Comments on: DAMON THAYER CLAIMS ‘IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE’

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:42:51 +0000

Gavemylifetoracing, I agree that it would be great to have some of the money to be put back into the tracks. But we need to take the first step of getting the slots first. The opponents of the slots are playing politics because of their own special interest. Bringing more jobs to the area by having the slots will help bring more money to the tracks. Kind of that “trickle down” economy, right? HA! Seriously, though, bringing an economic engine like slots just brings more money not only to the government, but to people’s pockets and they can then spend that money on the tracks.

By the way, I HATE when the clerks are breaking with barely any time left. AGH!

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:19:27 +0000

The state needs to pass the slots. It is ridiculous that this is even of issue. The Republicans needs to stop playing politics with something that could benefit Kentucky for the better and pass it. They are going to have a wakeup call when we don’t have any money left to fix our roads and highways or pay our teachers, and they passed on an oportunity like this to add tax revenue and at the same time, help our hourse racing industry.

Grow up Thayer!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:59:15 +0000

“Josh”, that document says that we shall be governed by a representative goverment chosen by the people.

We have chosen our elected representatives and they are doing the people’s work. If you don’t like it, that is why we have elections. We need the slots to help fill a gap in our budget. Not only that, it will bring jobs to an area where they are needed. Why would we turn away someting that is good for Kentucky? You yourself say that unemployment is needed in our country.

By: josh

josh — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:11:17 +0000

There is a document that many of you have or haven’t studied in grade school –

It starts with, “WE THE PEOPLE”

not the gaming interests, not the horsemen that control the sales, not the vets, not the slick pinhookers, not the failed leadership of the breeders cup or ntra –

we have two wars going on, unemployment out the kazoo, people can’t even get jobs at Wal mart and you’re going to let big gaming in to skew your elections — look how much penn national spent in Ohio –

i feel bad for you all in the Bluegrass state — these people demonizing the Honorable Damon Thayer are just trying to line their pockets …

lets say slots pass — none of these jokers are going to help you pay for health care or assist you in getting a real job.

shame on you!

By: Picksburg Phil

Picksburg Phil — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:07:53 +0000

Zenyatta’s race was OK, but just think how much better it would have been if Santa Anita had slot machines.

By: Weak Leaders

Weak Leaders — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:53:22 +0000

Much easier to just lobby for slots and then live off the handout until it gets taken away.

By: Gavemylifetoracing

Gavemylifetoracing — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:38:08 +0000

Vance, that is what I fear for the tracks getting slots. Racing gets even MORE ignored. None of these tracks are using this money to rebuild what they have broken. They just throw a $1 million purse out there that attracts grade III horses and 3,500 people show up to see it. Then on Weds., the crowd is back to 1,100. And the casino operators running the track write it off as a “cost of business” to have the machines. Million dollar races are great, but so is someone knowing your name or favorite meal, or what your kids sports are…..when you walk into a track. Do the simple things, like not letting your union clerks take a break when ten people are in his/her line and it is one minute to post. The pool of horses is limited, there is no need for these ridiculous purses. Use the slots money to offer a reasonable purse (come on, $300,000 races at Zia Park that generates $32,000 in total handle). Take some of that money and offer discounted, high quality meals and great seating for the fans. Hire and train for ultimate customer service. Give the horsemen free straw and shavings, or discounts on feed. Have a starter bonus for races. In other words spread the wealth for the good of the entire industry. Use this money to make things healthy again, which starts with getting patrons back to the track. The problem is also getting horsemen to give some of this purse money to management for a “racing rebuilding plan”. They would rather fight for it on the track while out of town trainers ship in and take the money. Horsemen let the also-rans, which are a big part of racing, starve and go away. Even the Globetrotters pay the team they beat up on nightly. Horsemen need to be reminded that a percent of mutuel handle is how they will be paid if the slots ever go away. Now is the time to think long term. I think any new slots legislation should include a “racing enhancement” fund that by law is managed by the association and the horsemen. Force them to work together to spend this money properly. I could go on all day, but nobody is listening. Much easier to just lobby for slots and then live off the handout until it gets taken away.

By: Vance

Vance — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:02:46 +0000

Gavemylifetoracing You are exactly on point. If the tracks don’t or won’t sell the racing. How in the hell are they going to to continue to charge Parking,admissions,overpriced beer and food ? Oh they can’t they are going broke. So if slots come to the track, do they still charge parking and admission, while the casinos “give it away” ? How is this model going to sell the racing ? And if somebody does not sell racing (remember guys that the PRODUCT). How do We sell horses, stud fees, mare care, training, etc, etc. Is it really that complicated ? DAMN !

By: Gavemylifetoracing

Gavemylifetoracing — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:29:27 +0000

A racetrack can be popular selling racing. Look at Tampa Bay Downs. They have very little tradition, a sub-par facility, average to good racing…..They take the one thing they have, great weather, and use it to get people to the track. Once they are there, they come back because of customer service. Do you think the years of horrible union clerks, out of touch management, a disconnect with the local horsemen, overpriced beer and average food, five and six day a week racing, paying to park and paying admission that doesn’t include a seat when 30,000 seats are empty….may have contributed to some of the problems that some tracks are having? A casino opening across the river will naturally take a big bite out of your business, but you can’t blame all your problems on that. You should have run your business properly when you had a monopoly.

By: Indy

Indy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:20:25 +0000

“There are examples of state after state with slot-subsidized purses whose legislatures have gone back and shifted funds away from the horsemen.”

If the above statement is true, how does KY avoid it?