I’m not a bettor and never will be. At the races I bet a couple of bucks a night or maybe not at all. When there’s a big Pick 6 or Pick 4 pool, I’ll play it like I play the Megamillions when it gets to $100 million. As Herve loved to say, you can’t win it if you’re not in it. Going to the races has always been a social event for me and an entertainment choice. The racetrack doesn’t care about me and hasn’t for years, as the bottom line has dictated tracks not waste a nickel on anyone who’s not betting.
People are sheep. Only meta-cool hipsters want to be the
only person at an event. The rest of us want company, and the social validation
we’ve chosen right. Some events (for example a team like the NY Yankees or a
band like U2), can literally charge whatever they want for admission and
continue to gouge the consumer for the ancillary costs-parking, food,
souvenirs, etc because the market supports them. If you want to go that’s the
price point and you can decide if you think it’s worth it or not.
Harness racing is like the Sybil of sports-it doesn’t know
who it is or who it wants to be at any given time. We’re a sport, we’re
entertainment, we’re a gambling option, we’re a special event…..
I believe the general public wants decent, affordable food,
comfortable surroundings and enough people who think like us and like the same
things we like. We don’t want a hassle getting into a place and we don’t want
to be treated poorly by anybody, on our way in, out, or during.
Racing used to attract every social strata of society as an
entertainment option. Why? I think it stands to reason that young people like
other young people (preferably of the opposite sex) around them, families want
to take their children somewhere safe, inexpensive with some distractions for
the kids and some for the adults, and be near other families…gamblers want
all-access to information around them and to be surrounded by like-minded
people.
One other thing that has been pounded to death is a run-down
or unclean place…in particular the bathrooms. If that has to be explained
to track operators they should have their license to operate a business
revoked.
Someone who goes to the track for the first time is
intimidated by the info, the ways to bet and how you have to do it. I think
racetrack staff should be way more interactive with people in teaching them or
offering to help them bet or get closer to the horses and drivers. That’s one
big reason why people avoid tellers. Every group sales group that comes to the
track should be showered with young and personable people to assist them in
betting and touring the track. The experience should be way more interactive.
Hippodrome Blue Bonnets had the drivers come up in their colors and trainers
mingle with people and point out things in the program or about horses on the
track.
If you want to be an entertainment or social option you have
to compete with those around you and offer the same or similar experience for
less money or have something another venue cannot have, like a cigar lounge.
Most tracks should position themselves like a minor league
baseball or hockey team. That’s realistic and if they can integrate themselves
into the community all the better. Large places should use their space for
other options and events than racing, consolidating the racing space to what’s
needed, ANYTHING to not have an empty venue. And all tracks should work like
hell to convert people into bettors, one at a time!
I would like to thank all those who participated in this series.
No comments:
Post a Comment