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Post by trackrat on Apr 9, 2007 9:17:26 GMT -5
Northfield will discontinue its Wednesday racing card from April 25 through May 23. After that, they will return to racing four days a week. The 124 people who come to the track on Wednesday night can still bet the simulcast races during this dark period, no pun intended.
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Post by the believer on Apr 9, 2007 18:50:23 GMT -5
Trackrat , the Northfield site say's that Wed April 25th is an open early day ..get there before 2pm for free donuts(while supplies last)....with purses so low , better get there as they open the doors..one less day to race ..some may need a donut to get through till Friday
Did they do this in previous years , or instead of cutting purses ..they decided to cut days?
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Post by trackrat on Apr 9, 2007 22:57:37 GMT -5
Trackrat , the Northfield site say's that Wed April 25th is an open early day ..get there before 2pm for free donuts(while supplies last)....with purses so low , better get there as they open the doors..one less day to race ..some may need a donut to get through till Friday Did they do this in previous years , or instead of cutting purses ..they decided to cut days? I cannot remember them ever dropping Wednesday. They might be dropping them for the month because they raced an extra day (Tuesday) during the winter. |
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Post by thegiss on Apr 16, 2007 13:03:37 GMT -5
Trackrat , the Northfield site say's that Wed April 25th is an open early day ..get there before 2pm for free donuts(while supplies last)....with purses so low , better get there as they open the doors..one less day to race ..some may need a donut to get through till Friday Did they do this in previous years , or instead of cutting purses ..they decided to cut days? I cannot remember them ever dropping Wednesday. They might be dropping them for the month because they raced an extra day (Tuesday) during the winter. We have a winner |
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Post by luvtheturns on Apr 23, 2007 21:40:25 GMT -5
Hey Giss, What does Oct-Dec look like? I used the monthly menu and jumped ahead to those months only to notice no days highlighted. Will Northfield be dark for live racing, or are the actual days still up in the air? Thanks, Lovintheturns  |
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Post by thegiss on Apr 23, 2007 21:45:24 GMT -5
Hey Giss, What does Oct-Dec look like? I used the monthly menu and jumped ahead to those months only to notice no days highlighted. Will Northfield be dark for live racing, or are the actual days still up in the air? Thanks, Lovintheturns I will be updateing the fall calendar over the next week. Four Days until beginning of November; Tuesdays return November 6 |
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Post by luvtheturns on Apr 24, 2007 7:43:31 GMT -5
Great news and thanks! I was really hoping you would not be dark for 3 months. I would have gone crazy!
later.
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Post by thegiss on Apr 24, 2007 10:29:58 GMT -5
Great news and thanks! I was really hoping you would not be dark for 3 months. I would have gone crazy! later. Three months would be way too long to be dark, BUT let me ask your opinions. Would a short closure...say a month...help or hurt you as players? From a promotions standpoint, the idea od a closing night and an openign night give me two built-in promos. Plus, if we were dark, we could open early for simul every day. I think it owul dhelp the purse pool and our patrons bankrolls, but I am interested in your input. Thanks, as always. |
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Post by jimhorseman on Apr 24, 2007 20:32:33 GMT -5
Keith:
An opinion from an out of towner who wagers Northfield only via a track simulcast.
I think closing even for a short period of time is a negative. I am at the track virtually every Friday and a majority of the Saturdays. For me, handicapping and wagering has become almost a habit or routine. I would think many others feel the same way. If you give people a month or longer off they may find other ways to fill their weekends or primary wagering night. Much like other regular activities (dieting, exercise for example) once you stop even for a short period of time it is sometimes hard to start up again. If you have people hooked, don't give them excuses or opportunity to find other activities to substitute.
Again, as a personal example due to an illness in my family I had to take several weeks off in March earlier this year. I really missed watching and wagering the first week - I couldn't wait to get home and go over the results. The second week I also missed the wagering but waited until the next morning to check results. The third week I didn't think to look at the entries in advance as I usually do. When the obligation passed I was asking myself whether to take another week off or get back into it. Fortunately, I'm back full force now but if I had a few more weeks without racing maybe I would have broken; for lack of a better word as it has a negative vibe, the habit.
Another note - I am primarily a Northfield wagerer because many years ago the Buffalo/Batavia circuit decided to close in our brutal winter months. Looking for something other to wager on I "discovered" Northfield and now have all but abandoned betting on my home track. Would others find a different track to bet regularly in the short absence of Northfield? Already on this board suggestions are being asked to replace the 4-5 weeks of missing Wednesdays so it doesn't take long.
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Post by BlackWater on Apr 24, 2007 21:45:46 GMT -5
Keith: Would others find a different track to bet regularly in the short absence of Northfield? Already on this board suggestions are being asked to replace the 4-5 weeks of missing Wednesdays so it doesn't take long. I agree with you, Jim. Since we lost Tuesday nights at NF I have been spending time at other tracks, and will find a way to spend my Wednesday evenings elsewhere when we lose that night as well. Perhaps The Giss (and the board of directors) should consider spending a few bucks on promotional events to raise attendance and interest? It may help to put the lights back on a few more nights a week.......... BW |
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Post by moondog33 on Apr 26, 2007 11:28:25 GMT -5
Perhaps The Giss (and the board of directors) should consider spending a few bucks on promotional events to raise attendance and interest? It may help to put the lights back on a few more nights a week..........
Yea I agree. Keep your Regulars happy and add more promo's for newbies that is the key to success in this ever changing world. Don't change and you will soon you will find yourself out of business as fans find other venues for their gambling $$$$
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Post by jay44224 on Apr 26, 2007 13:06:21 GMT -5
Just an opinion for what it's worth (maybe 2 cents). This is based on some wierd assumptions I have and most would probably disagree. But if these theories hold any water at all it is something to consider.
1) Assume people budget their (gambling/entertainment dollars) so a night out will be have a person saying I am willing to wager x dollars on the night.
2 ) Assume people are very busy in todays society so entertainment (free) time is at a premium.
3) Assume that a majority of potential racetrack patrons only have one night a week to possibly go to the track.
Now with those assumptions a person who watches and wagers on track every Tuesday because that is his or her free night - no longer spends that x amount of dollars- they would probably spend it if there was a small card maybe 9 races and the last race was completed by
10:00 PM
Now if that assumption is also correct if the cards were reduced on the weekend and the lower priced conditions moved back to midweek - a return to a stronger weekend card would evolve and the dollars that would be spent on the weekend- would be maintained during the weekwith less expense as more races would be wagered during daylight hours.
Also I understand the simulcast commitments - to a certain point- but it is the on track handle that is what is important- many gamblers I know prefer to now stay home as the delays in the races bore them at the track- options to fill the time to the patron are are have a hot Dog- maybe a beer- bet another track - which should not be an option- keep the dollars home.
Just a thought Where can people pay $4.50 for a bottle of beer or $4.50 for a measured mixed drink. Several responses come to mind an overpriced meat market night club - the kind that do not stay in business once the fad wears off. Maybe the Jake or Quicken Loans Arena where people usually only get to take their families once a year or others are being entertained by some salesman. Another may be a cruise ship or Vacation resort where those who save all year for vacation will spend the inflated charges.
A person goes to the track to wager- what is the draw- hopefully it is the product (races) why should he/she pay more for a beer or hot dog than he/she would at any watering hole. So if time is dragging to get to the later races and it is to costly to have a few better off to just go home . Then you would not have to deal with Northfield's finest and that ridiculas speed limit- (hell it is legal for a horse to travel faster than a person driving though town)
Everyone wants to know what the secret is to getting people to the track- don't ask the ones who still go they are diehards- pull out the old mailing lists and send the ones who no longer frequent a questioneer with an offer for a free dinner coupon with the return of the filled out questioneer.
Also going back to not having dark days -is it the number of races that limit how many race dates one gets. Can one get more dates if the cards had less races and the pusre payout for the year remained the same?
I myself a person who loves racing is going to the track less and less- and it is not that I do not enjoy racing I love it- But I have only so much time I can dedicate. I used to go to the track every time I had a horse race no matter what post or race- I no longer go if the horse is in a race later than the 8th. I will watch the replay in the morning. Since I took this approach it has made it easier for me to also ship a horse to another locale and race for more money.
I try to stay very upbeat about everything about horse racing. It is not the people who complain each and every day about something wrong that peaks my interest- it is the ones who do not complain- and just stop going.
To expand our markets in the future we must groom the children- like bowling centers do today. They actually Bus kids in after school. Did someone say field trip on Qualifier days.
Does a family take a child to the track knowing that the kid will be bored if the action drags- I dread when I take the grandchildren - although they always ask to go-
It is hard to turn a ship that is making money although in jeopardy for fear in the short term you may sink if you try
Just some ramblings to ponder
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Post by BlackWater on Apr 26, 2007 23:02:33 GMT -5
Good food for thought, Jay.
I'd love to see Northfield get back to the way it was when my Dad would take me out there as a boy of 6-7. I don't remember ever getting bored - I just watched the horses warm up while Dad was poring over the program. He'd bet two bucks on the horse I picked just because I thought it was the coolest looking horse! I remember a blue roan I picked won him some serious bucks!
I think my kids would enjoy an evening at the track, and I would take them along with me if it wouldn't be for the late hour getting home. Maybe a shorter card - 9 or 10 races - like you said, would allow more people to come out and have fun and get home at a decent hour so they can get up and go to work in the morning.
A shorter night would work better, I think for a lot of people involved. The track staff and employees could make more time for thier families and get more done during the day when not at work, and the horsemen could get another hour or so of sleep before getting up at the crack to tend thier charges. And my kids could go to the track with me and still get to bed in time to wake up for school the next day!
The price of concessions could drop a little as well - like you said - $4.50 for a beer is a little steep when I can stay home and wager from my computer and drink $.45 beers all night, and have an entire pantry to raid for food at a small fraction of what a burger and fries would cost me there.
I'm rambling on, and it's getting late. This was supposed to be a quick note of support for all who want to see Northield Park continue to provide entertainment and employment, and contribute to the sport of harness racing.
BW
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