Keeneland apparently raising takeout

[cj]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

I knew little about Ken before I listened to this, and obviously I was somewhat mistaken in my assumptions about how he might view the Keeneland thing.

I'm glad to be set straight, now I like the guy, and not just for his stance here.

When TimeformUS first started, I did a small piece in Saratoga on Andy Serling's on Saratoga. Ken Ramsey was a guest earlier on the show. I really didn't know a lot about him and to be honest I was too busy thinking about what I was going to say than what Ken did when he was on. Anyway, when I was done, he came over to me and spent a good 10 minutes at least talking with me about TimeformUS, racing in general, and me personally. He couldn't have been any nicer. The guy is a gambler like us too. He sends it in.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by ReplayRandall

Thanks for the link....Go to 35:45 of this link for Ramsey's heated and frank comments about the Keeneland takeout issue....Good stuff:

http://latalkradio.com/content/horse...%20#audio_play

It's a beautiful thing. "Boycott Keeneland"

Made my day/week. Go Ken Ramsey!

[Andy Asaro]

Really something that Ken Ramsey knows what to do but HANA doesn't. Says a lot.

[Andy Asaro]

Twitter

[Mike_412]

What a great interview. Thanks for sharing it. Bravo Mr. Ramsey.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by Mike_412

What a great interview. Thanks for sharing it. Bravo Mr. Ramsey.

Need someone to do this.

How old is Ramsey about 92? So friggin awesome that he's showing this passion sticking up for the $2 Bettor

Twitter

[jimmyb]

What else is telling is he discourages people from getting into the ownership business. He encouraged people to get into something else.

[Andy Asaro]

Twitter

Twitter

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Last edited by Andy Asaro; 08-17-2017 at 07:24 PM.

[PoloUK6108]

Of course Byk said that, his head comes to a point.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by PoloUK6108

Of course Byk said that, his head comes to a point.

Steve is an industry insider where most of those guys are his friends...he is not likely to be to critical of anyone. Its hard to take his opinions seriously with all his personal involvement.

[Jeff P]

PlayersBoycott.org site now updated for Keeneland:
http://www.playersboycott.org/

Share the link.



-jp

.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by Jeff P

PlayersBoycott.org site now updated for Keeneland:
http://www.playersboycott.org/

Share the link.



-jp

.

Right on. I'm with you 100% Let's do it.

[Dahoss9698]

Originally Posted by Andy Asaro

https://twitter.com/GreedyHorsemen/s...16454122196994


https://twitter.com/Craig_Bernick/st...09957094785026

Andy you know I think you do a lot of good things and I admire your fight for us horseplayers. But I think Byk and Bianca are being unfairly targeted here. Full disclosure, I've known Byk for over 10 years...but we have not spoken in a few years so this is not me sticking up for a friend. He and I don't really see eye to eye on the state of the game.

At no point in that segment everyone is flipping out over did either guy even mention Keeneland or the takeout increase. They were talking about Equestricon.

I can see why the "if the game is too hard leave" statement bothers people and I think it was poorly said. But it was not in reference to the takeout increase.

I think Byk has a forum to fight for horseplayers more and would like to see that, but I also understand why he doesn't. But I can say without a doubt Byk is a good guy. He's not the enemy here. Keeneland is.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Dahoss9698

Andy you know I think you do a lot of good things and I admire your fight for us horseplayers. But I think Byk and Bianca are being unfairly targeted here. Full disclosure, I've known Byk for over 10 years...but we have not spoken in a few years so this is not me sticking up for a friend. He and I don't really see eye to eye on the state of the game.

At no point in that segment everyone is flipping out over did either guy even mention Keeneland or the takeout increase. They were talking about Equestricon.

I can see why the "if the game is too hard leave" statement bothers people and I think it was poorly said. But it was not in reference to the takeout increase.

I think Byk has a forum to fight for horseplayers more and would like to see that, but I also understand why he doesn't. But I can say without a doubt Byk is a good guy. He's not the enemy here. Keeneland is.

Absolutely. Anyone that DOESN'T think Byk is a good guy and GOOD for racing and Horseplayers is just flat out wrong.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by cj

Bill Nader on Keeneland and takeout in general:

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com...or-bill-nader/

The total handle numbers are scary. It wasn't surprising that handle dropped after the 2008 financial crisis and recession. If fewer people are employed, some are under employed, and still others are worried about their jobs, handle will fall. The thing is, we are 8-9 years into the recovery and employment has improved, but there's almost no recovery in handle.

So exactly what's going to happen to the industry when the next recession hits (which may be quite soon given the typical recovery duration)?

If the industry takes another 2-4 billion hit all hell is going to break loose.