Trackside ........ for now & the future

As we wind down 2014 thoroughbred racing season, we look back at the state of the game. It was a year with the closure of many famous race tracks like; Hollywood Park, Suffolk Downs and Colonial Park. The later, technically isn't "officially" close but did not conduct a racing meet this past summer. Hollywood Park closed it's doors a year ago and the bulk of California racing has been conducted at Santa Anita with a short meet at Los Alamitos and two meets at Del Mar Racecourse. Suffolk Downs fell victim to a state gaming bill which did not pass in Massachusetts, something that many racetracks across the country who are partially funded by VLT revenue may endure in the future.

Thoroughbred racing still exists in this country, but the times haven't gotten better for the sport. Handle and on track attendance has dipped again this year at most of the major racetracks. The need for the VLT revenue for some tracks is sometimes the only reason they stay open. The battle for the wagering dollar between casinos, lotteries and the racetracks has gotten thin especially with the state of the U.S. economy. There's not of money to go around and sometimes it's the track's marketing to attract people there that is the difference whether they survive or not.

The premier race meet in the world, Saratoga has done a good job of that through the years. Even with NYRA being unstable the past decade, the "Summer Place to Be" continues to be the leading race meet each and every year. But even Saratoga has a hard time putting up the "numbers" to keep NYRA's head above water. The expansion of the meet has work well so far, but the overall handle is what counts in the end. There is no doubt about it that Saratoga's 40 days during the summer is what keeps NYRA in the black.

Another reason that handle has maintain an even kneel is because of simulcast wagering and online wagering. Simulcast wagering is the leading revenue for many small race tracks. But a cost comes with that revenue in the form of signal fees from the other racetracks. Sometimes it's a price war between what tracks charge other tracks for their product. The main tracks and OTB's survive, but others can't afford certain track's signals. Online wagering seems to be the most lucrative product out there that benefits all parties in common.

With the advent of online wagering the past few years, there is less of an need for off-track wagering outlets and it has hurt on-track attendance at the lesser race meets. When I first started wagering nearly thirty years ago, you could either wager at an OTB or open a phone betting account. But since online wagering has been made available, it's easier to sit home and place your wager via the computer. Many OTB branches have also closed and attendance at the major betting parlors has dropped off significantly. If you are close to a racetrack, it's easy to attend live. But, it's even easier just to place funds in your online account and wager that way.

Who really knows what the future brings for the "Sport of Kings". If it has stars the public can relate to, the sport will remain popular with the mainstream public. But, it's the everyday wagering player and the follower of the sport which will keep thoroughbred racing alive. As volatile as the sport can be with the almighty dollar, the excitement it brings on track is what it's all about. Through thick or thin, thoroughbred racing will survive. There will always be horses and races to be run.