The Cost of Free Admission?

by | 06.25.2012 | 12:09pm
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In a recent blog posting for Parimutuel, Inc.’s website, Dave Allen wrote about the discovery and subsequent ‘bust’ of an illegal racetrack outside of Phoenix by Arizona officials.

The fact that unregulated match races were being held didn’t surprise Allen; the fact that people were willingly paying $10 admission did.

In a time where many racetracks are attempting to lure customers in with not only free parking, giveaways, and free admission, Allen wonders if we’ve mistakenly devalued horse racing as a result.

“Conventional wisdom says that as the price of admission goes up, the attendance at the racetrack is going to go down.  But is that really true?  If it was true, then that bush track out in Arizona should have been empty for charging an admission price that is twice as much as the entrance fee to get into Del Mar, Saratoga, or Keeneland,” Allen says.

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  • Glimmerglass

    In Chicago you cannot enter an OTB without paying a $2 amusement fee. 

  • cepatton28

    I think there should be a $5 admission fee that includes a $2 dollar voucher and a program because as we all know the first bet leads to the 2nd one…

  • roger

    I think most of us would be happy to pay a $10 admission fee with 0% tax takeout on our wagers.

  • shep

    There are some things the writer of this article is not aware of perhaps. I stumbled across one of these illegal tracks here in Florida  where admission was $20. First off everyone there was hispanic. They brought their own beer. They did not have to drive 2+  hours to the nearest track. The odds were negotiable.  Many brought their own horses, so there was a my horse is faster than your horse aspect to it. Some women brought food to sell. In short it was a cultural thing and no conclusions should be drawn from the fact they were able to charge admission.

  • Stanley inman

    Never ever heard a complaint about admission fee to Keeneland.
    Free was the goofy idea utilized by tracks that had a crappy product.
    They had no choice, of course they did have a choice to upgrade
    but that was out of the question be cause they don’t want to try and compete with the best,
    they are bottom feeders.

  • stillriledup

     This.

    that 10 dollar ‘admission fee’ is their ‘takeout’ for the entire day.

  • brussellky

    Gulfstream does not have a crappy product, they don’t charge admission, and I think you would have a hard time making the case that they are bottom feeders being that they are the premier Winter venue in North America. 

  • Bob

    Funny–I’m rarely amused when I’m in an OTB… :-)

  • Concerned Observer

    Just another half baked idea about whats wrong with racing. Lotteries and Casinos don’t charge admission and they are kicking our butt. So what is your half baked angle to explain that?

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