“It’s the bettor who is going to decide whether this is a good idea. If we all search our memory banks for the last decade, we will remember article after article, study after study, blog after blog that says this is what the customer is asking for. We’re going to try to give it to them.”
Those are the words of thoroughbred trainer John Forbes, who is making reference to the compacted, purse-laden thoroughbred meet at Monmouth Park which is scheduled to kick off this Saturday at the New Jersey oval.
The 50-day meet will offer the richest daily purse structure in the sport's history, as an average of $1 million in purses will be up for grabs each race day.
Forbes' comments come courtesy of an article by Bill Finley in yesterday's edition of The New York Times, which can be read by clicking here.
The article states that the experimental meet will be labeled a failure if the betting handle does not increase enough to offset the costs involved with the higher purses.