We are spoiled by the constant ease of getting a bet down. We can go to the track, head off to the O.T.B., or get online. It is easier than it ever was back in the day. But, there were many good days back then that lead up to where we are now.

Joe is an everyday player. He is 84-years-old. He loves to smoke his Swisher Sweets, and eat chocolates during the day. His pals join in everyday, and he loves to talk about the old days. His days from Youngstown, Ohio.

Joe raised his family of five, and worked in a sheet metal shop. He went to church every Sunday, the way his wife Sara wanted things to be. But on Saturday afternoon, well, that was a different thing…..

Joe would venture up to Sal’s barber and shave. No need for a haircut. It was the place that had a backroom door where he would take a trip. Sometimes to Florida, sometimes to New York, and sometimes to California… Wherever Joe went, he was home by 5:30 to have dinner with the family.

Sal’s had a backroom that would accommodate 100 or so gents. There was four or five tables where locals would come and play five card stud and pinochle. There were four large table that had Daily Racing Forms on them to read. A huge walnut carved bar served as a multi-task station of bar and a place where you get a ham sandwich or piece of chicken. It was heaven on earth… In the corner was Tony Arcolla. He was Deputy Mayor five days a week, and a bookie on weekends. Tony sold the tickets on upcoming races and his sons paid you right off to the side.

There was a loudspeaker system that played the stretch call for various races from around the country.  It was the old “wire” system, and the fun never stopped. You would hear yells and hollering for two minutes, and quiet for the next few. The action was non-stop…. You could collect as soon as the race paid off and the results were announced.

So, as Joe looked at me, he unwrapped a candy. He told me that we just polished the game a bit. It has always been going in some fashion, but now we have video images that bring the races right to you. The game has evolved, the technology has grown, and the system is ever changing. He just smiled, and went back to reading his form. He said, “Tony would have loved this.” The new game has put some books out of business, and some have been created for the guys who bet on the cuff (money owed). Overall, it is pretty much the same. Action all day long, and you can still make it home for dinner…..

For years, I have been to focus groups where we sit behind a shaded pane of glass, and listen to people give reactions about racing. This is a way where they will be likely to give a true answer, not knowing if anyone is behind the glass, or if it is being taped.

I have heard, and learned some wonderful things behind the looking glass. It gave me the option of being invisible, and people will answer more in depth to questions they may have dodged if you were in the room. Here are some observations that I have seen behind the glass.

People overall trust the game of racing. They like the sport, but feel it is behind in many ways. They just want a fair deal in customer service. They would like to see the horses in the “secretive” barn area. Many would love to own a horse with people like themselves. For the most part, they want their kids with them when they go. They fear that the sport hides cruelty, and does not come forth with the truth. Many have wagered when their better-half thinks they have been elsewhere. Most have placed wagers with a bookie at some point.  Some would go more often if the races were held at night. Women love the game more than I thought. Older players love the idea of gathering at the track as a social event.

These multitude of ideas came from groups that were paid for telling their feelings. They may have received dinner at a nice establishment, or even money, as compensation… No matter, they told us what we needed to hear to prepare for the future. Here is something that caught me off guard.

Some fear slot machines will take away from the game, and this is why they would not support the efforts. Most felt that any kind of charitable gaming could jeopardize the future of the sport they love. This caught me, as I thought they would support gaming on any level. But, they loved racing more than I thought.

Funny thing, as I sat behind the glass anonymous to the group, I felt closer than ever to them. They had no fear of seeing a bad reaction, or watching management cringe when they made a suggestion.

In the times where money dictates what and how much we do, a man steps forward and bucks the trend. He is like a home-run hitter who will only show up for the playoffs and beyond.  A running back in the NFC championship game on his way to the Super Bowl. King James arriving for game seven at home. Oh, you get the idea… Only the ones that really count.

For 39-year-old Frankie Dettori, there will be no more riding til’ you drop. He instead has decided to ride ‘em in the big races, and the weekend stakes. Only the big races for him…..

Dettori decided that his title-chasing days were over after his brutal, 192-winner championship season in 2004. Since then, he has finished 15th, fifth, 17th and 29th in terms of winners. If the championship were based on prize-money, though, he would have finished 10th, first, first and second over the same period. He is still a great jockey riding at the peak of his powers, but he is doing it on his own terms.

By keeping focused and riding when he wants, we will get to see a rider, who is in incredible shape, ply his trade for some years to come. He is not focused on what others want from him, but rather what he wants to achieve. That is incredible as an athlete. To be able to pick and choose will keep him in the game. Sharper, ready, and dangerous… This guy is known for his flying dismount, and I think we will be seeing this for years to come.

I was always of the opinion that the more times you stepped in the batter’s box, the lower your average would be. The same goes for riders who keep pace with jocks half their age. I wonder what would we would have seen if: Chris McCarron, Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, and many others would have done this long ago.. Stevens comes to mind as rider who picked and chose late, but maybe the game would not have taken such a brutal toll. So, applaud Frankie. I applaud his discipline, and I think we will be applauding him to the winner’s circle for quite sometime.

Everyone likes a little candy. When we were a kid, we all sought the cookie jar. Nothing has changed as we have gotten older, and more than ever we look for something sweet to wager on.

Tuesdays can be a sparse day for finding tracks to play. I like to use the smaller circuits and find value where I can. Saratoga kicks up the next day, and we need to make hay while the sun is shining. So here are a few that deserve a good look before waiting for the bigger tracks.

Go to Race #3 at River Downs. The #1 Eagle Time is set to take flight. This 12-year-old horse is making his third start off a layoff, and comes in from Churchill Downs. That layoff was a lengthy five year vacation… But if you look at how he performed off the shelf, in conditioned 5,000 company, you will see he gave a strong account of himself.

He makes the drop into conditioned company, and draws the rail, where it has been rolling for a 19% win rate. Vernon Bush is aboard, and he is picky about just jumping on any runner. He has to be certain, or at least worked them in the morning.

In the 6th race, le’ts beat the chalk and take #4 Gold Medal Girl. This gal is 2/2 ITM at the River, and has the services of Jorge Bracho for Thomas Callahan. The dam of this runner was a stakes winner, and she has dropped 6 winners from 10 starters. Comes in fresh off a victory, and a win at this same distance. Things look good for her, and the favorite is trained by Joe Woodard. He is a white-hot-tough trainer this meet. But, he seems to be much better when his runners are making the drop down, versus going up the ladder. The price will be short, and the opportunity for value is there to be had.

So, get your data ready and look to fire away on a summer day at the River. I have always found that some of the biggest surprises come from the smallest tracks….

Good luck!

I was reading a very interesting article in the Star Tribune from this past weekend about Russell Baze at the Claiming Crown. I enjoyed all of the story, but I have to ask one question….

The article was written perfectly. It was informative, it caught my attention, and as a fan I have to say it was good material. All with the exception of asking Mr. Baze about the game. He said, “it needed to marketed differently.” This I couldn’t agree with more..

The problem with marketing is that it does not just fall on the shoulders of two or three people in that department. Everyone at the track is in marketing. Everyone that comes into contact with the public is in marketing. It is not based on just running radio and TV ads to give a quick fix. There needs to be an energetic atmosphere. People demand customer service on all levels, and rightfully so.

Let us begin at the parking gates. Let’s make it all free! Let’s have free valet to make everyday customers feel special and appreciated. Now, let’s move on to the turnstiles. Well, there are none… C’mon on in free, it is an honor to have you here.. Now, you have made it easy to enter, and these first two steps have gone the way of the dinosaur.

Let’s go get a program… Have cheerful people in place. Have them give details about how to get there, what they would need, and where they can get the best view. This gets players heading in the right direction. Nothing better so far, and it has not cost a dime….

At every window in the track, have happy people who want to place your bets and will help. Have plenty of beginner windows to make the experience of making a wager seem less stressful. Take away the fear, and replace it with good old fashioned patience. Nobody would ever balk at that. So far, the cost is nothing…

Now, everyone wants a beer and a dog, a soda or popcorn. Le’ts give it to them at a price that makes you feel like you can have quality eats without trading in your shoes…. Let them feel at home. Add this in with a clean environment, and they start feeling at home….. Sounding good yet?

After the race, have two or three riders who do not have a mount, meet in a location and pass out goggles t0 the kids and be available for questions… Get the players closer to the game. Have a farrier come out and show what they do.. This goes miles with people.. How about a track mascot who makes appearances on weekends for the kids? How about free ice cream for the first hundred kids to meet “Racetrack Robbie?”  Give them something to do.. Make it a family day at the races. The parents will return at a later date… I promise…

Now, we have taken care of the fan in a kind way. We have invited them in, given them a clean, economical environment, and have happy people to take care of their wagering needs. We even cater to first timers who come to the track. They finally have access to the stars who win on the horses, and we even keep kids entertained.

Well, now we can run radio and TV ads that draw people to a friendly place they call theirs. It all starts with everyone taking part. It does not fall upon the shoulders of a few. We need more than ever to come together as a team. This allows marketing to advertise the truth.  It is a place of entertainment, and we need to get it going right now. Mr. Baze you were right, but it falls upon the shoulders of many to ensure a balanced environment.

It is time… Summer is in full swing, and we will have two of the greatest tracks ever built ready to wager this time of year: Saratoga and Del Mar. But let’s start off right at the Spa and kick it into gear and plan ahead.

On Wednesday at Saratoga, begin with Race #2. Take a hard look at #9 Freedom Rings. Johnny V. is in the irons for David Donk..

This is a New York bred race on the turf.  This gal has been facing company outside of N.Y breds. I think the trip back to her group makes the play attractive. She has incredible ability to run on the turf, and her dam was a turf winner. She has dropped 5 turf winners, and has 8 starters who have won 6 times, with one a stakes winner. Not bad at all….

Her last start was in the Breeders’ Cup, and the drop in class should be a welcome home party. I think waiting for Saratoga was a plan a long time ago. You will want to use WinningPonies to find out where she fits in the tier levels. Use her and use her wisely. There is some money to made in the race, and the multi-race gimmicks.

She should be able to overcome the layoff, and turf runners have the ability to hold their form and come fresh to fire off the bench.

This is a few days away, but I want you to start thinking now. You can never plan ahead enough, and by the look of things, this may be a nice way to start the day off right… Just be sure to download your material. This is something I always remind you of, and for good reason. W/P holds their value and shines brightly when the good runners come out to play. Their numbers speak for themselves, and you need to trust even more for the marquee meets…..

Good luck. It is only a few days away!

Today started with a bright summer morning. Clouds quickly appeared, and rain was on the way. You could feel winds blowing, and today they were special winds of change.

Early this morning, a group of loved ones had been working with me for a get together. I made sure we had a program to commemorate the event, and announcements would be made by our track announcer detailing the folks of the group.

Many people came from near and far.  I met a couple from Ireland who were in their eighties. It was their first time at the track, and they commented on how beautiful it was. I was just hoping the rain would hold off just a little bit longer.

The pastor came in and we began. Today we talked about the life and the loves of Mike Currigan. He was eighty-three when God called him home. He loved coming to the races, and his final wish was to have his ashes scattered in the winner’s circle. He was among friends, and goes out a winner. It was at this time the clouds opened up, and it looked like the sky was crying. Good luck, Mr. Currigan……

Later in the day, an old friend of mine brought his new baby and wife to the track. It would be young Quinton’s first time at the races. He slept in grandma’s arms, and had the look of an angel. He was attending the races, but wasn’t going to be wagering today. He was with his father, and I would bet that he will be making many treks to the track over the years. I just hope I am lucky enough to see him grow to be a strong, young man. Today we were all winners, just sharing the day with Quinton…

The thoughts I drove home with were different than usual. Sometimes I replay races in my head, and think about how I could have done things differently or relish the winning day.

This drive would focus on the end of life, and the beginning. One went out just the way he wanted; surrounded by friends, and going to the place he chased for years: the winner’s circle.

Another showed me the beginning of the race. How precious life is, and how we should enjoy every moment along the way. We all come into the world not knowing our fate, and how long we will stick around. Just like racing, the uncertainty of the outcome made the trip all that more exciting.  At the end of the day, I smiled on the way home.  I’ll chalk this one up as a winner.

I love to play in contests.  Point blank…. I have no complaints about any.. If I don’t like the rules, then I don’t play. That doesn’t happen much for me, as I adapt to most formats. Here is an idea for contest enthusiasts.

Let’s have a mega contest…. Let us use Kentucky as an example. Each player will be asked to enter for $1000. You may use the $2 to win and place format with a cap of $42 and $22.. You will accumulate a bankroll which will accumulate from contest t0 contest. There will be a total of seven contests. This is an average of around $143 per contest. This is not bad for many players to pony up.

Here is the idea. We’ll call it the “The King of the Bluegrass.” There will be seven wagering contests.  The best part about this contest is that you can play at any Kentucky track, or online with a special hub to take wagers on the contest only. This will allow out of state players (where wagering is allowed) to play from the comfort of their own home. This keeps players focused on the Kentucky product, and should increase handle quite a bit for the host track running it. It only makes sense that players who sign up and play a contest make some cash wagers as well.. Sound good so far?

We will start at Turfway Park. All of the seven tracks can use the $2 win and place format. The entry fee once again is $1000. There will be an automatic fee of 10% of the entry money going to the finals.  With online players, and being able to play at the closest Kentucky track, this should be able to draw 1000 players. There will be $900,000 in the pot, and with the 10% finals deduction, this leaves $100,000 to send players to Vegas.

Turfway – Keenland – Churchill – Ellis - Turfway – Keeneland and the finals to be held on the Churchill contest. The finals will be determined by the accumulated score. The top ten will go on to the NTRA contest in Vegas, and the next ten will go to The Orleans for the “World Series of Handicapping.” This will come out of the $100,000.

This is unique as many may play from home, or for those who prefer to be at the track, in Kentucky.  This keeps everyone focused on the host track running for each leg of the contest. This should boost handle, and allow contest players to take a shot at a large pool and send many to Vegas. By switching tracks, you level the playing field by allowing entrants a variety to wager.

You can tweak out the contest by allowing players to wager by phone if you like, or lowering the level of entry. The idea is to keep focus on one state who is racing, and present a neat contest for those who enjoy them.  I like to keep my mind and options open. If this doesn’t work for you, then get with your oval and let them know your thoughts. I think they will listen to your ideas, and before you know it change will happen…

We watch these small athletes ride like the wind. They carry little weight, but have the strength of a 200 pound man. It is not the physical side that impresses me, but rather the size of their heart.

It was during the “Jockeys Across America”, which benefits the Don MacBeth memorial fund, that I got to work side by side with these small giants.  Some have trouble making rent. Some just make it weekly. But it seemed to me that those with the least, gave the most….

Many riders gave personal items they have collected. They work to benefit those who cannot make the game anymore. They were happy to work between races, and gather a helping of money that will help so many.  This great event has been carried on for over 21 years.

So, when you are watching a race and see these riders coming for home, know that they are some of the biggest athletes in sports. Not only climbing on the back of a 1,300 lb animal, but reaching out and helping so many.

No guns will be fired, no casualties, and the media will play it to the hilt. In Ohio, the Governor, with the aid of the legislative body, has signed into action slot machines to go into all seven tracks in the Buckeye state. But, things will get interesting along the way before the first coin drops.

A referendum will happen in November, where the decision will be put before the people to add land-based casinos at the four population centers in the state. It has failed before, but this time may be different. The climate of gaming may be changing. Columbus may be swinging to a different tune now.

The idea behind the addition of gaming to the tracks was to generate revenue, allow statewide programs to advance, and stop the rising unemployment. It would be a logical move to allow the tracks to house additional gaming. They already have it with racing and simulcasting.  Oh, and by the way, it would allow racing to grow and survive. Sounds like a no-brainer.

Adding the additional outlets would cannibalize the tracks. It would defeat the idea in the first place, and we could be back at square one. Why would any state want to start a new industry and destroy another? One way calls for more jobs, adding money to the state coffers, allowing programs to grow, expanding educational programs, and allow racing to survive. The other idea would be spreading butter too thin. There would be too much competition, and everyone would fight for pennies. We have a logical plan, where places that already house gaming expand, and do not go beyond their boundaries.

The people need to see the bigger picture. The idea of keeping gaming at tracks even fits into the opposing forces’ ideals. Do not expand beyond the boundaries of those who already have gaming.

Give your state a chance to breath. Give your state a chance to grow. Give your state a chance to make up some lost ground during a downward economic trend.  Many other states are watching, and now is the time to make up for lost ground.