US Horse Racing? (Does it Need slots to save it)?

[Whoson1st]

I know there are good arguments from the young folks vs the older ones like myself--that HATE a slot machine. Which to me is very close to buying a lottery ticket in terms of excitement; yet I'm tolerant of those that do enjoy slots.

But--slots won't last too VERY long as a savior. Now table games could well do it long term---BJ--Craps--On and on and On. But these tracks seem to only want slots--unless I've missed something. Slots are (at best a short term solution to me) Am I wrong here or will more and better table games eventually be called upon for racing? They are RAPING the public now with their TAKEOUT and that in itself hurts the horseplayer! But like everything else; the little guy rarely has a voice in anything!

 

[whalewager]

Oaklawn had slots put in last race meet.

I will say this...it hasnt done anything to hurt it...

we had to pick up my wifes grandmother at the hospital from her passing out of dehydration while playing them...slots are a money maker and cant hurt a track

 

[Whoson1st]

Oaklawn had slots put in last race meet.

I will say this...it hasnt done anything to hurt it...

we had to pick up my wifes grandmother at the hospital from her passing out of dehydration while playing them...slots are a money maker and cant hurt a track

Sorry to read about the family problem. I think over the years, I've even seen a race bettor or 2 pass out after a loss. Everything in this world has exceptions on both sides of the coin. I don't doubt that slots have certaintly pumped up the tracks as for purse level and attendance--NO Brainer for SURE! I'm thinking long term. Today's generation cares little for slots-unless I'm WAY -OFF BASE here. Table games where the percentages are close--is another idea ENTIRELY as I view it. Looking for other views!

 

[whalewager]

todays generation cares little about slots?

brother, these women and people who are scared of table games build these casinos playing slots

slots are a huge moneymaker and people love them

 

[whalewager]

when the live racing meet is not in session...

having slots and electronic games along with simulcast make oaklawn a ton of money

 

[Whoson1st]

todays generation cares little about slots?

brother, these women and people who are scared of table games build these casinos playing slots

slots are a huge moneymaker and people love them

OK--Your vote and opinion is well respected. Horseplayers-think of slots as lottery tickets. Maybe that is what horseracing HAS come to! Sad in my view.

 

[Wrigley]

Canterbury park would not be running if they did not have poker tables, They also wanted slots but the Indian casinos lobby so hard against it it never passed.

Canterbury could not survive on horse racing only

 

[steaktartar]

slots have saved many tracks evangeline dover to name a few big big purse increases win -win

 

[whalewager]

Big purses bring the trainers and the bigger names.

Slots do that.

 

[Whoson1st]

My opinion ( and a strong one) is that SLOT GAMES will slow down greatly over the next 10 to 15 years. Of course, they will generate revenue! But those folks are first of all not playing horses and 2nd of all will get bored alltogether with SLOTS! Other table games (including poker) are a TOTALLY different story. Kids today--understand oddss better than mom and pop and WAY BETTER than grandma and grandpop! (I only wanted to ask your opinions here as "gamblers". ) Maybe that is another question to be asked in another thread--but thanks to all!

 

[DrunkenHorseplayer]

Don't know about racinos but in LV slots are absolutely king. Walk through any Strip palace and you'll see plenty of upscale and presumably intelligent people losing their money like zombies.

 

[Doug]

Absoluety slots needed to save racing. Horse racing is like dog racing or jai-alai ( parimutual).

I'll give you a local example for CT:

Used to have 3 Jai-alai frontons ( Bridgeport,Milford,Hartford), and a dog track (Plainfield) in a tiny state before Foxwoods came along, all did pretty well in the 70's and 80's. I think Milford was the first, perhaps 1975, maybe Plainfield dogs preceded it, not entirely sure ?

We had the 3 jai-alai frontons, and a dogtrack for sure, before Foxwoods opened somewhere in early 90's, followed by Moheghan Sun.

Casinos killed it all:

Hartford jai-alai property is now a Carmax
Bridgeport Jai-alai was one of the first to go, I think it converted to Shoreline Star Dogtrack, may still be in business as such, but always struggled.

Plainfield dogs closed some years ago

Milford Jai-alai building knocked down recently to build an IKEA, or something.

CT state could never work it out to allow slots to help jai-alai survive. Great game, I'm sure a young guy like Levi would have liked it !

Paris need slots to survive.

 

[Doug]

I never could bring myself to set foot on the old Bridgeport Jai-alai since it went dog.

http://www.shorelinestar.com/events.asp

 

[maidenguy]

Also a small dog track named Hinsdale in New Hamphire now hasTexas Hold'em, Blackjack to keep them alive. These tracks need help and there is no reason they shouldn't be helped out with slots, or cards.
Doug is right on with the state of Conn., the casino's killed them and also Conn. OTB has been hurt also. Go to the casinos and they are packed and the two are only 15 minutes away from each other.

 

[Doug]

Also a small dog track named Hinsdale in New Hamphire now hasTexas Hold'em, Blackjack to keep them alive. These tracks need help and there is no reason they shouldn't be helped out with slots, or cards.
Doug is right on with the state of Conn., the casino's killed them and also Conn. OTB has been hurt also. Go to the casinos and they are packed and the two are only 15 minutes away from each other.

I was a pretty decent amateur jai-alai player when I was like 18, but not quite good enough to get a contract. I practised with professional players regularly, even in Mexico.

It hurts me to pull up an old Brideport program like like this with guys I played against like Yogi, and in particular Charlie Hernandez.

 

[Doug]

Here is what the Official Program showed for the first game.

​

 

[Doug]

Jai-alai is a tough game for an American to even learn as a player, but some have done it, there was a guy at Milford that went from tickets seller to player (Liam) which is cool. I played as amateur with several that made pro status like Bucci,Cruz ( a PR) and a few others.

I played against many pro jai-alai players, like an AAA baseball can play against MLB players, but wasn't good enough.

A star jai-alai player like a Bolivar only gets about 100k a year, the rest... well not much better than driving a truck !

There isn't money to pay them like in baseball., and few spots for a jai-alai player.

different circumstances !

 

[Doug]

I'll give you a fact about jai-alai that few would know, horses may be comparable ?

Jai-alai programs generally have 12 games ( or races).

The players that generaly play the first 5 or so games are much inferior to those that play the last 5 games, huge difference in quality, very marked difference, much more so than in most other sports.

 

[Whoson1st]

WOW!
Many of you have opened my eyes. Not one good thread was offered above for horse racing! This is what I am too "stupid" to understand. If I read this right the majority of you think--suppose--highly suspest (as a last regard); "slots" are the last hope to save horse racing. My guess is that IS RIGHT---Horse RACING --is closed to finsihed... ( Again about 10 yrs. is my estimates)!

 

[Doug]

WOW!
Many of you have opened my eyes. Not one good thread was offered above for horse racing! This is what I am too "stupid" to understand. If I read this right the majority of you think--suppose--highly suspest (as a last regard); "slots" are the last hope to save horse racing. My guess is that IS RIGHT---Horse RACING --is closed to finsihed... ( Again about 10 yrs. is my estimates)!

Yes , I believe so buts it my opinion with local examples. Offshores taking it hurt handle... lesser handle hurts track...

Not a growth industry ,IMO !

check history of jai-alai and dogs, then horses,its comparable


I don't give a shit what guys like Winbet say, horse racing in America is fading, but that's my opinion.