Begrudging the Fortunate

For horsemen at Chester Downs, Pocono Downs, Yonkers Raceway and other slot fueled tracks, these are heady days. If you race at tracks like Freehold, Maywood or even the Meadowlands, things are not so good. The racino tracks are offering huge purses which are totally out of line with the actual wagering occuring on their races while the 'have nots' have cut purses severely or are unable to fill races requiring them to use cheaper stock. At Yonkers, a $40,000 claimer is going this weekend for a purse of $31,000. At the Meadowlands, a $40,000 claimer is going for $25,000 and $7,500 claimers have been seen racing occasionally to fill the card

What amazes me is the constant attacks on the horses racing at Yonkers and other tracks; the claims they are not worth the claiming tags or purses they are running for. It is obvious jealousy and for some of these people, ignorance. Horsemen at racino tracks have been told they need to upgrade their stock. At Yonkers, if your horse is not a $10,000 claimer and shows lines with claiming prices less than $10K, you need to find a new home for this horse. The nw3000cd class is being eliminated. If your horse would still fit this class as of September 1, you better figure out where he is racing after August. The improvement and higher classes racing at Yonkers and these other tracks are not horses with inflated claiming prices, these are horses that have fled the 'have not' tracks, the same way the top horses at Yonkers used to flee to greener pastures when they were in decline. I suspect many of those complaining about the quality of the horses are actually upset that they don't have the stock that can handle the smaller ovals.

Does the wagering fit the the purses being offered? Obviously not. Then again, if not for purse supplements from Atlantic City at the Meadowlands, the Meadowlands purses would be a lot less. However, the new model for determining purses is reality, for now. Deal with it. I am sure once slots come to the Meadowlands (it is a question of how, not if), the people racing there will not be refusing slot revenue saying the money was not earned through wagering.

We know the way things are being done now will not last. Sooner or later, slot revenue will be cut or eliminated by states. When the Meadowlands offers VLTs (it will happen), much of the slot play occurring at Yonkers from the New Jersey residents will return to New Jersey and Yonkers' purses will be cut and the Meadowlands will regain the better horses from Yonkers, Chester and Pocono Downs. Sooner or later if racing does not seriously attempt to improve the game for the horseplayer there will be a crisis threatening the existence of racing.

In the meanwhile, let's not begrudge the new 'haves'. No one shed a tear for them during the lean times. They either remained behind and toughed it out or they moved on to greener pastures. Now, through good fortune or luck, they are prospering. Let them enjoy their good fortune while they can. Rather than being unproductive begrudging the fortunate, do what they did in the early 2000's. Upgrade your stock so you can race at these tracks and work to get the situation changed at your home track.

Just a reminder about the fundraising efforts underway to benefit Jason Moore. You may read the previous post for more information about this effort or you may check the box to the right for more information.