Comments on Horseplayers Association of North America: Horseplayers to Pope: It's Our Game Too

Kevin, in Canada, parking and admission is a thing...

2008-08-29T18:48:00.000-04:00

Kevin, in Canada, parking and admission is a thing of the past. Racinos are a way of life here.

Indulto, I screwed up my sentence/thoughts. What I meant was that competition is killing the game, and the best way to grow is to try to attract those who play sports/poker etc on the internet by competing for their business.

This can only be achieved by lowering pricing.

KM,
Thanks for wading through it all. While I d...

2008-08-28T18:43:00.000-04:00

KM,
Thanks for wading through it all. While I disagree with some of Pope’s conclusions, I greatly respect the quality and volume of effort and thought he has contributed toward the sport’s well-being; which is why I made reference to other works of his that I had also read. Hopefully, HANA will encourage others more scholarly than myself to attack the problems horseplayers face with the same

Camgamble, you're first point is right. No new hor...

2008-08-28T18:17:00.000-04:00

Camgamble, you're first point is right. No new horseracing fan will be convinced to come to the track because an exacta takeout is 20% rather than 23%. But folks who are already fans may come to the track rather than stay at home to bet, increasing attendance, which fuels secondary cash streams via parking, concessions, etc.
I also agree that reducing overall takeout is necessary to build

Kevin, in principle I agree with you. However, th...

2008-08-28T07:12:00.000-04:00

Kevin, in principle I agree with you. However, the sport is dying because of lack of competition. Lowering takeout for those who bet live will do nothing to gain new customers.
Lowering takeout or increasing rebates throughout the industry will, and it has to benefit internet players, because not only is that the bulk of the existing major players, but it is also the source of the potential

Today's Blood Horse article with respect to CDI's ...

2008-08-27T15:38:00.000-04:00

Today's Blood Horse article with respect to CDI's response to counter claims made against them by the THG, by indicating theri belief that a collective negotation by geographically disbursed horsemen's groups under a national umbrella organization is tantamount to "price fixing".

As has been previously discussed under other subject headings; "price fixing" occurs to the detriment of the

Wow! Digesting this entry, the original Pope artic...

2008-08-27T08:29:00.000-04:00

Wow! Digesting this entry, the original Pope article that it is based on, and the posted comments to the entry has required a lot of work. As an advocate for live racing, I feel the need to put my two cents in on a few of the issues presented. 1. Yes, we need to get a greater share of the off-track handle back to the host tracks. In addition to all the other reasons referenced here, many of the

Anonymous 9:06,
If the industry continues pract...

2008-08-25T05:32:00.000-04:00

Anonymous 9:06,
If the industry continues practices that inhibit handle growth, then “handle consolidation” seems an inevitable result, but even if meet scheduling were to be deregulated, the moving of at least 80% of handle off-track makes the kind of meet-scheduling free-for-all that led to the formation of NYRA, and which you seem to advocate, unlikely.

Also, in comparison with

This article reflects significant insight into the...

2008-08-24T10:01:00.000-04:00

This article reflects significant insight into the current hassle over takeout splits between track operators and horse owners. And, it goes one step farther to show how horseplayers are the "forgotten" segment of the horse racing partnership.

People like Pope should be ashamed of the majority of the racing show that is being presented today and should spend more time improving the

One of the single biggest issues prohibiting racin...

2008-08-22T12:06:00.000-04:00

One of the single biggest issues prohibiting racing from the consolidation necessary to assure quality and for the surviving players to be able to operate profitably is the historical model of track facilities operating as a regulated oligopoly on a state by state basis

Under the current operating model; the industry can no longer afford situations like Calder and Gulfstream operating