In case you haven't seen this yet, a video of a duck and her ducklings at Woodbine during a high wind. Over 4 million hits. When was the last time a horse racing website got 4 million hits? Well here it is:
Funny, yes, but I see something more in this video. Something symbolic. The mother duck took newbies to the track, and they got blown out by Woodbine's high takeouts. They were unable to last very long, and they are likely not to return to Woodbine again. There is a computer term called Baby Duck Syndrome. It has to do with imprinting. Baby ducks bond with the first moving thing they see. It doesn't have to be a parent. In computer land it has to do with newbies having a tendency to stick with the keyboard, software programs, etc. that they were first exposed to.
Now in psychology, it has to do with keeping up with the status quo, and not trying different things. Hmmmm, sounds like what has plagued horse racing for years and years, especially when it comes to pricing the product and appeasing Horsepeople instead of Horseplayers.
Now back to the ducks on the video. Reports are that they haven't given up altogether (they liked betting). They are heading to Tampa Bay Downs. Tampa Bay, which opens up their 2010-2011 season tomorrow, has reduced takeout once again. They have dropped takeout on Pick 3's, 4's, the Pick 6, and their High Five to 18%.
The ducks are also going to take a gander at Hialeah, which has a 12% track takeout on all bets. They don't really understand quarter horse racing, but they are willing bet a few bills at a lower takeout venue after their not so pleasant experience at Woodbine.
The ducks have been educating themselves on the internet since their first exposure to horse racing, and they've decided to boycott California racing due to the upcoming takeout hike which comes into effect on December 26th. I wonder if it was the ducks who started this rumor that has shown up on Youtube:
H/T Andy Mays at Pace Advantage
I can't finish this post without applauding Woodbine (sort of) for bucking the industry trend and increasing handle. The fact handle dropped a little domestically was very predictable, because of their high takeouts and their continued practice of underpaying Horseplayers on many exotic wagers (they chase domestic Horseplayers away and have an impossible time creating new ones, as new Horseplayers will only get involved significantly if there are visible long term winners).
Pull The Pocket points out what Woodbine did right. It started out with David Willmot getting out of the way.
By the way, Willmot had a successful year this year as a quasi-lawyer. His presence and testimony was tantamount in winning the Fifty Proof case this year ("the gate was in working order, eh"). Of course, in order for him to have a future in law, he'll need to seek out more Kangaroo Courts.
On a sad note, Fort Erie trainer Billy Lane passed away after a long courageous fight with cancer. My condolences go out to his family and friends. He was a great guy.
Showing posts with label Hialeah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hialeah. Show all posts
10 December 2010
3 December 2010
Hialeah's 12% Takeout: Is There A Conspiracy To Make It Fail?
Hialeah opens their short quarter horse meet today. They are doing something phenomenal for Horseplayers: A 12% track takeout on all wagers. Many studies suggest that the optimal takeout for horse racing is somewhere between 10-12%, the optimal takeout being the price where tracks and horsemen make the most money.
Last year, Hialeah only did around $100,000 a day in handle. Wouldn't it be great to see that number double or triple this year thanks to increased churn and meeting many a Horseplayer's desire for lower takeouts? This is a great opportunity to give the industry some hard core evidence that lowering takeout will work.
The problem with this takeout reduction is that many internet betting sites are not offering Hialeah to their customers.
It makes me question whether there is a conspiracy going on. It is no skin off an ADW's nose to add a track. Why then are Twinspires, TVG, XPressBet, HPI, and NYRA Rewards not offering Hialeah? When I looked at their menus this morning Hialeah was nowhere to be found.
The fee that Hialeah charges for its signal is most likely minimal, and there will be a lot more churn thanks to the takeout reduction, so the argument that they are not making enough money is bogus. Besides, the overwhelming majority of smaller ADWs have Hialeah on the menu.
To my knowledge most, if not all of the major ADWs offered Hialeah last year, so the excuse that there is not demand for the product doesn't wash either, because if anything, there will be more demand this year thanks to the lower takeout.
Does the fact that California will have a takeout increase in place come December 26th have something to do with it? Or that a few of these ADWs own racetracks that have much higher takeouts have something to do with it? Do they want this venture to fail so that pressure is not placed on them to lower takeout?
One thing is certain, ADWs not offering Hialeah do not have their customer's best interest at heart. In fact, the customer is being completely disregarded.
There is a lot of buzz on the internet already. Check out this thread on Pace Advantage.
I urge all Horseplayers to make as much of an effort as possible to support Hialeah and their takeout decrease by playing it.
TrackMaster has recently revamped their speed figures for Quarter Horse Racing, if you are looking for decent past performance help.
UPDATE: Hialeah is on TVG's menu.
Last year, Hialeah only did around $100,000 a day in handle. Wouldn't it be great to see that number double or triple this year thanks to increased churn and meeting many a Horseplayer's desire for lower takeouts? This is a great opportunity to give the industry some hard core evidence that lowering takeout will work.
The problem with this takeout reduction is that many internet betting sites are not offering Hialeah to their customers.
It makes me question whether there is a conspiracy going on. It is no skin off an ADW's nose to add a track. Why then are Twinspires, TVG, XPressBet, HPI, and NYRA Rewards not offering Hialeah? When I looked at their menus this morning Hialeah was nowhere to be found.
The fee that Hialeah charges for its signal is most likely minimal, and there will be a lot more churn thanks to the takeout reduction, so the argument that they are not making enough money is bogus. Besides, the overwhelming majority of smaller ADWs have Hialeah on the menu.
To my knowledge most, if not all of the major ADWs offered Hialeah last year, so the excuse that there is not demand for the product doesn't wash either, because if anything, there will be more demand this year thanks to the lower takeout.
Does the fact that California will have a takeout increase in place come December 26th have something to do with it? Or that a few of these ADWs own racetracks that have much higher takeouts have something to do with it? Do they want this venture to fail so that pressure is not placed on them to lower takeout?
One thing is certain, ADWs not offering Hialeah do not have their customer's best interest at heart. In fact, the customer is being completely disregarded.
There is a lot of buzz on the internet already. Check out this thread on Pace Advantage.
I urge all Horseplayers to make as much of an effort as possible to support Hialeah and their takeout decrease by playing it.
TrackMaster has recently revamped their speed figures for Quarter Horse Racing, if you are looking for decent past performance help.
UPDATE: Hialeah is on TVG's menu.
9 October 2010
Hialeah Gets It
Hialeah Park recently announced they are dropping their takeout to 12% on all bets. Now this is forward thinking at its finest. It is unfortunate that Hialeah runs such a short meet, and that they don't have thoroughbred racing (only quarter horse racing) yet.
This is a track looking to rebuild. Another track looking to rebuild is Fort Erie. They have done nothing in the takeout reduction area, and now have an average takeout twice the amount of Hialeah's new rates. I'm disappointed in Fort Erie and their new regime. Problem is that they went with the old guard who just don't get takeout. No clue. Fort Erie has the second worst blended takeout rate in North America. And since the overwhelming majority of bets happen at venues where they only get a fraction of the takeout rate, the only people getting constantly slaughtered by the rate are those who attend races live. They give these patrons who cash tickets less than 99% of the tracks in North America. The players have less to bet back, go broke quickest, and are likely to come back less.
This is not how to grow a business. Give players more money back and they will bet more and come back more often.
It took John Brunetti Jr. to do the opposite of what his dad did 17 years ago which helped put the final nail in Hialeah's coffin at the time when he raised takeout to levels that resemble Fort Erie's today.
The biggest problem Hialeah will have now is exposure. Barring a miracle of Biblical proportions, Canadians won't be able to find Hialeah at HPI or any Canadian racetracks, unless the tracks pay a lot less than what Hialeah patrons would get on track.
This is what is sad about the industry today. Even in the USA, I don't expect many tracks to carry Hialeah. ADWs will probably have them, but only ADWs like this one will actually look forward to having them on the menu.
Hialeah's drop in takeout comes into effect around the same time as the mindless takeout hike in California. I believe a lot of pissed off Horseplayers are going to divert some funds and give Hialeah a try.
TrackMaster recently upgraded the way they do speed figures for Quarter Horse racing, probably giving their customers the best edge amongst past performance distributors.
They also added a trouble indicator in their thoroughbred past performances.
I know for a fact that this company actually listens to the customer.
The Breeder's Crown, harness racing's version of the Breeder's Cup races tonight (Saturday) at Pocono Downs. Post time is 5PM. Here are free past performances for the event.
The Knight Sky has put all the finalists in the University of Arizona's Racetrack Industry Program's Funniest Horse Racing Video contest on his website.
The one I laughed at the most was the one on the top right. The one done by Grand River (the one at the bottom right of the second section) also gave me a chuckle.
The ORC released their ruling which allows Woodbine to ban Bruno Schickedanz indefinitely from stabling and running horses at Woodbine because of the Wake At Noon tragedy.
It is a pretty long ruling, but interesting nonetheless. The most damning part of the report to me was this:
Interesting that this is track specific, and I believe Schickedanz can still stable and race at Fort Erie.
They nailed him on conduct unbecoming to horse racing, because it appears he didn't violate any other rules.
The ORC should put in new rules so that morally bankrupt acts like this are dealt with in not such a vague manner.
Of course, at least to me and probably many others, the ORC has major credibility issues due to their recent mind numbing decision in letting Fifty Proof's result to stand. A couple of comments from Jen's Blog:
W. McGovern - October 5th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
This is a track looking to rebuild. Another track looking to rebuild is Fort Erie. They have done nothing in the takeout reduction area, and now have an average takeout twice the amount of Hialeah's new rates. I'm disappointed in Fort Erie and their new regime. Problem is that they went with the old guard who just don't get takeout. No clue. Fort Erie has the second worst blended takeout rate in North America. And since the overwhelming majority of bets happen at venues where they only get a fraction of the takeout rate, the only people getting constantly slaughtered by the rate are those who attend races live. They give these patrons who cash tickets less than 99% of the tracks in North America. The players have less to bet back, go broke quickest, and are likely to come back less.
This is not how to grow a business. Give players more money back and they will bet more and come back more often.
It took John Brunetti Jr. to do the opposite of what his dad did 17 years ago which helped put the final nail in Hialeah's coffin at the time when he raised takeout to levels that resemble Fort Erie's today.
The biggest problem Hialeah will have now is exposure. Barring a miracle of Biblical proportions, Canadians won't be able to find Hialeah at HPI or any Canadian racetracks, unless the tracks pay a lot less than what Hialeah patrons would get on track.
This is what is sad about the industry today. Even in the USA, I don't expect many tracks to carry Hialeah. ADWs will probably have them, but only ADWs like this one will actually look forward to having them on the menu.
Hialeah's drop in takeout comes into effect around the same time as the mindless takeout hike in California. I believe a lot of pissed off Horseplayers are going to divert some funds and give Hialeah a try.
TrackMaster recently upgraded the way they do speed figures for Quarter Horse racing, probably giving their customers the best edge amongst past performance distributors.
They also added a trouble indicator in their thoroughbred past performances.
I know for a fact that this company actually listens to the customer.
The Breeder's Crown, harness racing's version of the Breeder's Cup races tonight (Saturday) at Pocono Downs. Post time is 5PM. Here are free past performances for the event.
The Knight Sky has put all the finalists in the University of Arizona's Racetrack Industry Program's Funniest Horse Racing Video contest on his website.
The one I laughed at the most was the one on the top right. The one done by Grand River (the one at the bottom right of the second section) also gave me a chuckle.
The ORC released their ruling which allows Woodbine to ban Bruno Schickedanz indefinitely from stabling and running horses at Woodbine because of the Wake At Noon tragedy.
It is a pretty long ruling, but interesting nonetheless. The most damning part of the report to me was this:
“I was spending money on the horse and I was researching what the possible options could be.” “No decision had been made on any of those options.”
“Q. And when you say you were spending money on the horse I take it that if he was racing you were hoping to get some of that back?
A. I think anybody would be thinking that if they were doing it. Is that a bad thing by the way?”
Interesting that this is track specific, and I believe Schickedanz can still stable and race at Fort Erie.
They nailed him on conduct unbecoming to horse racing, because it appears he didn't violate any other rules.
The ORC should put in new rules so that morally bankrupt acts like this are dealt with in not such a vague manner.
Of course, at least to me and probably many others, the ORC has major credibility issues due to their recent mind numbing decision in letting Fifty Proof's result to stand. A couple of comments from Jen's Blog:
W. McGovern - October 5th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Excellent blog Jen. This is a great source for racing info covering Ontario. Regarding Fifty Proof: this stinks. I’ve seen similar starts result in a DQ…and then there’s the Wilmot (sic) angle which further makes it stink. If I were racing at Woodbine, I’d keep a copy of that start on hand just in case you ever got a DQ for a similar situation.
Keep up the excellent work, Jen. Your blog is a pleasure to read. I have written to the ORC regarding the Fifty Proof matter. I hope that others do too. The decision is nonsensical. If the gate was functioning properly then the only explanation is that Fifty Proof pushed it open. Totally contrary to what the Chairman says. A disgrace for horse racing in Ontario.
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