Horse Racing Is Dead

$11,420,000,000 wagered divided by 50,600,000 fans means each fan is wagering $226 per year, $18 per month, Let's say $4.50 per weekend.  Hooray we're a success!  Is there a sport where less is spent on a weekly basis? Yep, horse racing is alive and well.  Nothing to see here, nothing to fix, let's move on to the next problem.  Seriously people! I have had enough of this bullshit where nothing needs to change because obviously everything is honky-dory.  Is horse racing the best industry it can be? Listen, VS might lose the hockey rights to ESPN, it sure would be nice to have a 4:30-6pm show every Saturday packed with 8-9 stakes races from around the country, but what the hell do I know.

Just Saying

The NFL is successful today because... it's based on socialism: Revenue Sharing.  Many years ago teams like the Giants, Redskins, big market teams who could have reaped more revenue than other teams went in w/ small market teams and got a better deal for everyone, and today they are the most successful, powerful, rich league in America. I'm not making it out that socialism is the best form of government or the best at anything.  It's far and away not a good system.  However sometimes, cooperation, negotiation, and big picture thinking can raise the sea for all boats.  Racing doesn't have this.  It will never have this.  Racing needs a model that everyone invests into.  We can't have the have's, the have-not's, the have's that don't really have, and the have-not's that are good at accounting.  So while it's futile pissing into the ccean or shoveling shit against the tide I'll put it out there one more time. It has now been 2.5 years since our Marketing Report and it's never been more important.  (I guess racing could get more bankrupt, but that happens everyday.) : Racing needs a plan everyone buys into, and that starts with Television.  A show on every Saturday 4:30-6 that covers 7 to 8 races from multiple tracks (who share revenue) from multiple categories.  The races are meaningful because points are earned that lead to gate choice in the Breeders Cup, and possibly extra money bonuses (if the advertising market comes back, which it's starting to do).  The owners are allowed advertising on the saddle cloths also split amongst all the shareholders. Why doesn't this happen? Unfortunately, I think I know.  No standings because that would put a very fine point on how good a horse is; and how could these farms market a 2 time starter who won their maiden against a horse who turned out to be a world beater.  Why no cooperation?  Because there is panic.  These track owners, horseman, everyone down the line protect their own pay check.  They see things getting worse, and they can't take a chance.  Recipe for disaster. Good luck everyone, I'll go back to the sidelines now.