| It is said that many of the people who run horse racing | | | | track because of the associated costs. I'd rather |
| in the United States, and perhaps in the world, are | | | | spend my dollar on a bet than admission and parking. |
| hide-bound and slow to change. Like the U.S. | | | | By the time I park my car, get into the track, and buy |
| automakers who are taking so much heat now, the | | | | past performances, I've spent over $10 and I haven't |
| people who run race tracks and control horse racing in | | | | even seen a race or placed a bet. That is just the |
| the Untied States are often thought of as stuck in the | | | | price to get into the grandstand area, too. If I want to |
| past and stuck in a rut. Is that really a true and fair | | | | join the swells in the clubhouse it costs much more. |
| assessment and if so, what could be done to improve | | | | So here is a suggestion give free admission and free |
| horse racing? | | | | parking and some kind of free program that has |
| I have a fan's eye view of horse racing and once | | | | enough information in it for the average person to |
| owned race horses, so I have two perspectives that I | | | | make an informed decision about a race and to bet it. |
| can use. I've never run a race track, though I have | | | | More clerks so the betting lines will be shorter and |
| been a track employee on one occasion, so my | | | | treat every customer, both the swells and the average |
| understanding and knowledge of what it takes to run a | | | | person, the $2 bettor, like a valued customer. Without |
| race track is limited. However, since racing cannot | | | | the bettors there will be no racing. Losing your fan |
| survive without the fans and during these tough | | | | base is how you lose the sport. |
| economic times, the fans have very limited resources | | | | Many years ago I worked at a greyhound race track. |
| for entertainment, it would behoove the racing officials | | | | We did a survey of the customers as they came |
| and track owners to ask the fans what they want | | | | through the door, in fact, I stood and greeted them, |
| and then, if at all possible, to give it to them. | | | | handed them a free gift, and asked them what they |
| It all comes down to a few factors, like value, | | | | would do to improve their day at our track. Many of |
| entertainment, convenience. When I spend a dollar, I | | | | them were also horse players and they said that they |
| want to get something for it, to feel that I have gotten | | | | wanted to be able to bet on exactas at the dogs. At |
| my money's worth. I don't have to pay to walk into a | | | | that time, the track I worked at and most of the other |
| casino to gamble and they give me perks, like free | | | | greyhound tracks only offered quinellas. |
| meals and even a free room if I gamble enough. What | | | | So the tracks gradually started adding exactas to the |
| do I get from the race track? | | | | card and the people bet on them and revenues |
| Here in Southern California, a day at the race track is | | | | increased. I would do just the opposite at the horse |
| an expensive proposition. I have to pay to park, pay | | | | tracks. I would offer quinellas. To me, betting an exacta |
| for a good program with some past performance | | | | box is a waste of money because I am buying two |
| information, and pay to get into the track. I can then | | | | combinations so one is a guaranteed loser. Even |
| stand in long lines to use an automatic teller machine or | | | | though a quinella may pay less than an exacta, |
| to place my bet with a clerk. I think this is a case of | | | | psychologically, I like the quinella better. I can spend $2 |
| poor value and poor convenience. Don't you? | | | | for an exacta box and get the payoff for a $1 exacta |
| Now if I simply want to bet on simulcast races and go | | | | or I can spend $2 for a quinella and get the entire |
| to a local race track on a day when they aren't | | | | quinella. |
| hosting any live races, I still have to pay to go inside | | | | I think that offering the quinella on horse races like |
| and pay for past performances. Greyhound race | | | | some tracks already do, would be one way to |
| tracks have free past performances that can be | | | | improve racing. Finally, the best thing they could do to |
| downloaded off the internet and if they charge | | | | improve racing would be to lower the takeouts. |
| admission, it is usually only a buck or two, though many | | | | Between the takeout and breakage, we are being bled |
| offer free admission. | | | | too much. Give the fans a break financially and they |
| I love horse racing, but that doesn't mean I should pay | | | | will replay you with their attendance, otherwise, horse |
| a premium just to attend a race track. Other people | | | | racing is going to suffer the same fate the auto |
| like to gamble and will go to a casino instead of a race | | | | industry has met. |