Bill Finley: "Horseplayers Are Stupid"

[Horseplayersbet.com]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ill&id=5551276

I think he is wrong this time in his prediction that California handle will not drop for two major reasons he didn't mention:

1) Price sensitive and value players make up a much bigger percentage of pools these days, and there simply will be less value playing exotics. Not only because average prices will be lower, but most likely distribution fees will increase and it will affect the net takeout rebate player's decision to play the California tracks.

2) There is a lot more awareness amongst horseplayers regarding takeout is as high as ever. There will be many who really stop playing California.

He is correct that the simulcast player will likely just wind up playing less, hurting all tracks, not only California.

[Turkoman]

In reality, I like his message. It seems like he's actually trying to open everyone's eyes about the whole situation. Thanks for the article.

Turkoman

[andymays]

Suspending Play is the only answer.

I'm for a three day or a week suspension of play at the Oak Tree meet to protest the upcoming increase. If it is successful I am for another suspension of play within a month.

If the short suspensions are successful they will gain momentum and participants like a snowball down a hill. The ensuing avalanche will turn the tide.

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This is my reply to someone on my email list. This person has a radio show and asked me what else they could do in California to increase purses.


They have been offered many solutions to increase handle and they reject every one of them. I have had some of the people on my list contact me and say hey “that’s a good idea” or “we’ll consider this or that”. They’ve been saying that stuff out here for decades. It’s always the low road out here when it comes to their customers.

How many industry leaders will be able to say they left the game better than they found it?

They’ve done very well for themselves over the last 20 years but what have they done for the game?

We talk about Trainers who cheat the public but no group of people has done more to destroy the game more than the people who run it.

[Charlie D]

When there are so many better betting opportunities out there, why would any rational person continue to bet on California racing

Very few horseplayers ever react to takeout increases, or decreases, for that matter. If history is any kind of guide at all, there will hardly be a single horseplayer who will decide on Dec. 26 that because the takeout is so high in California they will boycott the first at Santa Anita and instead bet on the seventh at Aqueduct because their money will go a lot farther playing New York races. The vast majority of horseplayers won't change their betting habits one bit.

[Turkoman]

A well advertised takeout REDUCTION would have been a much better solution to the problem.

Turkoman

[Charlie D]

Tracks just keep digging deeper into our pockets. Who's to say that a takeout increase to 30 percent won't be next in California? The only way to put a stop to these things is for the customers to rebel, for them to stop betting on the tracks that gouge them and support the ones that don't. But horseplayers have never looked out for their best interests and I don't hold out any hope that will change.

Tired of getting fleeced at the track? You have no one but yourself to blame.

Good article from Bill Finley imho.

[Robert Goren]

I have this great idea to save horse racing every where. Legalize the sell of Marijuana and only allow it to be sold by a race track. Use the profits to increase purses and keep tracks open.

[andymays]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

I have this great idea to save horse racing every where. Legalize the sell of Marijuana and only allow it to be sold by a race track. Use the profits to increase purses and keep tracks open.

I had that idea a while back.

Medical Marijuana in the infield. All you have to do is produce a losing ticket to prove pain and suffering. Bong hits are $20.

California Racing won't listen to any legitimate ideas so I'm sure they will like this one. What's the downside? Who cares about takeout? Get high, eat, drink and be merry! Until you wake up broke and fat that is.

It's all about concerts and concession sales anyway.

[DJofSD]

The same exacta that would pay $81.40 in New York and $81 in New Jersey will pay just $76.20 in California. That's a big bite to begin with and the type of thing that turns into a huge number over time.

Put this under every bettors nose. After a while it will sink in.

Maybe we can get the attorney generals office to post a warning: betting exotics on CA races after December 25, 2010, is bad for your finacial health.

[andymays]

Paulick picked it up.

http://www.paulickreport.com/blog/fi...rs-are-stupid/

[PhantomOnTour]

A more accurate analogy is that of a drug dealer who keeps charging more and more for his stuff. Addicts will pay huge prices for their fixes. Horseplayers aren't much different; we've proven that. Outside of Breeders Cup the last race I wagered on in Cali was Good Rewards' Pacific Classic.
I was planning on betting a lil Cali when they return to dirt, but not now.

[PhantomOnTour]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

A more accurate analogy is that of a drug dealer who keeps charging more and more for his stuff. Addicts will pay huge prices for their fixes. Horseplayers aren't much different; we've proven that. Outside of Breeders Cup the last race I wagered on in Cali was Good Rewards' Pacific Classic.
I was planning on betting a lil Cali when they return to dirt, but not now.

Make that Student Council

[andymays]

Some of the people who talk about the takeout increase in California seem to think that's the only option so "oh well".

It's as if Horse Racing is just a cocktail party at a equestrian event with no gambling at all.


If it about gambling at all then the takeout hikes need to stop.

[DeanT]

Players are not stupid, although it is a fantastic shock headline by Bill F.

Bettors are smart - that's why handle is off by close to 50% the last ten years.

If Kinko's kept their same business plan and lost 50% of their business in ten years, they would not say their customers are stupid, they would say "we're doing something wrong because they have left"

Customers are very smart and rational. Racing just has not figured that out yet.

As for CA. Bettors might keep playing it. I dont know if they are dumb or not, but I do know if they continue to bet 22% takeout in ex's in five horse fields they will be broke.

[Charlie D]

If they are not stupid Dean, then they maybe need more eductation via articles like this http://blog.horseplayersassociation....s-retamas.html