INAUGURAL DOWNS AFTER DARK ATTRACTS 28,011
Excitement was clearly in the air as a younger than usual crowd filled the seats at Kentucky’s most famous track. At a somewhat controversial $10 a ticket, it is clear Friday night was a revenue generator in a struggling economy, proving that racetracks can draw a crowd if the product is marketed correctly. On a night that featured no major stakes races, one long shot Derby contender in Flying Pegasus and a top purse of $57,000, the feeling was more like the Kentucky Oaks than a typical weekday of American racing.
The beer lines were long, the betting windows overpopulated and it was a struggle to walk from one end to the other. It was as if the ’50s and ’60s heyday of racing returned for one night in 2009. A crowd of 28,011 was on hand.
"We had to park and walk like it was Oaks or Derby day," said Jeff Ratanapool, a mortgage broker at Century mortgage and semi-regular at Churchill. "It’s a great way to attract fans who don’t usually come to the track"
But the buzz at Churchill was different than those mainstays of American racing. It had a feel that only comes after 8 p.m. "It’s more like nightlife, a night on the town," added Blair Isham, a veteran of the Navy Special Forces turned real estate broker for a local real estate company. He indicated he was not a regular at the track by any means, typically only coming for the Kentucky Oaks each year. "I had to see what this was like. It’s exciting."
The Paulick Report also caught up with Derby winning jockey and local celebrity Calvin Borel after an unsuccessful ride on long shot Saltgrass Trail in the eighth race, a $5,000 claimer. "I think this is awesome!" he exclaimed. "This definitely compares to Oaks as far as the crowd is concerned. "Anything to help racing and bring in the fans is a good thing for racing."
Of course, this is a different schedule for the riders and horses alike. When asked if he thought the different hours affected his preparation, Borel shrugged off the suggestion. "It doesn’t affect my preparation. The only difference is I get to sleep in till 7 instead of getting up at 5." Did he feel any fatigue or body aches from a late night at the track? A simple "no" was his response.
Is this a flash in the pan or can the brain trust at Churchill maintain the nightlife atmosphere on June 26th and July 2nd that seems to have brought many non-traditional fans? Just like the question of Calvin’s possible Saturday afternoon fatigue, only time will tell.
Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report
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Tags: bob evans, bradford cummings, Calvin Borel, churchill downs, Downs After Dark, pat day, Paulick Report
June 20th, 2009 at 7:34 am
I’m guessing that the attendance figure cited above comes from Churchill managament, which is most interesting since they have not released that number for a year or two other than Derby and Oaks days. I guess they will provide the number any time it looks positive for the company, which will be a few days a year. Now let’s see if they provide a handle figure for last night and see how many of these folks actually contributed to the pools.
June 20th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Whether or not it contributed to the handle this time isn’t important. If a few of those non-regulars stay with the sport, that’s a Win. Plus, even if none of them bet a single dollar the track would have made much more than usual through admission, not to mention added value for concessions and sponsors.
Horse racing has to finally embrace a mindset of thinking about long-term impact and potential, rather than clinging to life til tomorrow at any cost. Last night at CD was a step in the right direction..
June 20th, 2009 at 8:38 am
My point is the hypocrisy of CD in selectively releasing its figures. However, it is important that folks don’t just attent the races but also wager on them. Packed stands of non-wagering patrons every day will not save the industry and horsemen don’t get a cut of admission and concession sales.
June 20th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Despite the fact that I am banned from all CHDN tracks, I would have loved to be at Churchill Downs last night. The numbers are huge! Who needs wagering from patrons when they line up 20 deep for $5 bears! GIDDYUP
June 20th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Management made a good decision to promote the Churchill meet this way - and they were able to hire a light company to help make it happen… what they did not hire was enough staff to adequately service the fans. I was upset to hear so many people complaining,, Churchill really overlooked something so seemingly obvious and lost many would be repeat attendees for the next session of night racing.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:23 am
It is ironic that at the very time that wealthy track owners in Kentucky are begging for a bailout form the poor and elderly because they say their sport is dying, a simple move like this shows the potential if the tracks are managed well.
June 20th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Last night was my first time at Churchill, and if I were to make a decision based solely on last nights experience, it would also be my last time at Churchill. For an event that was so heavily promoted and with such an inflated admission price, if the intent was to attract new patrons, the management at Churchill REALLY dropped the ball in planning and organizing to ensure that people would return after the experience. I know a few people that have been to OAKS and DERBY and say that they have had excellent experiences, so based on that, I might give Churchill a second chance, but if my next experience comes close to being as bad a second time, I will have to write off going to Churchill as a fun thing to do.
June 20th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Well if Churchill management finally released an attendance number for that track,
did they also release the corresponding on-track handle figure?
Per capita wagering would be an interesting read on whether the paying customers
were there for the horse racing or for “the entertainment”.
June 20th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
What was the handle? They were down. It just gave a bunch of kids more reason to drink.
June 20th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Mark allen wrote:
I do not think the official on-track handle figures were released. But….
I got some hints from Jessicachapel.com Make of it what you will:
For instance, on Friday, June 12, $1,966,831 was wagered WPS
on 11 regularly scheduled races compared to the $2,309,563
that was wagered WPS yesterday on 11 nighttime races.
That’s an increase of approximately 17% in the WPS pools week to week.
At first glance 17% increase is a good sign,
but clearly there was more than a 17% increase in on track attendance from the previous Friday.
June 20th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
I’ve read the posts and see that some at the event were not pleased. One said the staff was inadequate and another said, I won’t come back if it was like Friday night under the lights. Could you get a bit more specific? What were the problems, specifically?
As to the handle and attendance issues, just what, exactly were some of you people expecting?…other than “full disclosure” from CD. I just don’t understand the grumbling from some. I don’t have an opinion either way, but I need more specifics about the failures on Friday….couldn’t find the loo?…took too long to place a bet?…no place to sit?…drunk college students? What?
June 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Could we try for “Positive Monday” to go along with Good News Friday.
June 21st, 2009 at 11:36 am
don,t forget Hollywood Park had a hell of an opening Friday Night Racing.Its Closing down.Turfway Park Races nights.It should Close,its worse than a Pig Sty.Meadowlands was fantastic at night.Look now.Need I go on.At least churchill promoted it,and got results.Racing should be Friday evening/night and weekends daytime.Period.Thus you have an event that can be promoted and sticks in peoples minds.Instead of this endless racing day in day out,which is just getting more diluted as time goes by.
June 21st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
To “smithy”:
You have hit the nail on the head! Tooooo much product, ALLLLlll the time with little quality to meet the needs of the ????? (fan, bettor, horse athlete, jocks, trainers….) It is already contracting and should. But the industry wants the bettors and drool over internet betting (of which, they can’t agree and continually have cat fights). Ergo, no attention paid to fields, race quality, or too much product, no fan, horses to slaughter, jocks (disabled) , trainers, yadayada… Sadly or maybe that would be fortunately, the industry is contracting by necessity, not choice. They have never been big on reality.
July 7th, 2009 at 6:37 am
Of course the industry is contracting by necessity, not choice. If they had a choice they’ll lead all their fans like lambs to the slaughterhouse and squeeze out every dollar in them! Their problem is that hey have never been in touch with reality and have been out of ideas.