Saratoga Admission 2023

[MonmouthParkJoe]

Originally Posted by molson721

AND racing wonders why it is losing fans! I've read the comments of those that are in support of this but I wonder if you are clueless!

Casinos let you park for free, let you in for free and AND GIVE YOU FREE DRINKS because THEY MAKE MONEY ON YOUR WAGERING! Is the higher admission price resulting in the takeout at Saratoga being lowered? NO Are Casinos closing and costing themselves money by giving away these freebies that race tracks DON'T give you?

WAKE UP PEOPLE. I've heard the STUPID argument that fans pay high entrance fees to see a baseball or football game (which I don't have to pay any takeout fees or need to wager on as a fan of my team)so I should expect to pay an entrance price to see racing?? WRONG. Saratoga racing is not enjoyable if I don't wager on the races so does anybody go there to not wager? TAKEOUT is where the money is made

Racing was not on TV very much during its heyday in the 50's-70's because the racetracks thought it would hurt attendance, how did that help the sport? Charging for parking and admission is something racetracks do but not casinos! WAKE UP!

Saratoga is the best way to bring new fans to the game but having fans start off $10,$20 $30 or more in the hole(depending on family or group size) for the opportunity to enter a track so you can wager on races with high takeouts is not a way to bring in new fans! There is a reason why so many tracks have closed(Arlington, Hollywood, etc) and the casino bailouts can only last so long!

WAKE UP PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT HIGHER ADMISSIONS! The game is dying and this is the type of reasons why! The $2 bettor can fall in love with this sport if they are not overcharged to try it out just like I did 30 years ago! When will racing ever learn? The betting whales are not the backbone of the sport, the little guy is and once again, racing is doing its' best to eliminate the little guy!
Please excuse some spelling and grammatical errors as I was ready to go to bed when writing this but the message is not WRONG! Raising admission to ANY track is not good for the sport that has high takeout on wagering!

Adults pay $7 per person in advance and kids 12 and under are free to see the best racing in the country (I would argue the world). You are allowed to bring in outside F&B in the majority of the general admission areas. There is free parking on the street if you arrive early enough and they offer free PPs on their website if you would like to download them or print them out.

I can only speak to Atlantic City casinos but I believe all but one of them charge for parking (some get free parking based on their rewards system). The way they earn on gaming is different. Other casinos outside of AC that I have been to don't even give you free drinks depending on what you are playing.

It is easily one of the best deals for a day out in a gorgeous setting at a major sporting event.

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by molson721

AND racing wonders why it is losing fans! I've read the comments of those that are in support of this but I wonder if you are clueless!

Casinos let you park for free, let you in for free and AND GIVE YOU FREE DRINKS because THEY MAKE MONEY ON YOUR WAGERING! Is the higher admission price resulting in the takeout at Saratoga being lowered? NO Are Casinos closing and costing themselves money by giving away these freebies that race tracks DON'T give you?

I clipped a lot of your rant, but most of it is flat-out wrong and very dated thinking. Yes, casinos are popular because 30 years ago they had free parking. It's just a waste of brain cells addressing most of it.

Here's a fact---when prices go up, it does not drop attendance IF THE PRODUCT IS HOT. Concert ticket prices are through the roof---concert attendance is not down. When the UFC raised prices for their pay-per-views, buys went up (and they had their best year ever in 2022). Charging something for a product that people want does not hurt demand. Saratoga is an "event", they should charge to get in. And the idea that an admission charge keeps people from betting---it's 2023. More than 90% of the wagering is coming from offtrack anyway.

[Suff]

Add another $200 night , valet, taxes and resort fee.

$1200 a night for a smoking room at the GUITAR hotel at the HARD ROCK.


If you use rewards they gut your points. That's what they want. They prefer gamblers over Florida average tourist, so they price them out. You can stay at the Fountain blue for these numbers. That said, the Hard Rock is a beautiful property.

Btw no points are auto-earned for table game play. Iow's, they only rate slot play, no table games earn points.

The rewards system for table games is opaque and complicated. With 4 hours , average bet $50, you barely earn a free drink, and it takes pit boss to sign the drink slip. Its an act of Congress to earn a room.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by Suff

Add another $200 night , valet, taxes and resort fee.

$1200 a night for a smoking room at the GUITAR hotel at the HARD ROCK.


If you use rewards they gut your points. That's what they want. They prefer gamblers over Florida average tourist, so they price them out. You can stay at the Fountain blue for these numbers. That said, the Hard Rock is a beautiful property.

Btw no points are auto-earned for table game play. Iow's, they only rate slot play, no table games earn points.

The rewards system for table games is opaque and complicated. With 4 hours , average bet $50, you barely earn a free drink, and it takes pit boss to sign the drink slip. Its an act of Congress to earn a room.

Damn, Suff, I've been meaning to write something very similar but have been too lazy. I think the casino biz ain't really the best thing to emulate right now.

6/5 Blackjack, triple-0 roulette, stingier odds on all else but craps...

Where does the $2 bettor go in the casino? How long can he play on a $300 daily stake?

Free watered down drinks, maybe 1 or 2 for hours of play.

Everything else price-wise has skyrocketed.

Players cards have gotten tighter than a nun's youknowhat.

Touting free parking is so yesterday's news.

[Suff]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Damn, Suff, I

6/5 Blackjack, triple-0 roulette, stingier odds on all else but craps....

3/2 blackjack tables are $100 minimum, no mid chute entry.

[molson721]

Why is racing dying? Charge people money to enter a facility with high takeout on the money you bet and you have a winner.

Since I AM SO WRONG, WHY IS RACING DYING AND NOT ATTRACTING NEW FANS EXPERTS! I have money but I haven't forgot where I came from!

To the paid casino parking excuse makers, do Casinos charge you to enter? Do casinos get subsidies from racetracks? This sport will be dead within 20 years but my ideas are antiquated?? Supply and demand? When the casino subsidies end so will racing! THERE WILL BE NO DEMAND FOR WHAT TRACKS SUPPLY! Purses will dry up and nobody will want to own a horse if there is no money to be made owning one.



Racing has done nothing over the years that benefits its' fans, the fan base is dying YET nothing changes! Just charge them more to enter a track for the opportunity to lose their money(which the track makes plenty of money on from takeouts that are much higher than casinos). I guess that is how you draw new fans to the game based on what most people here believe! HOPE YOU KEEP ENJOYING THE SLOW DEATH OF RACING!


Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results! Albert Einstein

[Suff]

Originally Posted by molson721

Why is racing dying?


Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results! Albert Einstein

Times change ole timer, go to bed. Get your rest.

Albert Einstein

[Publius]

Saratoga admission price is one I will suck up and pay. Enjoying some down time at the Spa is one place I look forward to all year.

I have hotel booked for Whitney weekend and an Airbnb booked for a few days leading up to Alabama Day. One of my friends who is not a horse guy but he places bets on the Triple Crown races reached out to me and said he has never been to Saratoga Racecourse and wanted to attend the races. I booked a house on Airbnb at a reasonable price. Another friend is coming up and we'll have a great time. Might book a long weekend with my wife in July. We still have a bit more time before deciding to reserve a hotel.

[traveler]

I have a connection thru the Saratoga Reading Room. Private parking and direct track entrance for free. Highball at the club and golf cart to the grandstand. Just a lucky break.20210902_122912.jpg

[Suff]

Originally Posted by Publius

Saratoga admission price is one I will suck up and pay. Enjoying some down time at the Spa is one place I look forward to all year.

I have hotel booked for Whitney weekend and an Airbnb booked for a few days leading up to Alabama Day. One of my friends who is not a horse guy but he places bets on the Triple Crown races reached out to me and said he has never been to Saratoga Racecourse and wanted to attend the races. I booked a house on Airbnb at a reasonable price. Another friend is coming up and we'll have a great time. Might book a long weekend with my wife in July. We still have a bit more time before deciding to reserve a hotel.

Top notch. You're well seasoned obviously.

[Suff]

Originally Posted by traveler

I have a connection thru the Saratoga Reading Room. Private parking and direct track entrance for free. Highball at the club and golf cart to the grandstand. Just a lucky break.Attachment 32842

Another proper planner.

[Suff]

I have something sketched out.

From Florida on Tuesday the 29th until Tuesday September 5th. I've spent one extra day in Saratoga twice recently.

I'd love to go twice but realistically once is what's going to be all I can do, so given the choice, it's closing week and one extra day. When I walk out after the last race, it's painful. They're playing Billy Joel NY Stay of Mind. I'm walking out, I'm filled with sadness, it's ripping my guts out. I feel something Deep down in a rarely accessible place in my soul.

[Suff]

I forgot to mention.. this year the last week is double bonus points.

The inaugural Harvey Pack race is on the card.

I'm calling in all OG's to be there.

[Publius]

The Lucky Coin the 5 1/2 furlong sprint has been re-named The Harvey Pack.

Great for NYRA to honor Harvey Pack. I enjoyed watching his replay show.

[molson721]

What a bunch of morons at keeneland giving chances for the fans to get a free program. Why do that when you can gouge the little guy by making them pay for one. I'm sure Keeneland will raise entrance fees as well because the meet is so popular and have lower takeouts than NYRA !
If you need a good laugh read this quote: “We as an industry have a collective responsibility to create lifelong fans of the sport,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said.


Screw the fans, keep raising prices to save a dying sport. High takeout isn't enough. After reading my criticism of raising any prices, I am glad this sport is dying! Associating with morons will never get you anywhere. Enjoy the races at Hollywood Park, Arlington, Rockingham, Suffolk Downs among many others with more to come! High takeout just isn't enough according to most people here.