How is the handle so high?

[Any1Left]

Recently, I was thinking back about all of the big bettors I knew in the past. Of the roughly 60 players I could think of, half of them are dead, 20 of them ran out of money, and the last 10 bet less than a quarter of what they used to.
I also know for a fact that most tracks are empty, and no new people are entering the game. I remember way back, there were groups of kids that would show up everyday, that certainly doesn't happen anymore.
The track sure isn't doing shit to bring new people in either. Today Randy Waples went out to interview a guy and told him what a 'good drive' he had despite that fact that it was a horrendous drive on a 1/5 that couldn't lose. Does anyone in management see and hear what these morons like Elisa Blowe and Randy Waples do and say on a daily basis?
I feel like every race I watch is a qualifier, there's no actual racing. Like people should actually be ecstatic about races going single file without fail every race?
Everyone I know is getting annihilated nowadays, and nobody is betting on these horses that go 8/5 to 1/5.
The race track's got the Robin Hood mentality right now, steal from the poor and give to the rich.
With all this, how the hell does the handle keep going up, by all rights it should be at 0?

[davenchop]

total wagering is down 5% so far this year but when you get all your money from
 the casino who cares what you do.. you are going to get the same amount no matter what
as many have stated its all welfare money but its been going on for over 25 years and will prob go on for
another 25 .. so the point is irrelevant

[Papillon]

Recently, I was thinking back about all of the big bettors I knew in the past. Of the roughly 60 players I could think of, half of them are dead, 20 of them ran out of money, and the last 10 bet less than a quarter of what they used to.
I also know for a fact that most tracks are empty, and no new people are entering the game. I remember way back, there were groups of kids that would show up everyday, that certainly doesn't happen anymore.
The track sure isn't doing shit to bring new people in either. Today Randy Waples went out to interview a guy and told him what a 'good drive' he had despite that fact that it was a horrendous drive on a 1/5 that couldn't lose. Does anyone in management see and hear what these morons like Elisa Blowe and Randy Waples do and say on a daily basis?
I feel like every race I watch is a qualifier, there's no actual racing. Like people should actually be ecstatic about races going single file without fail every race?
Everyone I know is getting annihilated nowadays, and nobody is betting on these horses that go 8/5 to 1/5.
The race track's got the Robin Hood mentality right now, steal from the poor and give to the rich.
With all this, how the hell does the handle keep going up, by all rights it should be at 0?

heavily rebated CAW accounts are the reason--and they comprise over 50% or more of the handle these days

the handle may look good, but the "common man" money has been leaving the sport for over 20 years

when the money comes in after the gate leaves from these computer guys-the regular bettor has virtually no chance in the long run

[Parked]

How does a horse go off at 1-5 when no one is betting it ?

[Any1Left]

The truth to everything is wagering is down miles, and there is no real interest in the sport. Executives at the track know this, and do their best to cover it up by shoving this inflated handle in our faces. Nobody is interested in this single file racing shit with no stress involved, as everyone is pulling back to give up friendship holes.

[kooter for hipin]

The truth to everything is wagering is down miles, and there is no real interest in the sport. Executives at the track know this, and do their best to cover it up by shoving this inflated handle in our faces. Nobody is interested in this single file racing shit with no stress involved, as everyone is pulling back to give up friendship holes.

Makes sense!     

[Yonkers1A]

Some say buggy racing is dying others say it’s dead, just don’t look in Schrödinger’s box

[The Exporter]

Some say buggy racing is dying others say it’s dead, just don’t look in Schrödinger’s box

Excellent, Yonkers 1. Both dead and alive at the same time.

[Jctoronto]

Glimmer of Ontario harness betting hope coming in june.
5/8 mile racing returns to Southern half of Ontario.

GRAND RIVER, Elora..passing lane, #9 trailer.
opens back up in June Mon Wed Fri nights

And the steady diet of half mileness at Western Fair and Flamboro and Grand River past too ENDS..and 5/8ths returns. This has potential of getting some of us bettors excited 'round these southern half of Ontario parts.
(Georgian up in Barrie, Kawartha way east of Toronto, Rideau up in Ottawa and Hiawatha in Sarnia at U.S./Canada border are the current 5/8 operations)
.

[Yonkers1A]

Excellent, Yonkers 1. Both dead and alive at the same time.

I'm glad to see you got it, probably not many here did

[seen2much]

The races are boring, cheaters winning equals favorites, & you are betting against smarter money than the old days.

[mwins]

The Handle: Track management doesn't care who is betting, as long as they are betting. If you'ere selling ice cream, do you really care who is buying it?

5/8 racing at Elora: You mentioned better racing is gonna help the handle. Kawartha did 50k last card. Hiawatha did 33k.