set a dangerous precedent for all breeds of racing," said Lonny Powell, the CEO of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association

LOL, for sure Lonny, we can't have sound economic policy catching on, can we? That would be dangerous. I mean, actually expecting an industry to stand or fall on its own economic merits? Why, how dare they?

Here, here! I'm all for it. But here in America........more is better. Gambling doesn't work that way. Not many people give a crap about dog racing. Horse racing does way better but 32 tracks running at the same time or minutes apart will never survive without the "slot rot" money. Everyone on here has been raving about the other countries....Hong Kong and Japan would never allow our "thinking " on horse racing. Eventually there will be too many casinos too. Many jackasses can't think 2 steps ahead. Someone that thinks economically can. At some point there will be an over saturation of casinos too....the way it's going it's inevitable. The money will be split and dry (just like racing). The casinos will be singing the same blues and no one will be making anything. Then they will say they have to cut off all racing funds. Just a matter of time......its just starting to happen....but it will. Somehow it takes rocket science to figure out economics. But there are 60 plans to bail things out............

[JimG]

Originally Posted by tanner12oz

anyone know if dogs are even running in WV anymore?

Wheeling and Tri-State still operate.

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by burnsy

Here, here! I'm all for it. But here in America........more is better. Gambling doesn't work that way. Not many people give a crap about dog racing. Horse racing does way better but 32 tracks running at the same time or minutes apart will never survive without the "slot rot" money. Everyone on here has been raving about the other countries....Hong Kong and Japan would never allow our "thinking " on horse racing. Eventually there will be too many casinos too. Many jackasses can't think 2 steps ahead. Someone that thinks economically can. At some point there will be an over saturation of casinos too....the way it's going it's inevitable. The money will be split and dry (just like racing). The casinos will be singing the same blues and no one will be making anything. Then they will say they have to cut off all racing funds. Just a matter of time......its just starting to happen....but it will. Somehow it takes rocket science to figure out economics. But there are 60 plans to bail things out............

I think NY's proposal to license 4 casinos throughout the state furthers the over saturation of casino gambling in the Northeast.
Considering NY already a go, NY will have over 10 gaming sites....The 4 state licensed facilities, Turning Stone which is a gigantic facility, Niagara Falls, Buffalo( slots only), Salamanca, Hogansburg. That's 9 right there. Then there are the racinos At Aqueduct, Yonkers, Saratoga Harness, Monticello( I believe those last two will eventually close their VLT facilities as the full casinos will take most if not all of their business) Finer Lakes, Vernon, Batavia, BUffalo( Hamburg) and Tioga
That's a whole bunch of gambling.I have to ask, where's the money going to come from?
Will the two casinos in CT take a hit? Good question.
One thing we may see with this is hard hitting marketing campaigns to attract business. That's good for consumers, but it also spreads the gambling dollar more thinly.
How does this expansion gaming appear in Horse Racing's crystal ball? Time will tell.

[Hambletonian]

does anyone not see that the era of animal racing in the US is nearing its end?

america has always been pretty ambivalent about animal racing, and since the racetracks decided to concentrate on simulcasting and skip promoting live racing, there is only one way this all ends up.

to government, racing's benefit is in revenue raised, and it is the worst, most inefficient way to raise money through gambling. racing cannont win this battle.

and please spare me the talk of agricultural benefits, the foal crop is down and few care if unemployment of stable hands rise. those jobs will be more than adequately replaced by casino jobs.

we can bicker about TVG, take out and all the ways horseplayers are getting screwed, but these issues concern few people. at the end of the day, we will be ok, betting racing from oversees with the exception of a dozen or two US racetracks.

[burnsy]

Great points by Thespaah and Hambletonian. Gambling money is not like food and shelter unless one has a bad problem. People don't have unlimited funds for gambling. Every time it expands there is a split in in the pool of funds. Politicians don't look at this. All they see is the bottom line. New gamblers come in but there is a limit on that too. Horse racing has been in a fight for its life for probably close to the last 3 decades.........it took until recently for them to see it or admit it. Some still continue to paint a pretty picture. But if you've been around for awhile, besides the marquee meets and days you know most tracks are struggling. More so, when compared to the casinos, without their money.....who knows? Like any other labor intensive market. Way more money can be sucked out of a machine when you don't have to pay a human to do it.....or care for an animal. Eventually when this market feels the squeeze. Who will go first? People/Animals, or a machine?

Another example, NASCAR has exploded. Horse racing, not so much.....