tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22896617.post7662874704681214351..comments2024-01-08T05:30:03.477-05:00Comments on CANGAMBLE: If California Wants Bigger PursesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22896617.post-70651662640407031582010-02-12T08:05:35.312-05:002010-02-12T08:05:35.312-05:00The lower the takeout the more wagered, the better...The lower the takeout the more wagered, the better the racing gets. It is common sense.<br /><br />I am glad you are calling for horsemen to form their own ADWs. I don't think horsemen can form their own ADWs due to the capital required; I suspect you may have meant the racetracks. If racetracks formed their own ADWs they could lower their takeout and the threat of the other ADWs to drop their signal due to the lower takeout would be meaningless.That Blog Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22896617.post-73816289086569584002010-02-11T11:35:52.671-05:002010-02-11T11:35:52.671-05:00Anon, if you really want to knock off racing becau...Anon, if you really want to knock off racing because it couldn't stand alone without subsidies, you could also elimate Ajax and Fort Erie and every track in Ontario other than Woodbine and Mohawk, and even they would struggle without slots if they only relied on betting.<br />In fact, many tracks in the USA would be elimated as well.<br />My point is that the industry should be using the fact they are subsidized so much by slots to experiment with lower takeouts before they start eliminating tracks.Cangamblenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22896617.post-60187552356732436162010-02-11T11:01:13.459-05:002010-02-11T11:01:13.459-05:00Usually you are astute in your analysis, but this ...Usually you are astute in your analysis, but this time you are way off base regarding Mr. Nick Eaves stance on harness racing. Mr. Eaves is 100% per cent correct in saying there is too much product. In fact the quality of harness racing at (for example) Flamboro & G/Downs is so abysmal that only compulsive gamblers or bettors lacking self-respect will wager on that product. <br /><br />Case in point is myself: Prior to the G/Downs strike racing at Flammy and G/Downs was still ok and I was attending and betting 99% of the time. Since that stike my attendance and betting has declined to about 3% of available cards.<br /><br />Mr. Eaves did not go far enough. He should have called for the closing of at least half the Harness tracks in Ontario. Only then would competitive racing be restored. As it stands now bettors perceive trainers and drivers are entered in races only to pick up whatever piece of the (huge slot-inflated) purse they can. Meaning winning the race would be dandy, but is not the goal, 2nd 3rd or 4th is ok, and save the horse. This translates into bettors having no confidence in the past performances printed in harness programs, thus leading to handles of $2,000/race for races where the purse is 5x-10x higher than the handle.<br /><br />Current situation is that the Ontario Gov't is providing public money (ie. Slot revenue)to an industry (harness racing) whose business model is broken and is dying a slow death.<br /><br />If harness racing cannot sustain itself via wagering levels. the Ont Gov't should end its support from slots. As it stands now harness racing participants are in fact being enriched with "welfare paymets" that should be going to more worthy members of society.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22896617.post-33512533663720945892010-02-11T10:17:32.793-05:002010-02-11T10:17:32.793-05:00I think at 10-12% betting would increase significa...I think at 10-12% betting would increase significantly and the game would have a shot to grow.<br />Of course, many horseplayers are not attracted to harness racing, especially bullring tracks. They wouldn't play if takeout was negative 5%. But those who do play will play more, and it would attract more value players, especially if pool size starts to rise.Cangamblenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22896617.post-55106831138452049952010-02-10T17:48:32.485-05:002010-02-10T17:48:32.485-05:00You could lower the take at Flambingo and Georgian...You could lower the take at Flambingo and Georgian to 5% ATB and people still wouldn't bet it.<br /><br />For the most part, a lot of these harness tracks in Ontario produce terrible product.<br /><br />It is sad to think of people losing jobs and whatnot, but the demand isn't there at all. I have to agree with Nick on this one.bullringnoreply@blogger.com