The problem is while you may 'know' who is using a beard, the fact is once in a while you may be wrong. Should someone be tossed out of the business when they didn't commit a fraud upon the racing public? Of course not, this is why Faraldo's proposal is important; it bases guilt on fact. Sure, a large racing enterprise could conceivably generate false receipts, but when the commission gathers bank statements or goes to the one of the individuals the trainer claims to have paid and don't see the deposit, it becomes obvious an even deeper fraud takes place.
Good regulation takes time, not snap judgement. It stinks when racing participants and horse players suffer when people know a trainer is using a beard, but it is a bigger crime when someone is iced without evidence. This is part of the rules of racing, due process and the ability of someone to defend themselves. Hence, Faraldo's proposal needs to be seriously considered and implemented as quickly as possible.
The creeping post time, is the bane of most handicappers. After all, what is more frustrating than seeing the horses come out for post parade at post time, meaning you have another ten minutes until off time? I understand the reasoning for the post time crawl, it doesn't make it right. However, for a business hard pressed to earn revenue, especially when a non-slot track is involved, it is hard to lose revenue. What can be done about this?
Let me once again bring up the idea of a simulcast network. Not only would it allow multiple signals to be sold and bundled together to racetracks and ADWs, it would also allow a coordination of post times. For example, let's say a simulcast network of WEG, Meadowlands, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, and Northfield Park was created (realizing each track doesn't race every night). The tracks could set post times with the flexibility to change post times of other races due to inquiries or other unanticipated delays. Hence, for the simulcast and ADW customer, racing would continue one race to another without significant delays and since multiple tracks are connected via the network, the need to go past post time for wagers would not be as important.
Revisiting bundled signals is something which needs to be revisited.
For those who live in the Harrington Delaware area, RUS MidAtlantic is having a paint night this coming Sunday. Paint nights are a lot of fun and you can indulge your artistic self at the same time. For those of you who use Facebook, more information is available below,
2 comments:
In the Orlando market, there used to be two greyhound tracks that ran six months each. Same dogs, employees and customers. Seminole Greyhound Park, which closed in 2001, dragged the post time each race. Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, which is now open year round, went off at strict post time.
The bettors adjusted to the differences at each track and always got their bets in on time.
If the harness tracks stop dragging post times, after getting shut out one or two times, the bettors will learn quickly that when they should bet.
MYTH! Tracks get higher pools because of post time drag. Managers at two tracks told me years ago why they delayed races after 0 MTP was displayed. Reason 1...other tracks are doing it. Reason 2...No one bets until the last minute.
Reason one reminds me of childhood when mother would say, "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you need to do the same thing?"
Reason 2 includes truth. Most bets come in at the last minute. I asked what that has to do with running races 5-10 minutes after the displayed post time. If most bettors wait until the last minute, they will bet whenever that last minute happens to be. Neither track manager had an answer on that point, except "See Reason 1."
Of course, one track can't go on time if others continue the drag. Revenue could be lost at the track going it alone. The tracks need to get together and change before the remaining gamblers do something else. Slot machines don't take your money, ask you to spin now and then inform you the machine will spin in 1 minute. Or is that 5 minutes?
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