1st Racing go F yourself

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by bisket

Horse racing is very popular in California

No, it isn't.

And as I noted above, subsidies to pro sports are ESPECIALLY unpopular in California.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

EDIT: And BTW, this is mostly a problem of costs (our labor costs are HUGE) and geography (we have to basically operate on our own island because we are so far away from any other major racing circuit, whereas New York benefits from being interconnected with Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, etc.). It's not because we are a lefty state (although in the LONG TERM, there's a possibility that we ban horse racing because of our politics).

The costs in a state are partially related to the priorities of the people of that state (taxes, services, regulations, legislated wages and benefits etc..).

Investment in and growth of a state are partially related to the value you get for your costs and the political environment for helping business.

You can call it anything you want, but it's not working for racing relative to more pro business and pro racing states.

I'd make CA the ML favorite among states that have racing now to eventually ban it.

I happen to enjoy trying to find a rare edge gambling, but I think the growth of lotteries, sports betting and gambling in general is a terrible development for society. So maybe CA actually has it right on racing.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by bisket

Racing is local issue and it doesn’t register with the national back and forth circus in national politics today

I agree completely. That's exactly what I am suggesting.

[MargieRose]

Originally Posted by the little guy

The argument, of course, completely falls apart when you bring NY into the equation.

Stop bringing your political crap into the racing rooms.

Ignorance abounds!

[dilanesp]

Pleasanton got the dates (October-December). Let's see if 1st Racing carries through on its threats.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by MargieRose

Ignorance abounds!

Not really. His point is sound.

[MargieRose]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Not really. His point is sound.

I was referring to the "political crap" comment. The snippet that was mentioned didn't call for the harsh retort.

[Jeff P]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Pleasanton got the dates (October-December). Let's see if 1st Racing carries through on its threats.

I'm not surprised the CHRB awarded the dates.

Long as I remember the Commissioners have voted based on the following standard:

If both the track and horsemen are on the same page: Vote Yes (Close to 100%.)

Otherwise: Vote No (70/30.)

Imo:

The LAST thing the Commissioners of the CHRB want is for Santa Anita to close or be sold off.

Had all of the Cal Horsemen alphabet agencies and tracks been on the same page to consolidate down to a single circuit:

The Commissioners of the CHRB would have voted Yes to that.

But here the Nor Cal Track(s) and Horsemen were on the same page.

So they awarded the dates.


-jp
.

[horsefan2019]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Pleasanton got the dates (October-December). Let's see if 1st Racing carries through on its threats.

They called their bluff. At the end of the date its the state that controls the schedule. My guess is the Stronach group thought they could use their weight to get things done in their favor.

[Andy Asaro]

California is one of the worst States to do any kind of business in. There is no alternative gaming revenue to bolster purses. How do these idiots think having a horrible product in the North and a Subpar product in the South benefits anyone?

The formula is Field sizes averaging 8 horses or more per race, Big pools, and reasonable takeout. Field size in So Cal is plummeting. Purses are plummeting, and takeout is way too high for short fields. The current formula in California is certain catastrophic failure. The only way to keep Southern California limping along into 2025 is to use the simulcast money in the north to help purses down here. And even with that help So Cal still won't be competitive with other jurisdictions who do have Casino Subsidies.

Some Moron on twitter said Los Alamitos can build a turf course if Santa Anita goes out of business. LOL. I said why do you think they have a dog leg on the backstretch? To be cool?

There is no good reason for Santa Anita to stay in business and continue to lose money. If it was such a good business opportunity why doesn't someone or some group lease it and run it? They won't do that cuz they'll lose their asses.

The level of idiocy stunning.

Keep believing in the Purse Fairy and she'll disappoint every time.

[Jeff P]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

...The formula is Field sizes averaging 8 horses or more per race, Big pools, and reasonable takeout. Field size in So Cal is plummeting. Purses are plummeting, and takeout is way too high for short fields. The current formula in California is certain catastrophic failure...

The level of idiocy stunning...

Keep believing in the Purse Fairy and she'll disappoint every time.

^^^ -- This !

100% spot on.

Think back to SB1072 and 22.68% exacta takeout and changing the historical takeout split from 50/50 to 48% track and 52% purses.

The CHRB and TOC promised SB1072 would lead to increased purses, field size, and handle.

A few months in, it was obvious the opposite was taking place.

They had succeeded -- at accelerating the decline.

Handle cratered. As did track revenue.

The first thing they did was cut dates and workforce hours. Then purses. Then layoffs.

In that year's CHRB Annual Report the Chairman of the CHRB blamed "the economy" while that same year the California Lottery engineered a complete turnaround (increase in revenue and increase in money flowing to state coffers) after AB142 gave the Lottery Commission discretion to increase prize payout percentage (aka lower takeout.)

Instead of reversing course they (Tracks, Horsemen, and the CHRB) dug their heels into the ground and told us it was a "5 Year Plan" and "It's bound to work if we just give it more time."

Fast forward 13 years --

And here we are.

If Santa Anita closes or is sold off there will be no shortage of people saddened by this event as much as myself.

But you can't say the wounds weren't self inflicted.


-jp
.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by Jeff P

^^^ -- This !

100% spot on.

Think back to SB1072 and 22.68% exacta takeout and changing the historical takeout split from 50/50 to 48% track/52% purses.

The CHRB and TOC promised that would lead to increased purses, field size, and handle.


A few months in, it was obvious the opposite was taking place.

Handle cratered. As did track revenue.

The first thing they did was cut dates and workforce hours. Then purses.

In that year's CHRB Annual Report the Chairman of the CHRB blamed "the economy" while that same year the California Lottery engineered a complete turnaround (1.4X increase in revenue) after AB142 gave the Lottery Commission discretion to increase prize payout percentage (aka lower takeout.)

Instead of reversing course they (Tracks, Horsemen, and the CHRB) dug their heels into the ground and told us it was a "5 Year Plan" and "It's bound to work if we just give it more time."

Fast forward 13 years --

And here we are.

If Santa Anita closes or is sold off there will be no shortage of people saddened by this event as much as myself.

But you can't say the wounds weren't self inflicted.


-jp
.

Exactly

[JustRalph]

Close it. Give a gift to Kentucky and Oaklawn. They deserve it more.

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by MargieRose

I was referring to the "political crap" comment. The snippet that was mentioned didn't call for the harsh retort.

How did I know that you almost only post in the political threads and what your politics would be?

One clown brings their political crap here and another soon follows. That's EXACTLY why it doesn't belong here.

[PaceAdvantage]

I'll just keep deleting your posts if you keep posting stuff like that.

He called you a clown after you called him ignorant.

Now move on.