More evidence harness racing is thriving

[rainman2]

Harness racing is only thriving because of handouts. If you take those away everyone would be racing for nothing. This is a charity not an industry at this point. In 1998 the handle for all of horse racing was 628 million and in 2024 it was under 90 million. Harness racing is thriving like refrigerators in trailer parks with ebt cards.

It’s only surviving because of slots and VLT’S!  Far from thriving!

Look at Monticello. I believe they took the VLT’S out at the track because they were conflicting with their other property.

Look at Tioga-looks like less purse money and cheaper horses too!

Saratoga-greedy horsemen with more dates so you race for less money every week. The track opens too soon February and closes too late-the week before Christmas.

Yonkers-read the posts for yourselves here on plop. Draw your own conclusions!

[Kole Hanover]

Nine trainers this year have earned 50K or more from their 5%.
Thriving 

 50k made from their 5% in only 5 months, plus training fees + many own a percentage of their racing stock also.
 Alot of them have only raced for 2-3 months this year, the summer racing season is just starting to ramp up & big money in the fall too.
 A couple of mine are about to qualify at the Meds, only had minimal starts so far this year, I'm sure others are in the same boat.

 

[Harness racer]

To me, thriving means more barns are turning a profit than are not.  That is simply not true.  The top 5% of barns are getting rich.  The next 20% are making a nice living and below that they are fighting to stay above water.  That is far from thriving.  And I get this topic is just to get a reaction out of people, but some actually believe this is someone’s actual opinion on the game.  If the casino deals ever disappear, we will see the true state of the game.

[G]

50k made from their 5% in only 5 months, plus training fees + many own a percentage of their racing stock also.
 Alot of them have only raced for 2-3 months this year, the summer racing season is just starting to ramp up & big money in the fall too.
 A couple of mine are about to qualify at the Meds, only had minimal starts so far this year, I'm sure others are in the same boat.

[Pacer 2]

50k made from their 5% in only 5 months, plus training fees + many own a percentage of their racing stock also.
 Alot of them have only raced for 2-3 months this year, the summer racing season is just starting to ramp up & big money in the fall too.
 A couple of mine are about to qualify at the Meds, only had minimal starts so far this year, I'm sure others are in the same boat.

   

[Pacer 2]

It’s only surviving because of slots and VLT’S!  Far from thriving!

Look at Monticello. I believe they took the VLT’S out at the track because they were conflicting with their other property.

Look at Tioga-looks like less purse money and cheaper horses too!

Saratoga-greedy horsemen with more dates so you race for less money every week. The track opens too soon February and closes too late-the week before Christmas.

Yonkers-read the posts for yourselves here on plop. Draw your own conclusions!

        Yonkers is RAISING purses!  DUUUUHH!     Harness Racing is absolutely thriving!   The reasons why are a totally different discussion.

[Brown jug]

pacer 2 , you are correct sir
 also lets be honest , depends which end of the stick you are on
if you are racing at the low level b tracks of course it is tough
 if you invested a reasonable amount of capital and are racing at the major tracks ( ex the big m ) and i9n upcoming sires stakes you are likely doing fine

[seen2much]

   Delaware and Indiana have pretty nice purses.

Harrington & Hoosier average purse is around 10K.
Idiot!!!

[ScrapeThePaint]

Harrington & Hoosier average purse is around 10K.
Idiot!!!

What's wrong with 10k average purses? Have you seen the purses at Mont & Vernon?! you come in 2nd for a 10k purse, you're getting $2500 and so forth. Money can be made by classifying your horses correctly.

[seen2much]

What's wrong with 10k average purses? Have you seen the purses at Mont & Vernon?! you come in 2nd for a 10k purse, you're getting $2500 and so forth. Money can be made by classifying your horses correctly.

Nothing wrong but not THRIVING!!!

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Semantics aside, but I don't see the sport thriving at all. Ironic, because some of the premier breeders are, but that is business, tax law, and accounting driven. They'll get theirs one day. As far as any track that is-----even close to-----thriving, if it's true, it is simply the exception. Certainly not the norm.

[Kenny]

Oops another person wrongly using the term "handouts"
those "handouts " were a negotiated settlement that casinos happily paid to gain  entry to casino through racetracks, it was a sweet deal for them, what they pay to harness racing is a insignificant amount from their earnings

additionally any money that might come from governments is approved and has had some economic impact study behind it, for example the governments feel that the trickle down effect of any money contributed to harness racing is beneficial by allowing farms, blacksmiths, vets, grooms trainers  etc to earn a living and pay taxes, they feel this is better than putting these people out of work and having them collect unemployment

This is misinformation. Casinos exist because people wanted them. The casino companies used the racing industry to get in the door then the racing industry sold out top them. The casino companies do not racing and will close it down when they get the chance. The "agreement" is just a government created handout which the government can unilaterally end it at any time. Well over 80% of the purses in Pennsylvania are funded by government not customers. Pass decoupling and the casino companies would close racing so fast you would not be able to blink. End the government handouts and the industry would be looking in dumpsters to eat and feed the horses. The industry has turned it back on the customers so I welcome the day the state legislators start turning of the supply of free money.

[Justwatchingtheraces]

This is misinformation. Casinos exist because people wanted them. The casino companies used the racing industry to get in the door then the racing industry sold out top them. The casino companies do not racing and will close it down when they get the chance. The "agreement" is just a government created handout which the government can unilaterally end it at any time. Well over 80% of the purses in Pennsylvania are funded by government not customers. Pass decoupling and the casino companies would close racing so fast you would not be able to blink. End the government handouts and the industry would be looking in dumpsters to eat and feed the horses. The industry has turned it back on the customers so I welcome the day the state legislators start turning of the supply of free money.

Well said but the industry is thriving according to the trainers and owners. I think  the horse racing industry and the post office use the same business plan

[rainman2]

        Yonkers is RAISING purses!  DUUUUHH!     Harness Racing is absolutely thriving!   The reasons why are a totally different discussion.

Yonkers also cuts them when many of the tracks close later in the year too!

Even Buffalo Raceway with a short meet recently cut its purses 5%!

[Kenny]

Well said but the industry is thriving according to the trainers and owners. I think  the horse racing industry and the post office use the same business plan

"Thriving" on government handouts. When much less that 20% of the purses is coming from the customers, that is not "thriving", that is a house of cards. I hope I see the day when the handouts are eliminated and the industry has to offer customer a product they want.