tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037940159956945489.post4913183038274944307..comments2023-10-12T11:54:04.700-04:00Comments on Power Cap: US Handle Off By Over $1 Billion So Far This YearG. C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07604839670701867384noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037940159956945489.post-50555812904106719692009-08-06T23:50:04.390-04:002009-08-06T23:50:04.390-04:00Maker makes two good comments. One is that the on...Maker makes two good comments. One is that the only thing that will save racing from a slow painful death is strong, centralized management. The government won't do it here, so racing will have to do it by itself, in effect, turning the whole industry over to an all-powerful commissioner. Don't hold your breath.<br /><br />Second, small local tracks can co-exist with big league racing, just as in baseball. But tracks have to recognize, or be told, which they are.<br /><br />Japan's a pretty good model -- and their technology is a lot better than ours, too.Steve Zornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00290710261555708639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037940159956945489.post-20438705937636594412009-08-06T18:34:40.920-04:002009-08-06T18:34:40.920-04:00I agree with "reducing the amount of races an...I agree with "reducing the amount of races and increasing the quality", but it's not market forces that keep the number of JRA races low, it's a strict centralized system that does the trick over there. <br />Having missed that boat, uncontrolled downsizing by market forces is the best option available for American tracks right now.<br /><br />You should also be aware that the stats you quote are JRA-only; there are more than 14.000 more races under the supervision of local governments in Japan, which attracted a handle of just under 4 billion US$ in 2008.<br /><br />Unlike most of the world however, the Japanese are smart enough to draw a clear line between top racing (the kind suited to attract new customers and satisfy the fans' interest) and basic racing (the kind suited to cater to the handicappers' every-evening needs). Both can be good for racing, but a pointless mixture of them isn't gonna help.malcerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02913127739083446726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037940159956945489.post-37100815780492124622009-08-06T16:58:03.550-04:002009-08-06T16:58:03.550-04:00I wonder where all the horseplayers in Nebraska be...I wonder where all the horseplayers in Nebraska bet after Ak-Sar-Ben closed? No Aqueduct winter meet. No Calder summer meet. Awful lot of tracks in La will have to close. Cut Turfways meet in half. Goodbye Ellis. Goodbye Beulah. Goodbye River Downs. One of you guys in Pa will have to volunteer. Sorry Cangamble but all your efforts to save Fort Erie go for naught. This should be a good start. Glad I don't own the Racing Form. Want to guess what happens to the handle? Wait! The Guv of La says we aren't closing nothing. An obstructionist. <br />RGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com