"Horse racing really isn't any different than any other business that sells something to the consumer. Give them a good product and price it fairly and people will buy it."
One of the good news stories in harness racing this year deals with the tremendous gains made by Meadowlands Racetrack as the New Jersey oval continues to post handles with double-digit increases from this time last year. In writing for ESPN, Bill Finley states that the formula for their success really isn't that hard.
"The lifeblood of the track is betting handle and management set out this year to get every penny possible to come through the betting windows," notes Finley. "They knew the only way to do that was to put the very best possible product on the racetrack every night."
Lessons are to be learned as jurisdictions across North America face uphill battles from governments clawing back support or shutting it off altogther.
Finley attributes Meadowlands' success to a number of factors surrounding the product: competitive fields, providing compelling betting options and excellent customer service.
"The final piece of the puzzle became the customer experience. Good racing, full fields and low takeouts won't work if the customer has a lousy meal or gets barked at by a surly mutual clerk."
After being rescued from the state scrap heap by Jeff Gural, the track has turned around its fortunes despite being in competition with the state-touted gaming centre in Atlantic City.
"The Meadowlands has gotten here after some of the darkest days in its history. The Meadowlands was previously owned by the state and Christie wanted it closed because it was losing money. It looked like no one would take it off the state's hands until Gural came in at the eleventh hour and leased the track. According to sources, it is now profitable."
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Im so proud that horse folk are getting the picture. THIS is what you should be striving for, not living off people betting on other products.
Slots does not create racing fans.
Ms Magee, and Mr Irving, you have seen my comments on here for almost a year, and I have been saying this all along, I really hope you rally your other horse industry folk to see this light. THIS is where your future is.
Can't work in Ontario until
Can't work in Ontario until track ownership wants racing. They are more interested in a slot deal with the government. As long as they have slots they could care less bout horses.
And this can't be done here
And this can't be done here because???? Oh yah---too many decisions that have killed our sport and driven away the fans that once crowded the stands at racetracks to see some of the best horses (thoroughbred and standardbred) and drivers that racing had to offer anywhere. They even had fun. If it can be done in New Jersey, it can, without a doubt, be done here.
""The lifeblood of the track
""The lifeblood of the track is betting handle and management set out this year to get every penny possible to come through the betting windows," notes Finley. "They knew the only way to do that was to put the very best possible product on the racetrack every night."
Only if the horseman in Ontario got this message.
Slots is not the answer if you are racing for empty stands like most nights. Its not just the track's job to lure people. It's not Woodbine's job to make Jody or Mario into house hold names...... it is the entire industry that has to work at getting fans.
A empty pocket builds
A empty pocket builds inspiration(Meadowlands).A pocket full of slot revenue builds complacency.
Wow, finally a track that has
Wow, finally a track that has it right, take care of the customer.Make sure they enjoy themselves at the track. Don't have them line up for a 1/2 hr for a overpriced hamburger, don't charge the guys sitting at the bar $6.50 for a glass or bottle of beer, and don't have the betters stared to get in some mutual clerk's line because they may be upset with you for calling out the type of bet you want incorrectly or you try and cash a tickets and are being told to move aside and let the guy behind you bet.What the Meadowlands has done isn't rocket science, it just good business sense.We need the bettors back in the stands and away from these slot machines and we need the new gamblers to get interested it this great sport.
The race secretary has a
The race secretary has a tough job. The race has to be set-up so that potentially every horse finishes together at the wire. This is what the fans come to see. A close competitive race. Qualifing times are a great guage to determine a horses ability, however dollars earned per start or other classifing devices should be used as criteria for setting up races. The statement made by some fans that any one of this card of horses can win this race spreads out the bet. Just thinking out loud , Bruce T. Winning