Top 3 racing issues

[beertapper]

What would you say are the top 3 problems in racing today, from the viewpoint of the horseplayer, the horse owner, and tracks ? I think everyone agrees that racing has alot problems, but perhaps these problems should be grouped by user base (I'm trying to get a grasp of all the issues here). If I'm missing something here, by all means add it on. I'm only familar with the game from a horseplayer's standpoint (and even that's in question.... )

• Horseplayer: Takeout, Customer service, Late odds drops / Integrity of bets
• Horse owner: Unsustainable economics ?, small owners can't compete with big barns ?
• Tracks: disputes with horsemen, oversaturation of product, lack of coordination among tracks?

[46zilzal]

1) Drugs
2) The need of a uniform set of rules for all racing along with a racing commissioner with the power to oversee it nationally.
3) Diminishing fan base. The current one is aging out of existence and NOTHING is being effectively done to promote the game, not the gimmicks, to a younger crowd.
4) The deal with the devil, casinos...Guess which one is easier to maintain?

[Tom]

#2 and #3 don't recognize #1 as a customer.

So in my eyes, they both are #2.

[Stillriledup]

1) Takeout
2) Synthetic tracks ruining the sport
3) Cheaters

[Robert Goren]

#1 dealing with the gambler

There is no #2 or #3 until they get that right and they are rapidly running out of time.