Comments on: THAYER CLIENT SEEKING SLOTS MONEY IN LOUISIANA

By: Bak Trakker

Bak Trakker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:24:26 +0000

I hear that Kentucky Chrysler dealers now want slots in showrooms.

By: EUGENE LEVEY

EUGENE LEVEY — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:49:26 +0000

SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO HEAR THEMSELVES TALK WHILE SOME OTHER PEOPLE LIKE TO WRITE STUFF & READ THEIR OWN ROT….TOO MUCH SCHOOLING IN LIBERAL ARTS!!!!!.
I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT THERE ARE DOERS & DREAMERS..I.AM SURE THE MATH & SCIENCE PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHO THE DOERS ARE..

By: Indy

Indy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:45:50 +0000

Dr. Phil has a point people. You may not like it but its strong.

So let’s see if the PR can step up to the plate and lead an informative issue on how to use the latest and greatest handout wisely.

By: Picksburg Phil

Picksburg Phil — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:12:46 +0000

Unintended consequences. When markets are subsidized, or otherwise manipulated with outside forces, there are always unintended consequences. A few years ago, the federal government started an ethanol subsidy. Ethanol production facilities popped up all over. Corn prices increased dramatically. Poor people around the world could no longer afford basic nutritional foodstuff. Overproduction of ethanol then caused the collapse of ethanol prices. Most ethanol facilities are now in Chapter 11. One of the largest, Pacific Ethanol saw its stock price go from $32 to 32 cents. Unintended consequences.

What are the likely unintended consequences of subsidized racing purses? Probably an overproduction of horses. And, when the subsidies end, and they invariably will when other special interest want their share of the pot of gold at the end of the slot machine rainbow, what will happen to the unwanted horses? You’ll need slaughter houses right on the racetrack grounds. That will bring in PETA, which will diminish attendance and handle, which will call for more subsidies, which will cause an overproduction of horses, which will require more slaughter, which will bring in PETA, which will diminish attendance and handle, which will call for more subsidies, which will cause an overproduction of horses…..well, you get the picture. Unintended consequences always occur when markets are interfered with. Always.

Reading these blogs and other racing articles and discussion makes me wonder why no one, no one, ever discusses why racing interest has diminished and what could be done about it. 90% of the discussions are about getting subsidies. It’s amusing, and saddening at the same time, to watch these big, hulking, strapping, swaggering, John Wayne types, at the track slobbering all over themselves in anticipation of welfare. Apparently, horsemen are big fans of the old Motown song, “Ain’t to Proud to Beg.”

35 years ago, the customer base of racetracks was limited to an about 100-mile radius of the track. Then the tracks allowed the feature race from New York or California to be bet at the local facilities. Then full simulcasting and, eventually, online betting. So the customer base expanded from a few hundred thousand locals to a national, even international, audience. The racing industry should be dancing all the way to the bank. Why aren’t they? Why hasn’t there been a concomitant increase in handle and interest with a 300% increase in the customer base? When a product doesn’t sell, it is almost always a pricing conundrum. Simply put, racing is not priced competitively to other gambling opportunities. Rachel and Zenyatta certainly generates the interest, now the racing cognoscenti needs to take advantage of the moment with an aggressive re-pricing campaign. Man up people, you don’t need subsidies.

By: Indy

Indy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:06:59 +0000

Brought to you by Keeneland was rough to take, but I completely understand and it is a strong compliment for the PR. As always where is the line? I have confidence it will be drawn right. It has to be, because other blogs don’t cut it.

By: Gavemylifetoracing

Gavemylifetoracing — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:14:59 +0000

Indy, horsemen pay for this site. Ray will lobby for their inflated slots purses until it passes, works for a few years, then gets taken away. Then he will lobby for something else to help this broken game. Can’t blame him. I agree the Williams and Thayer bashing is like preaching to the choir on this site. I want to see a real nuts and bolts story that separates the racing side from the casino side at a racino. I have done some of this research and it is really scary how badly the racing side is doing at tracks like Delaware Park, Prairie Meadows, Presque Isle Downs, Zia Park…….Don’t think that behind the scene, executives aren’t thinking of a way to unburden themselves of having to offer horseracing.

By: Indy

Indy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:51:33 +0000

No more thayer and williams,
In general people on this site already hate them, so let’s move on, it’s like preaching to the choir.

We have the “luxury” of learning from other states both good and bad, a good start for an article, or will there be a picture of one of the two picking their noses?

I would have to bet that I am one of the biggest fans on this site. However it is nothing like it was one year ago and that scares the hell out of me.

By: john greathouse

john greathouse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:25:46 +0000

INDY
AND YOUR OFFER IS WHAT?
MORE THAYER AND WILLIAMSAND KERR?

By: Indy

Indy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:09:18 +0000

This is just another article to distract the public on the real issue, how the slot bill should be worded.” Its now become sophomoric and I guess only a matter of time before hits freshmanisc.

One band-aid story doesn’t cut it, I hope to goodness the next article on this subject has some meat to it

By: Tuck Miller

Tuck Miller — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:02:53 +0000

Irony, indeed…. places like Louisiana, West Virginia, and New Mexico now support many tracks and are in a growth phase, building new farms, training centers and attracting the lions of the industry.
Meanwhile, California is losing Hollywood Park, Bay Meadows is long gone, and Kentucky is resorting to racing under the lights in an effort to prop itself up and make life miserable for everyone who works those impossible long hours…
Typical politician, and a so called conservative to boot…. not too proud to take consultant fees or campaign contributions from the horse industry, but too egotistical to admit that the position he has taken is ludicrous…