[BrentCrude]

I go to a track now and then like Prairie Meadows that has very good purses and an ok handle and they just have slots.I don't think they are even open on Sunday's which makes no sense.The genie has long left the bottle where hardened gamblers would have a tough decision finding a church or a gambling venue to attendend because they are all over the place.Anyway,the slots at Prairie Meadows are tight and the clientel playing them look like they are mostly on entitlements and people who can least afford gambling making low wages.

The horsemen are living off these people.I say that state legislatures should eliminate their takeout on all pools instead of giving tracks slots.Maybe if the exotic bets didn't have a 24% takeout a track could exist on it's own without government help.

[callmejrk1]

and most horsemen still dont make no money

[dise-pa]

WOW can you at lease get a free soda or coffee with that?

[dollarbill]

Double edge on this one. Goverment pushes job growth and Casino has the winners name in lights. Purses are at an all time high @ Pocono but as far as the % goes and where it goes its just like politics. Smoke and mirrors. Bottom line nobody cares as long as they cash a ticket once in awhile

In Pa. the Dealers will be getting $5.50 an hour, claiming/reporting Tips it'll show they are at minimum wage but as we all know it'll be an average of at least $10 with the Rake being unbeliveable. Alcohol was/is a perk but isn't applied? Cost is $4/5 for a beer! I'd love to see daily receipts vs. expenses but as is the case everywhere an outside audit won't happen until there is a problem.

Kinda like at the church where everyone says Mrs. so-so is the best and is such a wonderful person and is always volunteering for this or that

and 10-15 years later is charged with fraudulent activity.

Who cares

[MadTiger]

Pure horse racing as a business is almost dead.

I wouldn't put any $$$ into any venture that didn't include slots, poker, etc.

[unusialsusp5]

the poor people that slots lure will soon be dying off along with the horseplayers. just go to any otb or track and try to figure the median age of the players. an industry can't continue to feed off sr citizens and any younger people they lure with slot machines cannot be bothered trying to figure out simulcasting options. racing used to work when everyone was concentrating on the next race at the local track they were at. now its all about the next race anywhere and there is no comraderie or discussion with even the people you go with about what to play. with only 10 races a day you had a chance to make money. now with 700 races to play on a sat. you can't leave winning you can't leave even. you can only leave when you are clean.

[3PtShooter]

tracks got to have large fields take a look at Monmouth this yr

[mproud1]

tracks got to have large fields take a look at Monmouth this yr

ABSOLUTELY, you need to have LARGE/QUALITY FIELDS to promote HANDLE. The ONLY tracks I see doing this are Woodbine & Saratoga; Gulfstream in the winter.

[mtneer1212]

Too many tracks out there..... about 30% need to close or reduce race dates to match the horse and patron population. Then you will get larger crowds to bet larger field, producing larger handle. And states like Illinois and New York where the politicians have had their hand in the pie for years...... they can close until they restructure their revenue distribution plans. I have no sympathy for those states. horsemen in New York should go to Pennsylvania, and horsemen in Illinois should go to Indiana.

[mproud1]

Too many tracks out there..... about 30% need to close or reduce race dates to match the horse and patron population. Then you will get larger crowds to bet larger field, producing larger handle. And states like Illinois and New York where the politicians have had their hand in the pie for years...... they can close until they restructure their revenue distribution plans. I have no sympathy for those states. horsemen in New York should go to Pennsylvania, and horsemen in Illinois should go to Indiana.

horseman are going from Kentucky to Indiana RIGHT NOW. Look how shitty the Churchill fields continue to be.