"The focus is back on the customer now, so that's a good thing. Racing's taken a lot of steps in the right direction in the last year. You look at the mindset now and the focus of a lot of these racetracks, compared to say five years ago, has made a big shift."
The early numbers on Canadian harness racing handle show very positive trends. At the conclusion of 2014, the amount wagered on Canadian races exceeded $418.5 million. That total marked a more than five percent increase from the $397.5 million wagered in 2013.
In addition to the overall handle bump, the per race handle increased 13.66 percent -- from $27,810 in 2013 to $31,608 in 2014. According to Greg Blanchard, General Manager of The Raceway at The Western Fair District, the keys to these increases --especially at his track -- are scheduling, cooperation between the tracks, and product distribution.
"It's a combination of a lot of things, but the key thing is the schedule," Blanchard told the Guelph Mercury in reference to Western Fair's recent handle figures. "We're trying to maximize it for horsepeople and for bettors. There's more places taking your signal and there's more eyeballs on you."
Not only are there more eyeballs on your product from a customer perspective, but the five-year partnership plan with the Ontario government gives even more incentive for the Standardbred Alliance tracks to ensure the racing product is focused appropriately.
"We're in a position now that we're more closely tied to the government than we ever have been," said Blanchard. "It's important to show them that we can do it, that we can work together and we can achieve positive results when we do that...There are still people out there that want to bet."
Sounds fine in theory John,
Sounds fine in theory John, it would put tremendous pressure on track handicapper(s). At smaller tracks, a heavy bet on the 20-1, sharp, first time starter could put the house in a perilous state. Only the insiders and heavy punters would be advantaged. Pari-mutual, though not a perfect formula, is still the fairest distribution of wagered $$$.
The issue of track takeout
The issue of track takeout still needs to be resolved. Racing faces too much competition from other forms of gambling with much lower house holds. One idea I have heard mentioned on here in the last year or two is fixed odds wagering. Don't know how this could be implemented but if it could it would be a tremendous boost to handle. For example when i bet a thousand dollars on the Dallas Cowboys at minus 7 it does not matter if there closing odds are minus 5 or minus 9 i am locked in at minus 7 which the odds were when i bought my ticket. Lower takeouts and fixed odds wagering is the way to attract the whales which every form of gambling needs to be successful.
better not say to much or the
better not say to much or the gov is gonna want more money again or stop the funding again.
The total wager for 2010 was
The total wager for 2010 was $437 million and for 2011 it was $440 million. If anything, at $418 million, we are going the wrong way...DOWN