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Post by jay44224 on Jul 22, 2009 7:56:22 GMT -5
Keith - I was recently told that Northield Park has lost it's spot as the best handled half mile track in the U.S.
It was insinuated that Yonkers has caught and even surpassed Northfield in handle. This was done not only by Yonkers growing but by Northfield losing market share.
My question is - if this is true what does Northfield attribute this shift in market share. I know some business has been lost to the economy- no argument there, but for a place that handled twice as much as another to now be even or trailing has to be alarming and someone has had to take notice.
Can they reverse this trend?
Slots may be the answer to increase purses - but slots will not change the handle at the racetrack, Just My opinion.
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Post by trackrat on Jul 22, 2009 10:15:33 GMT -5
Jay, this might be a good question for Giss to ask everyone on this board, particularly those of us who have curtailed our Northfield betting and shifted our wagering to other tracks.
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Post by thegiss on Jul 22, 2009 11:01:19 GMT -5
Keith - I was recently told that Northield Park has lost it's spot as the best handled half mile track in the U.S. It was insinuated that Yonkers has caught and even surpassed Northfield in handle. This was done not only by Yonkers growing but by Northfield losing market share. My question is - if this is true what does Northfield attribute this shift in market share. I know some business has been lost to the economy- no argument there, but for a place that handled twice as much as another to now be even or trailing has to be alarming and someone has had to take notice. Can they reverse this trend? Slots may be the answer to increase purses - but slots will not change the handle at the racetrack, Just My opinion. Based on the numbers I have seen, Yonkers is a closer second, but still behind us, but not gonna argue it either way. I think the reasons Yonkers is more bettable are obvious, with the increased purses and better quality stock. I also disagree with your premise that slots do not increase handle at the racetrack. They do if the track continues to promote live racing and serves a decent cup of coffee. Delaware did not. W Va does not, imo. Pennsylvania does not, imo, although Pompano and maybe the Meadows are better than the others. Why has Yonkers started handling more? Slot fueled purses, combined with huge "special events (Levy for example) attarct attention,as do overnight purses. With the purses up, horsemen have flocked there and the quality of racing and stock (less line-ups) has increased. Their TV signal is actually viewable now. All those things combine to inprove handle. Meanwhile, due to our purse structure, we race cheaper, less formful stock and have on some nights a dirving colony that is difficult to figure, as they go to the tracks that do have slot-enhanced purses. With the vast majority of money being bet from remote locations, other options become better. Additionally, we set records in handle every single year from the time simulcasting started until 2006. We have had two down years and are in the midst of a third. I am not sure there would have been critical mass to sustain the growth. There may be other reasons which I am not at liberty to discuss, as well, concerning our visibility to the consumer. |
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Post by jay44224 on Jul 22, 2009 13:05:03 GMT -5
Record simulcast growth through 2006 is quite an accomplishment, and one I am sure would have had to have a flat year or a loss sooner or later. Was a drop this drastic and this prolonged foreseen? In retrospect could anything have been done different to minimize the lose of market share.
Any changes being considered in wagering formats being considered that may bring some more dollars in. What exotic wagers produce the most handle?
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Post by thegiss on Jul 22, 2009 13:17:57 GMT -5
Record simulcast growth through 2006 is quite an accomplishment, and one I am sure would have had to have a flat year or a loss sooner or later. Was a drop this drastic and this prolonged foreseen? In retrospect could anything have been done different to minimize the lose of market share. Any changes being considered in wagering formats being considered that may bring some more dollars in. What exotic wagers produce the most handle? Jay, in as much as I am still employed at Northfield Park, (at least for now ;D) I will answer yes to your questions in the first paragraph, but cannot go into detail. As to the second paragraph, the question I posted last night should tell you that we are indeed looking at some changes that may start as soon as the next meet. Trifectas and exactas are the most popular exotics, Followed by Supers and Pick Threes and Pick Fours (I need to double check this-- super handle is consistent, multi race wagers not so much). I spend more on a trip to Trader Joes than we handle ont he Pick 5, even with wine at $3-5 a bottle. |
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Post by jay44224 on Jul 22, 2009 13:49:35 GMT -5
Thank you for your response. I will look forward to see the upcoming changes, I would not cry if Northfield eliminated the pick 5 and replaced it with a pk3 or even a rolling pk3.
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Post by trackrat on Jul 22, 2009 15:12:29 GMT -5
They do if the track... serves a decent cup of coffee. That's the problem, right there!! |
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Post by thegiss on Jul 22, 2009 15:24:53 GMT -5
They do if the track... serves a decent cup of coffee. That's the problem, right there!! Believe it or not there is actually a change coming. You guys may think I ignore your comments, but that is only true some of the time ;D |
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Post by jay44224 on Jul 22, 2009 18:18:07 GMT -5
I do not know if you ignore my comments, but I am pretty confident my wife Ignores them.
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