For photos from the Meadowlands contact Lisaphoto@playmeadowlands.com

Monday, January 4, 2010

Trash Talking Begins

Two days into the Meadowlands 2010 harness meet and people are already trashing the Meadowlands, taking joy in the decline of racing at the Meadowlands; in particular anticipating what will happen when Chester, Pocono and Yonkers reopen for the year. Often, this talk gets ignited when people talk about the quality of racing between the Meadowlands and Yonkers. With the two tracks less than twenty miles apart, comparisons are inevitable.

Let's start with the argument as to which track has the better racing. When it comes to the overall stakes program, the Meadowlands program is clearly superior due to its depth but when it comes to overnight racing, both tracks are pretty much equal with horses with the ability to handle the smaller ovals racing at Yonkers and the others racing at the Meadowlands.  Where the tracks differ is in their desirability to gamblers.  With only eight wagering interests (six if you disregard horses starting from the seventh or eigth post positions) on a half mile oval, there is is higher number of short priced horses on the half mile track wich is less desirable to serious gamblers.

I can understand people preferring racing at Yonkers over the Meadowlands and vice versa. What I can't understand is why people are gleeful at the Meadowlands' problems. The industry needs a vibrant Meadowlands in order to remain in the consciousness of gamblers. The first two nights of racing, the Meadowlands handled over $3 million in wagers from all sources. Name another track in the United States which could generate handles like this (Yonkers on rare occasions will handle $1 million). When horses flee the Meadowlands for greener pastures, the result is a decline in racing quality and short fields which results in smaller handles. When this happens, the gamblers stay away and that money is lost; wagered on the runners or remaining in the pockets of the horseplayers.

If not for the Meadowlands, the amount of coverage channels like TVG would give harness racing would be far less than we have now. The Meadowlands gets covered whenever they race. The other harness tracks? IF they are covered, it is only when there are not enough running races available. How many times on a Saturday night when the Meadowlands is closed, the only races of Yonkers that were being shown were races like the Yonkers Trot, Messenger, etc. Regular overnight races from Yonkers? Never on a Saturday night. Without the Meadowlands, the publics' exposure to harness racing would be virtually non-existent.

Rather than taking glee at the problems at the Meadowlands, people should be hoping that the Meadowlands and Yonkers can work out some type of racing schedule which will allow both tracks to flourish; perhaps a schedule like Balmoral and Maywood, with the days of the week alternating.

8 comments:

Pocket Up said...

Your right Pacingguy, no one should be happy the Meadowlands is having problems. The M is the one galvanizing force we have for our sport. Even with the smaller purses and fields, I'm going down with the ship.

I'm afraid to think what will happen if the M fails. I won't give up on the sport completely but, I will play 90% less than I currently do now. I wonder how many others would follow.

Yonkers is no substitute in my book. No thanks.

That Blog Guy said...

I am a half mile fan myself, but I realize what a disaster a Meadowlands failure would cause.

The people at Yonkers recognize what would happen as well as they have been talking with the Meadowlands and others regarding a multi-track wager. I think Yonkers can be a strong number 2 in the hierarchy in the states.

At some time the two tracks are going to work together to have a better relationship. It will be either the creation of a circuit between the two tracks, a Balmoral/Maywood type schedule or a way to alternate classes between the two tracks. It is just a question of getting the horsemen to agree to a reduction in dates.

Pocket Up said...

If the two tracks were in the same state, I would be much more likely to agree that could be a possibility.

Has there been a situation lately, in two different states, where two tracks have worked together for the good of the sport? I don't think so.

I have not heard anything about a multi-track wager between the M and Yonkers. Where did you read about such an arrangement being a possibility? Canada is the only place I have heard about tracks having the possibility of working together for a multi-wager.

I'm willing to hear what they have to offer. Fill us in please.

That Blog Guy said...

Talk about a multi-wager was discussed in a SOA of NY newsletter. No details other than discussions were underway was disclosed.

Right now, I am not aware of any cooperation between different states with respect to harness racing, but out in the mid-west, they are coordinating running meets; to fill in gaps and it involves different states. These states don't have standardbred meets but those racing commissions seem to be willing.

JLB said...

Was at Meadowlands opening night 1976, and have attended frequently since. While I don't want to trash the place, I was there last night to race a horse for the first time since last Summer. Went to Administration to pick up passes, and was greeted by a very friendly staff member-indeed, personnel throughout the track have ALWAYS been courteous-who explained that 2010 passes were not available yet. She gave me 2009 passes and asked that I come back in a few weeks. While this was satisfactory, I was astonished; it's not as if the opening of the meet was a surprise. Then, I went to an information booth to ask if a shuttle still ran under the grandstand to the paddock. I was told that they did not know, and that I should go to the winner's circle to ask the guard (who was not there). Small points, but unexpected at what used to be the flagship track of the industry.

Pocket Up said...

JLB, very telling. Who ever said "don't sweat the small stuff" was out of their mind. While not in the same leagues as your points, I see the equipment changes missing from the crawler on the TV screen. Again, something small but move of the same you were describing.

I wrote Sam to see what happened. Hopefully the changes will be back soon.

Unknown said...

Two points...
1) Muscle Hill didn't want to race in the Yonkers Trot because it's a half mile track...which says to me that if you've got a top horse he will never ever race on a small track

2) I don't see Yonkers having a "Racing from Yonkers" recap show on SNY. Having that show on that channel means that it is on in bars and restaurants across the country. Even though the sound is usually turned off everyone in that bar is at least looking up to watch it at some point.

That Blog Guy said...

Well Said, who granted is not Muscle Hill, can be said to be a top horse. He raced on a half mile oval. The reason why Muscle Hill avoided the half mile oval was he was managed to maximize his breeding potential. I have said it before and I will say it again, to be eligible for a year end award a horse should be required to race at least once in a pari-mutuel start over the half, five-eigths, and mile ovals. It doesn't need to be even a stakes race so I don't think the requirement would be unreasonable.

The fact remains a lot of harness tracks are half-milers so sires (and dams) should show demonstrate their ability or inability to go over the half mile oval. Yearling buyers should know if the parents could race over the half mile oval. After all, for every heralded son/daughter of whichever sire, you will see at least twenty more from the same crop racing over these half mile ovals. Yearling buyers should be able to know if the horse doesn't turn into a champion if it will be able to compete on these smaller ovals.

It would be nice if Yonkers had a racing show. However, don't kid yourself, it would end up on the air in the middle of the night like the Meadowlands show is shown (though it is carried on TVG the following moring).