Why is attendance down so much at racetracks all around the country?

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Poll

Who is the leading contender right now for this year's Triple Crown?

Hansen - who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill last year.

18%

Union Rages - who won 3 or 4 races as a juvenile including the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes

20%

Algorithms - who recently scored a huge victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park

24%

It's just too early to determine the top contender for this year's Triple Crown racing season. Anything can still happen.

38%

Total votes: 309

Why is attendance down so much at racetracks all around the country?

Fri, 03/26/2010 - 9:21pm · mommalee841

Too much competition from other major sports and other live entertainment venues.

6% (7 votes)

With online wagering, more and more fans bet from home and watch the races on TV or their computer.

31% (36 votes)

Horse racing is just becoming less popular resulting in lower crowds at the tracks.

5% (6 votes)

It's a combination of everything above - probably the best answer.

58% (67 votes)

Total votes: 116

Comments

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 6:37am — tpbolante

online wagering

fans bet from home and watch the races on TV or their computer. because it's more convenient

Sun, 03/28/2010 - 9:59pm — nyracinggrl39

Online wagering

I think the best answer here is the online wagering. Less and less people are staying home and making bets online. Why go to the track when they sit in front of their computer and make bets?

***Sharon, Liberty Racing Stables***

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 10:28am — aaaranch

too bad

it's too bad that more people are staying home & beting from there computers.it's so much more fun & exciting at the track!!!

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 10:30am — ronwar

People are choosing to put there money in other places. The handle is down period. The absurd take-outs have taken its toll. Add to that, horse racing does not have a unified body (a commissioner, if you will) so they are not giving the public a consistent product. The success of the NFL and NBA can be traced back to the organization and creativity of their commissioners.

~~~~~~~~
May they all come home safely!!!

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 1:43pm — elit3e

This is a hot topic of

This is a hot topic of disscussion in my classes at school right now. It is certainly a combination of all of those things. I would rank Major sports first, followed by Online betting, followed by less interest. Going to a major sports event only comes around a few times a year. Thats why you see lots of people at the track on days with big important races (Breeders Cup, Derby, etc....). Online betting gives bettors more options and takes away from the track if the bettor is nearby and betting on other tracks. It does however allow people from all over the country to bet at your track that would normally not be able to attend. My major problem with online betting is the fact that tracks don't get as much of the takeout, but then again, that is better than none. Finally, racing just isn't the first thing on everybody's mind anymore. Focus needs to be on getting first timers to the track to feel the excitment. Not all first timers will come back but some might and then convince others to join them.

That is the short version of my thoughts on this topic. Not very short huh? :)

Mon, 03/29/2010 - 1:54pm — elit3e

Hate to say it Ronwar but I

Hate to say it Ronwar but I doubt we will ever see one comission or complete unification like the NFL and NBA. States like to have control and make their own rules. It kind of turns into a politics thing. Unification is like a big federal government and they don't want the decisions and control left to the feds. They would much rather a large state government where they call all the shots. In order for complete unification it would require all the states to agree and come together. Then that leads to a whole other problem because some states don't allow pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing, such as Utah.

It's just a big mess and right now I would probably throw my support behind the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, it may be the best bet right now.

Tue, 03/30/2010 - 3:19pm — sailorsguide

race crowds

in Victoria Australia country racing has seen large crowds in attendance due to well planned advertising and programs aimed at family attendances. there are competitions pony rides wagon rides face painting to name a few. I think racing clubs don't think outside the square enough.
Learn from the Jesuits and McDonald's get them while they are young and you have them for life.
Besides that you cannot just sit on your ass and say people want to bet off course. There are ways and means of making them come.

Wed, 03/31/2010 - 9:39am — ronwar

Elit3e

I agree, there will never be a governing body for some of the reasons you stated. And as far as online betting goes, sure its more convenient, but anyone betting big and consistently takes full advantage of the rebates offered by betting online and thus offsetting the huge take the tracks get.

~~~~~~~~
May they all come home safely!!!

Fri, 04/02/2010 - 9:48pm — copperdollar