Health of US horse racing . . .

[Shammy_Davis]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8737966]
What are different tracks across the country doing to help increase attendance? In my area there are a lot of fun festivals at the tracks, including activities for families. I think the “little guy” is more likely to show up when there are other activities going on to make it a fun destination for the entire family.

Some tracks are also doing education events where small groups get to tour the backside, learn about racing, etc. I think all these little efforts help on a local level.[/QUOTE]

I am being sarcastic, but I know VA horse racing is offering reserved picnic blanket/basket and tailgate spaces for viewing. Bring your own basket, blanket, or tailgate. Don’t know what you do if you drive Mini Cooper. Railbirds are real birds so that is very attractive to get the bird watchers out. Parking along the rails is fun but fans only get to see about 10 seconds of a race. Extension ladders are recommended if one wishes to see an entire race.

Back to your question, not a lot nationally. Keeneland is probably the best example I know of. Maybe someone else has some more specific track information.

[SnicklefritzG]

[QUOTE=Shammy Davis;8738570]
I am being sarcastic, but I know VA horse racing is offering reserved picnic blanket/basket and tailgate spaces for viewing. Bring your own basket, blanket, or tailgate. Don’t know what you do if you drive Mini Cooper. Railbirds are real birds so that is very attractive to get the bird watchers out. Parking along the rails is fun but fans only get to see about 10 seconds of a race. Extension ladders are recommended if one wishes to see an entire race.

Back to your question, not a lot nationally. Keeneland is probably the best example I know of. Maybe someone else has some more specific track information.[/QUOTE]

Keeneland and Churchill downs offer a lot for people to do. With all the activities and history there, it seems easier to make it a destination for a wide range of people than the average track.

I’ve been going to the track a lot more over the last year being not only closer to one, but seeing lots of fun activities there that you can make a day trip out of. For example, Monmouth is having the Budwiser Clydesdales out this week. they are doing some demos and people can also have their picture taken with the team! That’s pretty cool.

[Shammy_Davis]

I am reminded of the stories the late HOF trainer Bobby Frankel told about going to the races with his parents. As a young boy he and his mother would often take a ferry from NY to NJ and spend the day at Monmouth Park. His mother was apparently quite the handicapper.

[Shammy_Davis]

MA has a plan to bring back racing… An expensive one, but it includes seating and parking.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/213147/massachusetts-takes-step-toward-new-track

[Shammy_Davis]

Lansdowne Thoroughbreds has quickly dug itself into a deep financial hole.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/lansdowne-thoroughbreds-lists-76-creditors-chapter-7-bankruptcy-filing/

[Palm_Beach]

It is a tough tough business.

[Shammy_Davis]

New PA structure already awash in turmoil and incompetence. Early on I thought maybe a new organization would be of benefit and worth a look see. Alas, close your eyes!

There should be a law that federal and state lawmakers can’t get a vacation or salary until they actually accomplish something.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/pennsylvania-breeders-crippled-holdup-incentive-award-payments/

Next door in WV, their lawmakers aren’t doing much better.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/213847/mountaineer-continues-to-feel-purse-pinch

[Palm_Beach]

None of us are looking real healthy.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8778745]
None of us are looking real healthy.[/QUOTE]

Yup, lol. My “timing” used to be pretty good. But I think I am about 10 years short of fully “living he dream”.

[gumtree]

[QUOTE=Shammy Davis;8777191]
New PA structure already awash in turmoil and incompetence. Early on I thought maybe a new organization would be of benefit and worth a look see. Alas, close your eyes!

There should be a law that federal and state lawmakers can’t get a vacation or salary until they actually accomplish something.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/pennsylvania-breeders-crippled-holdup-incentive-award-payments/

Next door in WV, their lawmakers aren’t doing much better.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/213847/mountaineer-continues-to-feel-purse-pinch[/QUOTE]

I post under my given name on the PR, Larry Ensor. I moved my tack to PA along with every dollar I had to my name. Win some loose some. At least I am not 30 and full of dreams. It was fun while it lasted.

[Shammy_Davis]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8778745]
None of us are looking real healthy.[/QUOTE]

It is never too encouraging to see yourself in a cracked mirror.

And talking about a healthy industry, WALMAC is selling Paris Pike property and consolidating on larger farm. Interesting.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/walmac-farm-relocating-paris-pike-property-sold/

Or better yet the STB tracks in MD are becoming ripe for picking. Looks like Churchill and Stronach are vying for more than a little piece of the action.

http://www.theracingbiz.com/2016/08/03/churchill-downs-leads-purchase-ocean-downs/

In the ho hum news, VA has a new VRC executive director. He was the previous VRC assistant director when the state’s racing went down the toilet a couple of years back. Cannot be too optimistic that he will bring any thing new to the table. Or to the picnic basket, for that matter. Had to laugh in the spring when the local paper reported on the Foxfield Races. Headlines read “Drunkenness Down at Foxfield.” I guess the picnic basket theme is a worthy idea. At least, some of the fans will be drinking on a full stomach.

[Shammy_Davis]

Still no relief in sight for PA breeders. Something about inadvertent word in legislation. If I was a PA horseman I’d have a few four letter inadvertent words for the governor.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/wolf-statutory-change-needed-restart-pennsylvania-breeder-awards/

[Shammy_Davis]

Talking about making no sense at all, in MA there is too much money to support purses and practically no racing.

http://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2016/08/08/mass-state-horse-fund-suffolk-downs

[Shammy_Davis]

And if the fact that MA has too much purse money and not enough racing doesn’t astound you, the Graded Stakes Committee is now looking to eliminate some graded stakes, particularly Grade 1’s, because there are too few horses entered.

Just a suggestion, but maybe Suffolk Downs would be interested in running an entire meet of graded stakes. Apparently, trainers are shipping in despite the penalties by other tracks. Suffolk Downs could change the name of the MassCap to MadCap in honor of the fools and politicians that are trying unsuccessfully to lead this industry from the grave.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/just-arent-horses-fill-graded-stakes-committee-reduce-number-graded-races/

[Calamber]

The entire Trans-Atlantic financial system is sitting on a potential blowout of the multi-trillion dollar leveraged derivatives and hedge funds investments and they are going to bail-in if you let them. Do you know what bail-in is and why they are switching over all of your credit and other cards to microchips? You think security? Well, think again. In any case, without Glass-Steagall and pretty damn fast, there is going to be massive fallout of some kind. You cannot escape the inevitable and unless you sever that false debt from the real world of people living normal lives, and an agricultural industry that feeds those people, the transportation and the advanced sciences that could drive the country’s economy in a non speculative international Casino Mondiale direction, we are going to be flattened. When the racetracks were taken over by casino’s the death knell was sounded for horse racing and now it is wondering why the shaky business going on with most if not all of the tracks. Get real, look at the real world economy and how little we have invested in an actual future for the United States. Boorish multi millionaires are springing up like funguses after a wet, warm season, and we still have no high speed rail here. Anyone looked at what China is doing lately with it’s Three Gorges Dam, how much high speed rail they have, how many new nuclear plants? One Belt, One Road. What does Obama and most of the people in the “venture” capitalist business spend on here? Pokémon Go, or more advanced ways for people to share selfies. We better wake up.

[Palm_Beach]

It doesn’t matter, global warming will get us all.

[Shammy_Davis]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8793052]
It doesn’t matter, global warming will get us all.[/QUOTE]

Well said by an avid sun worshiper. Here I thought the end of horse racing was the core problem facing the nation.

[Shammy_Davis]

NY Gov Cuomo described by former official as operating “in a degree of unreality.” Makes me think that VA Gov Terry McAuliffe might have been born in the same womb as Cuomo. McAuliffe was able to kill VA racing before half his term was up. Cuomo has still got time to change his ways. The future doesn’t look great though. Research shows that there is no cure for pathological narcissism. Too bad for VA. Sorry NY.

http://www.drf.com/news/former-cuomo-aide-criticizes-governors-handling-nyra-franchise

[Shammy_Davis]

JC Round Table still focused on same stuff.

http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/jockey-club-round-table-encourages-reform-exchange-ideas/

Medications are an important issue but like this article says maybe it would be good to acknowledge what hasn’t been accomplished.

https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/putting-american-racing-slightly-better-place-year-after-year/

[Shammy_Davis]

First Conquest out after 4 years, now Vinmar out after 6. Not necessarily with the same business plan but definitely an attention getter for wider industry. A trend?

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/214633/keeneland-to-handle-vinmar-dispersal