Patronage at Northfield Literally Dying

[trackrat]

The Trackrat went to Northfield last Tuesday night and was surprised that there was a buffet laid out in the track restaurant, since patronage on a Tuesday night is usually just a handful of people in the upstairs clubhouse. Turned out that it was a planned gathering of Nestle company people (Stouffer's), a nice turnout of perhaps 100 people.

One of the handful of regulars that I sit near at the TV carrels adjacent to restaurant area lamented that the "rookies will be creating a lot of noise tonight, rooting for their 2-5 favorites." But, this regular was wrong. Very little attention paid by these folks to the action on the track. It was a social event for them. By 9:00 PM, they were all gone. No one stayed to see the races.

Now, back to my area. The waitress approached me and asked me if I remembered a guy who used to sit behind me, a guy with emphysema and an oxygen tank. I said "yes" and she said, he died yesterday. Then she told me of another regular from this seating area who was in the hospital in bad shape.

I'm in my early 60s and I am the YOUNGEST person sitting in this area, which, by the way, is the best place to watch the live racing. You can see all the maneuvering from an elevated vantage point. Anyway, the regular patronage in this area is literally dying out and there are no new patrons on the horizon.

This fact coincides with a story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer today which quotes someone as acknowledging that the tracks HAVE to do something to attract new patrons to racing, since video poker terminals will not be the solution to declining track revenue.

I think the track needs to use the creativity of the late Bill Veeck to get folks to the track, for any reason at all, and then cultivate and nurture their patronage once they get there. Some thoughts:

- Wet T-shirt contest or bikini tan contest in the summer [the Meadows did this a few times]
- Battle of the bands on dark nights
- Lure the Friday night Mr. Chicken car rally people over to the track
- For single women: win a date with an unmarried driver
- Return of the World Series of Handicapping contest

[gtapp]

I agree with you, Track, some of your ideas are really good and I would think doable.

I was surprised, in the article, that simulcast brings in some more more revenue then live racing. Not wonder they want to give up Sat live racing for the wagering of the triple crown.

Today's PD article is below with the update on slots. I don't know if slots are the complete answer but if the proceeds go toward the purses it would sure help to make us more competitive with the Meadows and other tracks that have the slots.

People want to gambe. There are 4 new internet cafe's from Northfield down Broadway to Libby. They are all jamed all the time. Hopefully the women would play the slots and the men the horses (hopefully)


Allowing slots would be a shot in the arm for Ohio tracks: Horse Racing InsiderPublished: Friday, February 18, 2011, 6:00 AM
By D'Arcy Egan, The Plain Dealer


Ohio track owners, horsemen and the rest of the industry believe electronic gambling will help level the playing field with neighboring states, but it won't cure all that ails the industry.
Ohio's once-grand sport of horse racing continued its downward spiral in 2010, with wagering on live and simulcast racing falling 10.3 percent at the seven Buckeye State tracks.

There is a chance the industry could get a shot in the arm soon, though, with Gov. John Kasich planning to decide this spring if video lottery terminals, or slots, should be allowed at the tracks in 2011.

While Kasich hasn't been eager to talk about slots for race tracks, or the horse-racing industry in general, he reportedly wants to wait until new Ohio State Racing Commission members are appointed before dealing with the slots issue.

The terms of ORC members Gerald Holland of Cuyahoga Falls, Tom Zaino of Columbus and Jerry Chabler of Sylvania end March 31. Other ORC members are Chairman William Koester of Cincinnati and Ted Brown of Tipp City. The four-year term of Executive Director Tom Fries Jr. expires June 30.

Ohio track owners, horsemen and the rest of the industry have been seeking the form of electronic gambling to help level the playing field with neighboring states that offer a combination of horse racing and casino gambling. The arrival of slots would not be the salvation of Ohio horse racing, said Fries.

"The slots are not a silver bullet," said Fries. "While the slots could generate some revenue, the industry is going to have to do a better job of marketing itself to get people back in the stands. My grandparents used to get all dressed up and head to Lebanon Raceway on Saturday night to watch the harness racing. It was the big social event of the week for them, and for us as we got older.

"We've got to get a younger crowd interested in horse racing, people in their 20s, 30s and 40s."

Northfield Park was the healthiest of Ohio tracks in 2010, showing only a 3.3 percent drop in wagering. The harness racing track generated $15.5 million in betting on 213 live racing dates and $39 million on simulcast racing, a total of $54.5 million.

Thistledown's 122 live racing dates brought $7.6 million in wagering, while simulcast bettors pushed $50.6 million through the windows, for a total of $58.2 million.

"Northfield Park is working its butt off at horse racing," said Fries. "The track is putting on some good racing, and a pretty good show. Simulcasting their races around the country helps to drive their profits. The track hardly ever closes, despite the bitter winter weather in northern Ohio."

The biggest betting slump of 2010 came at Cincinnati's River Downs, which declined 15.7 percent on $39.9 million in live and simulcast wagering.

Thoroughbred racing overall recorded a 12.8 percent drop to $124.6 million in wagering, compared to harness racing's 7.8 percent decline to $128.6 million.

The $253.2 million bet at Ohio tracks in 2010 is a dramatic drop from the $596 million wagered in 2001. Admission figures can't be compared, with most tracks offering free admission for simulcast racing and for most of their live cards.

Reitz at Cedar Downs: Northfield Park is trying to boost the action at its Cedar Downs off-track betting parlor in Sandusky, naming Brett Reitz to oversee the facility this year.

The former general manager at Thistledown, Reitz said he's impressed with Cedar Downs and wants to expand the Northfield Player Rewards Program and other promotions there.


Posting the wins: Dan Noble is the leading driver at Northfield Park this winter, notching 84 victories for a comfortable lead over Elliott Deaton (42) and Kurt Sugg (39). Right behind are Aaron Merriman (38) and Dan Carlino (29), who are doing double duty as they race at both Northfield and The Meadows in Washington, Pa. Merriman is ranked eighth in the country with 69 wins overall.

Wall of Fame: Seven nominees for the Northfield Park Wall of Fame have been added, with winners to be honored at the annual Wall of Fame Dinner at the track on April 7.

Included are the late Elmer Moody, longtime security chief at the track; three-time driving champ Greg Grismore; trainers Marty Wollam and Tye Loy; 2002 Northfield Horse of the Year Cam's Valentine; Canadian Hall of Famer Dream of Glory, a trotter undefeated in five Northfield Park starts for breeder Leo Soehnlen of Canton; and two-time Battle of Lake Erie champ Maltese Artist.


Uncle Mo at Tampa Bay: The Kentucky Derby is almost three months down the road, but thoroughbred fans are already talking about the May 7 classic.

That could be because undefeated and very, very early Derby favorite Uncle Mo is likely to begin his sophomore season in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 12. A bay son of Indian Charlie, Uncle Mo was bred by Dr. D. Michael Cavey of Respite Farm in Paris, Ky.

Winner of three starts as a 2-year-old, Uncle Mo is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won last year's Kentucky Derby with Super Saver. The early line on Uncle Mo has him the 4-1 favorite in this year's Run for the Roses.

[thegiss]

Win a date with an unmarried driver would end badly. Trust me.

Mr Chicken actually approached Northfield about sponsorship a couple years back. They were told their product did not fit in with what Nfld was trying to promote.

There is a tendency to dismiss anything out of the box these days, a trend that has been magnifying for years. Nine years ago I proposed a Handicapping Idol competition to find a new on-air handicapper. Had a trip to LA and shift on TVG set up as part of the grand prize,along with a guarantee of one shift a week for two years on air.. Put a ton of work into it and the rest of the promotions staff loved it. Top management informed me that American Idol was a fad and would not last so they were not going to do it.

In a bad business climate, you need to be innovative, not run scared. Imho, the most innovative individual to work at Northfield over the last several year is no longer an employee. There is no outside the box thinking, nor is it encouraged.

Not sour grapes here, simple facts. It actually looks that by end of April, I will have more work from a number of sources than I can handle and will be making as much, if not more money, than i was.

[gtapp]

Good to hear the offers are coming your way. You deserve it. They say one door shuts and another one opens.

I sure wish someone would look at what is going on with some imagination. How about a name that horse competition. Names are submitted each week for maybe a month. Names are voted on and top three each week go into finals. Winners are voted from all finals and the
winner will have a horse named accordingly as well as a voucher for $300 play. (and I loved your American Idol version)

Miss you on air. Eyers is a great announcer. A handicapper- not so much.

[trackrat]

Gtapp, do you remember when the Lake County News Herald used to have a "Name the Horse" contest, using one of the Osborne stable's yearlings? The winner either got to keep the horse or share in the horse's winnings?

[darkside07]

Lots of good stuff here, can't agree more. Used to be if you weren't in your seat by 6:15, you didn't get a seat. Now maybe 4-6 people (on the grandstand side). Last week when the toteboard finally shut down completly, a couple of every weekend patrons moved to the last three tv's in the top row. Some one was there to collect in 5 minutes. That shouldn't have happened with the toteboard out, you anger 3 customers for nine lousy dollars.

The Clubhouse is overpriced by 15% at least, no way the buffet is worth $20, should be $13-14 at most. I see Maywood has a Prime Rib special every Friday for $8.95. I'd get that every week if NFLD offered that. Instead I eat before getting to the track to save $20. Just because you have your customers trapped doesn't mean you have to overcharge for everything, that's how you lose your customers (empty clubhouse).

[darkside07]

And don't get me started on the 7:?? first race post time. You advertise 7:00, start at 7:00. It's ridiculous for 13 races to start at 7:00 and end at 11:45.

[gtapp]

Sure don't remember that. Must have been a while back.

How did that promotion work out. Sounds like a good one.

[gtapp]

Agree with your comments dark, Why not free TV use and free parking weekends. Mountaineer doesn't charge for TV's and it works out great. (if nothing else free tv's on Mon, Tue and Wed)

[trackrat]

Feb 18, 2011 16:03:21 GMT -5 darkside07 said:

The Clubhouse is overpriced by 15% at least, no way the buffet is worth $20, should be $13-14 at most. I see Maywood has a Prime Rib special every Friday for $8.95. I'd get that every week if NFLD offered that. Instead I eat before getting to the track to save $20. Just because you have your customers trapped doesn't mean you have to overcharge for everything, that's how you lose your customers (empty clubhouse).

Northfield needs to close the clubhouse restaurant and lease it out to someone who knows something about running an eatery. Last night, Friday night, there was no buffet. Of course, there were no fans in the clubhouse either. Were there no fans in the restaurant because the food is overpriced and sucks, or was there no buffet because there were no fans? What came first, the chicken or the egg. Last year, Northfield made a big deal about the new Lady Luck restaurant. Where is it? It's the same food, the same decor and the same overpricing. It does not become a new restaurant or dining experience just by printing new menus.

[hundredtowin]

Does NFLD contract the clubhouse and concessions out or do they handle it in-house. I have lost touch in the past few years, I remember when SportService handled it way back when?

Do you think that NFLD could get a decent crowd in the Clubhouse if they had great food and service?

I have been going there for 25 years but rely on my computer starting about 5 years ago, just wondering what everyone thinks.

[trackrat]

I guarantee you that if Northfield had an Applebee's franchise inside the track, they would have plenty of restaurant business.

[thegiss]

Feb 19, 2011 16:41:41 GMT -5 hundredtowin said:

Does NFLD contract the clubhouse and concessions out or do they handle it in-house. I have lost touch in the past few years, I remember when SportService handled it way back when?

Do you think that NFLD could get a decent crowd in the Clubhouse if they had great food and service?

I have been going there for 25 years but rely on my computer starting about 5 years ago, just wondering what everyone thinks.

Sportservice has been gone close to 15 years. Gkladieaux ran things for several years and now all food service is run in-house and has been for several years.

[jimhorseman]

Trackrat:

Nice to see that a good topic will still generate interesting conversation on the board. Here in Buffalo we do have a combination of slot machines and live racing. Until this past summer both facilities were in the same building. In August the slot machines were moved to a self enclosed building perhaps a quarter mile from the grandstand/live racing. I was sure this was the end of any live public participation in the racing end of the relationship.

I am happy to report I was wrong. The crowds in the clubhouse for live racing are similiar to what they were when the slot machines were a staircase away. While not overwhelming there are a core 200 - 300 people milling around the clubhouse on the weekends which gives the place some atmosphere. For better or worse those people do support the local product. Buffalo races quickly with a 6:40 p.m. first post. Unlike some tracks I support (cough, ahem, Northfield, cough) Buffalo starts at 6:40 sharp and runs 13 races in about 3 hours. Five minutes after the final at Buffalo is posted, 90% of the people get up and leave. At 10 p.m. the same 15 - 20 of us remain to bet the remainder of the simulcast card. We now of course all know each other by name. Truth be told that is my favorite 2 hours of the evening in that the clubhouse is quiet and the ones who remain are either:
A) real fans with an honest knowledge of the sport
B) gambling degenerates
C) a combination of A and B

For those who are wondering how to attract new fans and a younger crowd take a road trip to Tioga Downs located on the New York and Pennsylvainia border about halfway across the state. Numerous fun promotions, child friendly activites, having meet and greets with trainers & drivers, outdoor carvinals with amusement park rides, concerts, fireworks, handicapping seminars, low priced buffet with great view of finish line etc they work hard and do it right. Jeff Gural runs the track and I would love to see what he could do if his plan to take over The Meadowlands is successful. In my opinion Gural gives a blueprint that would be successful at virtually all racing venues.

[thegiss]

Let's talk about post times and length to run a program. I know you guys dislike what Northfield does but A)If Buffalo has it right and Northfield doesn't, why does Northfield handle about 3-4x what they do per card and B) Why are so many other tracks imtitating Northfield?

Staying off other tracks and dragging has been proven to make good business sense. We come on here and question Northfield management for the things they have done wrong, but simply put, they have this one right. Don't have to like it, but that's the way it is.