HORSEPLOP.COM

General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Pacer 2 on April 12, 2026, 07:00:44 PM

Title: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Pacer 2 on April 12, 2026, 07:00:44 PM
Oak Grove, KY – In just the third week of the 2026 harness racing meet at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, a typical 12-race card of overnight races for the southern Kentucky oval generated the third highest betting handle in the track’s six-year history.


Handle at Oak Grove continued to increase in week three of the meet. Tony Centonze Photography.
Monday’s (April 6) races ended on the cusp of a half-million dollars bet with just over $450,000 churning through the windows.

The Monday handle figure is only bested by the 2024 handle record at Oak Grove of $522,941 and the current record of $582,666 set last year on the Monday following the Kentucky Derby. Year over year, Monday’s card showed handle gains of 21.3 percent, and those gains continued into the following race day with Tuesday’s (April 7) card outhandling the previous year by 4.2 percent. Heading into the fourth week of racing, overall handle at Oak Grove remains up year over year by 6.7 percent with over $2 million bet so far this season.
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Sweet on April 12, 2026, 07:04:42 PM
Maybe if a horse I'm following lands there, otherwise I'm not betting that rabid ky shithole  ngc3
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Papillon on April 12, 2026, 07:22:39 PM
ECONOMIC INDICATORS ON U.S. RACES

April 11, 2026: $5,713,738

2026                                          2025                       % Change
Total Wagered   $329,508,420        $351,605,969         -6.28%
Per Race avg.   $53,327                $54,708                  -2.52%
Per Betting Interest   $6,644         $6,771                  -1.88%
Purses   $70,257,175                 $71,668,200           -1.97%
Race Days   496                               510                         -2.75%
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: seen2much on April 12, 2026, 09:17:39 PM
ECONOMIC INDICATORS ON U.S. RACES

April 11, 2026: $5,713,738

2026                                          2025                       % Change
Total Wagered   $329,508,420        $351,605,969         -6.28%
Per Race avg.   $53,327                $54,708                  -2.52%
Per Betting Interest   $6,644         $6,771                  -1.88%
Purses   $70,257,175                 $71,668,200           -1.97%
Race Days   496                               510                         -2.75%
More evidence that Pacer 2 is clueless.   tmbz1
 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Yonkers1A on April 13, 2026, 06:50:47 AM
More evidence that Pacer 2 is clueless.   tmbz1
 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3 ngc3

Of course he’s clueless, he doesn’t read Trigger
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: dinkadoo on April 13, 2026, 10:25:57 AM
Thriving but harness racing at Oak Grove loses massively every day every race - with many races handle not covering the amount of the purse. 

But hey things are great - till the checks stop or decoupling happens.
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Ignorance Is Bliss on April 13, 2026, 10:28:32 AM
Welfare - The Official Business Model Of Harness Racing!  ngc3
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Papillon on April 13, 2026, 11:42:50 AM
Thriving but harness racing at Oak Grove loses massively every day every race - with many races handle not covering the amount of the purse. 

But hey things are great - till the checks stop or decoupling happens.

every harness track loses money everyday without welfare --not just Oak Grove

as we all have known for over a decade--handle has nothing to with purses

every track survives on welfare-either gaming or in Gural's case, begging for a state handout
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Ignorance Is Bliss on April 13, 2026, 11:48:39 AM
(https://iili.io/Bwa8wMb.md.jpg) (https://freeimage.host/i/Bwa8wMb)
(https://iili.io/Bwa8NPj.md.png) (https://freeimage.host/i/Bwa8NPj)
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: seriously on April 13, 2026, 01:56:45 PM
The local retard in my city is thriving.  He drooled on himself 3 fewer times than ever before!   EVER!

So, their handle went from shit to shit+1.  Nice.  Very happy for them.  Keep up the great work.  Surely, this will save harness racing. 

Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: dougie on April 13, 2026, 02:58:43 PM
Harness racing does not create new fans. Any sport that does not do anything to promote themselves to younger people will continue to decline.
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Ignorance Is Bliss on April 13, 2026, 03:13:53 PM
 ngc3
(https://iili.io/Bw64Rjt.md.jpg) (https://freeimage.host/i/Bw64Rjt)
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: rainman2 on April 13, 2026, 03:16:35 PM
ngc3
(https://iili.io/Bw64Rjt.md.jpg) (https://freeimage.host/i/Bw64Rjt)

How many 4/5 star drivers are racing here?

I don’t even know many of theses drivers, yet alone can bet them with real money!
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Equus Caballus on April 13, 2026, 04:22:28 PM
Looks like the USTA is blaming it on the weather!  73cv.2

https://ustrottingnews.com/first-quarter-2026-u-s-harness-racing-economic-indicators/
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: dinkadoo on April 13, 2026, 06:17:33 PM
every harness track loses money everyday without welfare --not just Oak Grove

as we all have known for over a decade--handle has nothing to with purses

every track survives on welfare-either gaming or in Gural's case, begging for a state handout
100% correct. All tracks lose money. Following a quote from Gural years ago, every Tim we turn the lights on… we lose money. 


And as far handle has nothing to do with purses.
   Correct - until the track closes.

But I love the fluff piece of ‘thriving’
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Racetime on April 14, 2026, 06:27:54 AM
It appears Pacer2 isn't smart enough to understand that online wagering pays back about 2-3% to the track and on track wagering returns 10% or more....if you do the math tracks don't wager enough to cover the cost of purses or operating cost. If not for the blood money there would be no money to cover the cost of racing....aka harness racing welfare
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Yonkers1A on April 14, 2026, 06:48:27 AM
It appears Pacer2 isn't smart enough to understand that online wagering pays back about 2-3% to the track and on track wagering returns 10% or more....if you do the math tracks don't wager enough to cover the cost of purses or operating cost. If not for the blood money there would be no money to cover the cost of racing....aka harness racing welfare

This site attracts a lot of small minded people like Pacer, Rainman, Gagoots
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Sweet on April 14, 2026, 09:55:33 AM
This site attracts a lot of small minded people like Pacer, Rainman, Gagoots

Not Rainman2, your a Trumpopotamus guy and that comment of yours is for his political perspective, you know that, and I know you know that!  ;D
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: rainman2 on April 14, 2026, 12:17:36 PM
This site attracts a lot of small minded people like Pacer, Rainman, Gagoots

Can you please mention a few of the other ‘small minded’ people on plop as you missed a few names?

I’m sure there are a few others that can do this.



Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: seriously on April 14, 2026, 12:58:37 PM
Opening Day at Plainridge was thriving!   At least 2 people not associated with the sport directly knew about this day.  At least!   The total combined handle was $161,212.27, as per USTA charts.  The total purses paid out.....$168,000.  The handle in its entirety did not cover the purses.  Thriving! 

Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Sweet on April 14, 2026, 01:01:07 PM
Opening Day at Plainridge was thriving!   At least 2 people not associated with the sport directly knew about this day.  At least!   The total combined handle was $161,212.27, as per USTA charts.  The total purses paid out.....$168,000.  The handle in its entirety did not cover the purses.  Thriving!

 tmbz1

Nor the operating expenses.  tmbz1

As far as the subject of accusations of small brains, minds... ngc3

"Octopuses have the smallest brains among the "smartest" animals, displaying remarkable problem-solving, tool use, and observational learning with a highly distributed nervous system. Their brains are far smaller than mammals, yet they exhibit advanced cognitive abilities, including solving puzzles, navigating mazes, and recognizing human faces." ;D
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: seriously on April 14, 2026, 01:34:20 PM
If only octopuses were raining and driving the horses.  This shit might stand a chance then!

One of my favorite stories, and as the young kids say no cap, deadass.

In high school, long before I knew what harness racing was, there were "those" kids that were in "that" wing of the building.  Basically the speds and specials.  Flash forward 10 years.  The only person from my high school involved in harness racing was from that wing and was actually reasonably successful in the business.  Octopuses to the rescue!
Title: Re: More evidence of thriving
Post by: Sweet on April 14, 2026, 02:10:24 PM
If only octopuses were raining and driving the horses.  This shit might stand a chance then!

One of my favorite stories, and as the young kids say no cap, deadass.

In high school, long before I knew what harness racing was, there were "those" kids that were in "that" wing of the building.  Basically the speds and specials.  Flash forward 10 years.  The only person from my high school involved in harness racing was from that wing and was actually reasonably successful in the business.  Octopuses to the rescue!

 ngc3

That was great!   ;D

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2026, SimplePortal