Harness Racing and Amazon

[Locked in with pace]

They both make it too easy to stay at home. Look at all the retail stores that are closing or have closed. Look at all the huge malls that are empty or filled with pop-up stores. Malls are turning into housing. These mall owners know what the future lies ahead.

 Amazon changed the world with its business model. Huge selection, great pricing, easy buy, and returns, and do it all from home . All the stores that are still alive now are expanding their online business. They know that foot traffic is going to get less and less

 The same effect is now and has been with live attendance at the tracks, Why go to the track when you can get a free program online, get % kickbacks, no spending on gas, eat a normal meal, and watch a variety of tracks at the click of a mouse?

And the track's attendance will get even less and the older generation die off.

Just the hard facts.

[mwins]

Thank you Captain Obvious.

[bond]

Thank you Captain Obvious.

  but seriously--horse racing needs to adapt better to this new model.
Staying at home is now far more attractive so-----:
They need to make it attractive/entertaining to go to the track.
1. hand out vouchers--for food or bets-like Casino does when you bet at window.
2. Have a buffet or restaurant that's better than anything you have at home--and don't rip the customer off--even if it makes 0 profit.
3. Low price beer/snacks.
4. Door prizes. etc etc
The Casinos do it--but horse racing?? Meadowlands tries but others?? fuck no..
Just suggestions.
e.g. MGM-is going for their full-blown casino license. If they get it-and they keep racing-which I hope they do--the racing will actually do much better---why??  Because the Casino will kick out the VLT slots--replace them with better Slots--which pay more and get more customers plus have live tables. They will upgrade the restaurants-and the Empire restaurant will be upgraded like at the Meadowlands-probably better. Casino patrons get rewards to go there--and the horse racing bettors/owners will come there also. Win-win for Casino and racing.  Take a page out of Gulfstream-I really enjoy going there rather than stay home. They don't have a full casino--but UNLIKE Yonkers--they look after their patrons and watching the horses race is very enjoyable.

[Stan durbread]

The casinos are also encouraging people to stay home and play online. No dealers or waitstaff to pay. And any tips go directly in their pockets

[The Thorn]

The similarities with Amazon are there too in a different sort of way. 

Like Harness Racing, Amazon's power is all at the top. They tell you what and when you can sell something much like a Race Secretary decides if you are getting stalls. As for cheaters Amazon is famous for some of their sellers selling knockoffs or copies of something and doing nothing about it unless a lawyer tells them to cease, similar to the way officials in harness let so much slide and let the top dogs prevail.