Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnGalt1
Canterbury is my home track.
They have never had a sucker jackpot bet.
I spoke with someone in management last year and was glad the 2016 first time pick 5 was not a jackpot bet.
I was somewhat surprised to see they think we betters are suckers like so many other tracks think we are.
When I go back to the track -- this weekend is cold and rainy,
so I'm playing Pimlico from home -- I will try to find out their thinking.
In the latest Horseplayer's Magazine all but one of the handicappers interviewed gave a negative opinion to jackpot bets.
I'm embarrassed that Canterbury came to party late.
THE WORST NEWS----
Despite handle rising about 5% last year, versus handle decreases of - 20% for other mid-west tracks -- Iowa, Oklahoma, and Chicago, etc. -- Canterbury ended the lower take out rates and reverted to 2015 levels.
They wanted a +10% increase in handle to make the lower rates profitable to the share holders.
They admitted that last years weather was wetter than normal and more races than a normal summer were taken off the turf which they admitted hurt handle.
I'm surprised, (not really) they didn't go at least one more year with the lower take out.
Last year Canterbury got many of you to play Canterbury for the first time or bet more often.
The sucker pick 5 is the appropriate bet for what they think of us.
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Like CJ, I supported them big time last year. I even went out there for a tournament and spent a weekend betting on-track. My handle there was 0 in 2015, 6-figures in 2016, and is now back to 0. They did something we've all been asking for and I backed up my appreciation with my wallet despite a horrendous year in terms of field size, weather, and off the turf racing.
A little history on the jackpot bet. They wanted to add it last year during the takeout cut and I, among others, strongly urged them not to. Reasons being that they need churn and that's a real bad churn bet, the takeout is extremely high when it carries, and it won't handle much so they won't get the marketing push that GP has.
This year, not only did they raise all their rates to at or above 2 years ago, but they added the bet we all warned them against.
Some great people out there that I really like but as a bettor, they're dead to me.