this clinches it

[hurrikane]

I guess the premier track in my area will now be Charlestown!

Maybe I'll move to Delaware.

http://espn.go.com/horse/news/2001/0628/1219859.html

[The Wizard]

Hurrikane,

you are right..........you may be the premier track........things don't look good for Maryland racing without slot machines...............I have plenty of room here in Delaware and i'm 5 minutes from del park.............. How far are you from charlestown ?.............i like to go there once and awhile i like the area as well...........it takes me about 2 1/2 hours.............

[hurrikane]

I"m about an hour from Charlestown. 45 min - hr form Lrl / PIM. I really just cooks me...I grew up with Md racing and I've watched them run it right into the ground. Mostly greed and ignorance after the old man died. I"m impressed with what Del is doing though.

[JimG]

I agree with you hurrikane regarding Maryland racing. They have stood by for the last few years and watched WV and Delaware go right by them. I live in VA and have been to all area tracks at one time or another. Funny thing is, I always enjoyed CT more anyhow. It had a homey feel and years ago you could stay in area hotels cheap and run into all kinds of interesting track folk. Have not been there though since the slot machines put in. I understand it has been upgraded.

Although Delaware has hurt MD racing since coming in with slots, seems to me Delaware still has many cards with short fields. I rarely play it as a result. Now if you want to talk about track management doing things to shoot itself in the foot...we could talk about Colonial Downs which opens Tuesday with a first-class turf course...but that is a long story.


Jim

[tbrown]

The thinkg that worries e is that so many tracks are depending on slots nowadays,
what happens when the slot market is saturated? NY is already looking to build two casinos right across from Ontario's casino. Other tracks are looking to add slots and videos as are states. Sooner or later, the question will be,"Do I go to CharsleTown to play slots, or drive a few more miles to a real casino with not only slots, but roulette, craps, blackjack, and probably a much nice facility?"
I think we are on the verge of horse racing's version of the great depression-a lot of tracks we know today will be shopping malls in less than 10 years. Simulcsting will be everywhere not for the large number of available tracks, but because the few left are so far away from everyone.
Tom

[JimG]

Tom:

Don't disagree that we will probably see downsizing in the future regarding horse racing. I think there will still be a market for horseplaying, however. I think online playing is very improtant to the future of horseracing. Being able to place bets online while looking at a full screen crystal clear picture would be nirvanna for many (including me). While the technology and cooporation amongst the tracks is not there yet, I guess it will be down the road.

I do predict there will still be a mixture of high class and lower class racing. After all, not every horse is a Secretariat. I think horse racing in general is headed for a boon and not a bust although many tracks (who have continually treated their best customers as peasants) will not be around 10 years from now. Those with vision will survive.

Jim