Is racing really dead

[Harness racer]

   Its thriving in most places.  Saratoga and Hoosier are getting record handles. Lots of tracks doing well......

Record handles and still could come nowhere near supporting those purses.  That’s not thriving.  What happens if the casino subsidies get cut off?

[AgentQ]

The amount of contraction in the sport in the past 10-15 is alarming and if it was any other industry, you'd be hard pressed to be bully on its' future. The amount of breedings for sale at any given time might be the bellweather as the demand side, that's the amount of money being wagered on horseracing, has plummeted and with less and less horses being bred that only means less product to be offered. Not the ideal situation but when you have morons in control of the sport that's what you get after 20 years.

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

The amount of contraction in the sport in the past 10-15 is alarming and if it was any other industry, you'd be hard pressed to be bully on its' future. The amount of breedings for sale at any given time might be the bellweather as the demand side, that's the amount of money being wagered on horseracing, has plummeted and with less and less horses being bred that only means less product to be offered. Not the ideal situation but when you have morons in control of the sport that's what you get after 20 years.

Contraction or "downsizing" in a normal industry is a good thing. Shrink overhead, consolidate and boost revenue. Not in an industry that survives off welfare though. Not much different than a pyramid scheme. This industry is expanding off state funding. What happens when that plug is pulled? We've seen it a few times already. Imagine it across the board.

[AgentQ]

I was responding in the context of what is presently in place. To be frank, the sport would be insolvent in a month without the handouts by the various governments. Everyone with an IQ over 50 understands that Mike. What strikes me is even with the hand-outs, basically a lifeline, the morons in control of the sport still cannot get things sorted out. But rest assured the contraction will continue and you will see less than 5 major racetracks in all of North America within 3 years.

[Ignorance Is Bliss]

I was responding in the context of what is presently in place. To be frank, the sport would be insolvent in a month without the handouts by the various governments. Everyone with an IQ over 50 understands that Mike. What strikes me is even with the hand-outs, basically a lifeline, the morons in control of the sport still cannot get things sorted out. But rest assured the contraction will continue and you will see less than 5 major racetracks in all of North America within 3 years.

You nail where the problem exists with the morons in control. They're not stupid, they're protecting themselves. Control IS the operative word. Just look at who is in control, the top 2% of the industry. Perfect example is that track we won't name in Westchster County NY. 60 million a year in VLT subsidy and you need to be approved by the track to race there? That's state generated revenue and you need to be cleared by the race sec "track employee" to race there. Truth be told is yes the state is aware now, question is will they actually do anything about it. The little guy doesn't stand a chance when the money is being controlled by the wealth and power who they compete against.

[AgentQ]

Yonkers is Ontario 2.0 and it will eventually tumble and when it does it will not be rebuilt back. Just like Ontario circa early 2000's the purses got dispensed, mostly to the shady owners that employed trainers that would win at a ridiculous rate. Vets made a small fortune, farriers actually got paid and most trainers scratched out a decent living. Not one penny was earmarked to a committee or consulting firm to figure out a ten year plan how to drive handle or improve the quality of either the breeding side or the customer experience. Today in Ontario, you have Great Canadian running two of the four tracks into the ground and Woodbine Mohawk masquerading as a signature track. I see a very similar situation happening in real time at Yonkers and our guy in NJ doesn't give two shits about the sport regardless of what he says. It's all about getting the casino away from Atlantic city. Like I said, sport will be reduced to a fair-like atmosphere within 3-5 years if a major shake-up doesn't occur.

[hasbeen]

Great question! Let's answer it this way:

1986 (40 years ago) - Illinois harness meets

Hawthorne
Maywood
Sportsmans
Balmoral
Quad City Downs
Fairmount

2026:

?*
Purse checks from Hawthorne 2025 meets bounced, hence the question mark.

** 50 years ago, add in Aurora Downs, Washington Park, and a single meet at Arlington Park.
*** also consider the fact that the Hambletonian was run at DuQuoin from 1957-1980.

If it ain't dead, it barely has a pulse