Del Mar is running 6 days a week. They have been the house that “Bing Built” for as long as memory serves. They are cutting purses for the final days of racing that will conclude on September 3.

They are down 7%, and other tracks around the nation are down in the double digits. Racing is feeling the hurt in a big way. Horsemen are receiving 8 cents on every dollar wagered, and $4.75 on dollars wagered at sites like TVG. The average field sizes are down from 8.47 to 8.29.  So, what does this mean to you, the player? Racing is hurting, and there is only so much horse flesh to go around. Smaller fields, runners coming back sooner, and no time to rebuild your stash.

In the old days, there was some downtime. Not as many tracks, and not as many dates to wager. There was a time when players could build their bankroll and come back blazing at the windows. The horse flesh was not as drawn thin, and the chase for the big bucks has taken its toll on the game. The competition, the dates, the tracks, and the overlap has lead down a tough road. We need to take a step back, and not cut the purses anymore. The owners and trainers need this money to keep our sport alive. Cut back one day a week, and not only would you not have to cut purses, you may be able to show a small increase. Sound good? It sure does to me. This is where we need a national system overseeing dates, and making sure we have plenty of action to wager. This will also allow us to keep our game from facing cuts. When you hear this call, the horsemen suffer. And don’t forget, they bring the horses to the paddock. We need “Big Brother” watching over our sport.