Glen
18th July 2005, 06:53.21 PM
Lone Star Park feels the pain
Daily double during spring meet: fewer fans, less handle
10:20 PM CDT on Sunday, July 17, 2005
By CATHY HARASTA / The Dallas Morning News
GRAND PRAIRIE – Pain, pain and more pain.
Lone Star Park's ninth spring thoroughbred meet concluded Sunday with a pinch in the pocketbook from attendance and live handle declines. Add the headache of repeated complaints about the track's surface. And the heartache of a rise in frequency this year of thoroughbreds whose injuries required that they be humanely destroyed.
Track officials cited competition from out-of-state tracks and Internet gambling as key reasons for fewer people and less action than the 2004 spring meet attracted.
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"It's been a challenging season," Lone Star Park vice president-general manager Jeff Greco said. "You've got to figure out how to compete every day."
Lone Star Park officials said that total attendance was 470,000, down from 549,000 in 2004, and on-track wagering was $72.2 million, down from $78.3 million.
The Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park last October featured compelling races and generated more than $45 million in area economic impact. But that extravaganza did not appear to boost the track this spring.
"One of the biggest benefits is that it's really a long-term impact," Greco said. "Now people know where Dallas-Fort Worth is and where Lone Star Park is."
Track communications director Darren Rogers said off-site betting on Lone Star's races rose slightly from $111.2 million to about $111.8 million.
Greco said Lone Star Park, like other enterprises, has met with higher operating costs, making it hard to maintain previous budget levels for areas such as marketing and advertising.
Gaming alternatives
Just getting out of the gate was tough for Lone Star Park, with its opening weekend coinciding with NASCAR racing at Texas Motor Speedway. Lone Star Park also continues to lose business to states in which video lottery terminals are legal at racetracks. Attempts to introduce that gaming concept in Texas have not succeeded.
"There are more and better gaming alternatives available to Texans a short distance away," said Ray Perryman, whose Waco-based Perryman Group analyzed Texas racetracks' challenges. "Everything is driven by the purses. In the states that have some type of gaming at the track, a portion of the results of the gaming goes into the purse."
California-based trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, said Texas would do well to legalize the video machines for racetracks.
"It would probably hurt California racing because a lot of guys would go to Texas instead," Baffert said. "It's just entertainment. There's no showgirls or stuff like that."
Though Internet gambling is illegal in Texas, Lone Star officials said they believe individuals widely participate in the practice of establishing an online betting account and wagering from their home computers. Of course, the track gains nothing from such bets.
Where's the fever?
Thoroughbred racing nationwide suffered almost a 4 percent decrease in pari-mutuel wagering in 2005's second quarter from the previous year, according to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Equibase Company LLC. U.S. purses and race days also dropped during a span when the sport did not have Triple Crown fever; Giacomo won the Kentucky Derby before Afleet Alex captured the Preakness and the Belmont.
"The second quarter is always dependent on a Triple Crown," NTRA spokeswoman Peggy Hendershot said. "The major racing days are now carrying so much weight."
More than in previous seasons, Louisiana Downs' meet overlapped Lone Star's schedule. Lone Star Park's meet opened on April 14. The Louisiana Downs meet spans April 29 through Oct. 9.
Surface problems
"The quality of Lone Star's racing has slipped the last two or three years as a direct reflection of the competition from Louisiana Downs," said Dave Hooper, the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association's executive director. "Lone Star Park always has had a problem with its racing surface. That sun bakes that track and makes it hard. A lot of horsemen just don't want to race at Lone Star."
Fewer horses translates to smaller fields, which decrease wagering options, eliminating some of the attractive, fancier bets.
Lone Star-based trainer Bubba Cascio said the track surface contributed to injuries to 15 of his horses in the last four weeks. He suggested a change in the personnel responsible for maintaining the track's surface, especially with Lone Star's loss of horses to states with video lottery terminals.
"Somebody has to come out and say it," Cascio said. "They need to fix this racetrack. This racetrack never has been consistent. It's time for them to get loyal to the horsemen."
Lone Star director of track maintenance Ron Moore said the lack of usual rainfall through the spring, particularly in June, mobilized him.
"When something goes wrong, I'll certainly take responsibility," said Moore, who has been with the track since 1997. "We tried to find out what the problem is and rectify it. At midstream, we had to come in and amend it."
To add texture and moisture, Moore said he added 700 cubic yards of fine sand and 300 cubic yards of ground fir bark.
"No matter what fiscal problems we may or may not have, Lone Star's officials have never said no when it comes to the track, which is our bread and butter," he said.
'An ongoing process'
Texas Racing Commission documents show that 12 horses at the Lone Star meet, with 67 racing days, needed to be euthanized because of catastrophic injuries suffered from April 15 through Sunday. Two others narrowly escaped humane destruction. Dr. Stewart Marsh, the state veterinarian, said 12 Lone Star Park horses required the extreme measure in 2004, when the track had two thoroughbred meets totaling 82 racing days. The second meet, in the fall, led into the Breeders' Cup and replaced the track's traditional quarter horse meet.
"The track surface definitely plays a part in injuries," Marsh said. "The catastrophic injury rate at Lone Star Park is higher than at any other track in Texas. In the past five years, Lone Star has made numerous efforts to improve their surface, but still the injuries are there."
Marsh said he could not immediately supply the number of catastrophic injuries during Lone Star thoroughbred seasons before 2004.
He said Lone Star officials have been diligent and conscientious in their pursuit of track surface improvements.
"That's something we're very sensitive to," Greco said. "We've had a fast racetrack, and fast equates to hard. We've done some things differently this year and tried to create a more forgiving surface. ... It's been an ongoing process."
Greco said Lone Star officials pay serious attention to feedback from owners, trainers and jockeys. That gets the track the kind of loyalty that money can't buy.
"I'm going to come back," Cascio said. "We all love to run here. We call this home."
Daily double during spring meet: fewer fans, less handle
10:20 PM CDT on Sunday, July 17, 2005
By CATHY HARASTA / The Dallas Morning News
GRAND PRAIRIE – Pain, pain and more pain.
Lone Star Park's ninth spring thoroughbred meet concluded Sunday with a pinch in the pocketbook from attendance and live handle declines. Add the headache of repeated complaints about the track's surface. And the heartache of a rise in frequency this year of thoroughbreds whose injuries required that they be humanely destroyed.
Track officials cited competition from out-of-state tracks and Internet gambling as key reasons for fewer people and less action than the 2004 spring meet attracted.
Horse Racing
Lone Star feels the pain of lower revenue
Trainer Asmussen finishes with 63 winners, seventh trophy
Lone Star Park official site
More horse racing
"It's been a challenging season," Lone Star Park vice president-general manager Jeff Greco said. "You've got to figure out how to compete every day."
Lone Star Park officials said that total attendance was 470,000, down from 549,000 in 2004, and on-track wagering was $72.2 million, down from $78.3 million.
The Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park last October featured compelling races and generated more than $45 million in area economic impact. But that extravaganza did not appear to boost the track this spring.
"One of the biggest benefits is that it's really a long-term impact," Greco said. "Now people know where Dallas-Fort Worth is and where Lone Star Park is."
Track communications director Darren Rogers said off-site betting on Lone Star's races rose slightly from $111.2 million to about $111.8 million.
Greco said Lone Star Park, like other enterprises, has met with higher operating costs, making it hard to maintain previous budget levels for areas such as marketing and advertising.
Gaming alternatives
Just getting out of the gate was tough for Lone Star Park, with its opening weekend coinciding with NASCAR racing at Texas Motor Speedway. Lone Star Park also continues to lose business to states in which video lottery terminals are legal at racetracks. Attempts to introduce that gaming concept in Texas have not succeeded.
"There are more and better gaming alternatives available to Texans a short distance away," said Ray Perryman, whose Waco-based Perryman Group analyzed Texas racetracks' challenges. "Everything is driven by the purses. In the states that have some type of gaming at the track, a portion of the results of the gaming goes into the purse."
California-based trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner, said Texas would do well to legalize the video machines for racetracks.
"It would probably hurt California racing because a lot of guys would go to Texas instead," Baffert said. "It's just entertainment. There's no showgirls or stuff like that."
Though Internet gambling is illegal in Texas, Lone Star officials said they believe individuals widely participate in the practice of establishing an online betting account and wagering from their home computers. Of course, the track gains nothing from such bets.
Where's the fever?
Thoroughbred racing nationwide suffered almost a 4 percent decrease in pari-mutuel wagering in 2005's second quarter from the previous year, according to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Equibase Company LLC. U.S. purses and race days also dropped during a span when the sport did not have Triple Crown fever; Giacomo won the Kentucky Derby before Afleet Alex captured the Preakness and the Belmont.
"The second quarter is always dependent on a Triple Crown," NTRA spokeswoman Peggy Hendershot said. "The major racing days are now carrying so much weight."
More than in previous seasons, Louisiana Downs' meet overlapped Lone Star's schedule. Lone Star Park's meet opened on April 14. The Louisiana Downs meet spans April 29 through Oct. 9.
Surface problems
"The quality of Lone Star's racing has slipped the last two or three years as a direct reflection of the competition from Louisiana Downs," said Dave Hooper, the Texas Thoroughbred Breeders Association's executive director. "Lone Star Park always has had a problem with its racing surface. That sun bakes that track and makes it hard. A lot of horsemen just don't want to race at Lone Star."
Fewer horses translates to smaller fields, which decrease wagering options, eliminating some of the attractive, fancier bets.
Lone Star-based trainer Bubba Cascio said the track surface contributed to injuries to 15 of his horses in the last four weeks. He suggested a change in the personnel responsible for maintaining the track's surface, especially with Lone Star's loss of horses to states with video lottery terminals.
"Somebody has to come out and say it," Cascio said. "They need to fix this racetrack. This racetrack never has been consistent. It's time for them to get loyal to the horsemen."
Lone Star director of track maintenance Ron Moore said the lack of usual rainfall through the spring, particularly in June, mobilized him.
"When something goes wrong, I'll certainly take responsibility," said Moore, who has been with the track since 1997. "We tried to find out what the problem is and rectify it. At midstream, we had to come in and amend it."
To add texture and moisture, Moore said he added 700 cubic yards of fine sand and 300 cubic yards of ground fir bark.
"No matter what fiscal problems we may or may not have, Lone Star's officials have never said no when it comes to the track, which is our bread and butter," he said.
'An ongoing process'
Texas Racing Commission documents show that 12 horses at the Lone Star meet, with 67 racing days, needed to be euthanized because of catastrophic injuries suffered from April 15 through Sunday. Two others narrowly escaped humane destruction. Dr. Stewart Marsh, the state veterinarian, said 12 Lone Star Park horses required the extreme measure in 2004, when the track had two thoroughbred meets totaling 82 racing days. The second meet, in the fall, led into the Breeders' Cup and replaced the track's traditional quarter horse meet.
"The track surface definitely plays a part in injuries," Marsh said. "The catastrophic injury rate at Lone Star Park is higher than at any other track in Texas. In the past five years, Lone Star has made numerous efforts to improve their surface, but still the injuries are there."
Marsh said he could not immediately supply the number of catastrophic injuries during Lone Star thoroughbred seasons before 2004.
He said Lone Star officials have been diligent and conscientious in their pursuit of track surface improvements.
"That's something we're very sensitive to," Greco said. "We've had a fast racetrack, and fast equates to hard. We've done some things differently this year and tried to create a more forgiving surface. ... It's been an ongoing process."
Greco said Lone Star officials pay serious attention to feedback from owners, trainers and jockeys. That gets the track the kind of loyalty that money can't buy.
"I'm going to come back," Cascio said. "We all love to run here. We call this home."