We tend to sit around rambling how racing declines each year. I find my self doing just that. As I get closer to 50 I talk about how good the seventies and 80s were, and in many ways it is true. Racing has declined although every year there are great stories. Last year was a perfect example.

We are a mere candy shop, not really needed. A luxury that folks can choose to forego when times are tough and money is short. When you get laid off you need to have heat, food and basic necessities. You don’t need to bet the horses. Racetracks will continue to close if they don’t find a way to succeed.

So, what should they do, hope slots save them? Maybe for a while, but in the long run you have to find new fans. Slots players don’t run over to the races. I remember when Delaware first opened up the slots, I talked to a friend who was down there with a few horses. I said wow there must be a lot of new people at the races. He said no, they come for the slots and leave.

Ok, well maybe slots revenue helps the tracks to survive and keep the doors open. But you have to cultivate new fans. To do this you have to create more big days. For NASCAR every weekend is a big event. Racing has the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup, and a few other good days.  The goal needs to be to create more big days fans can mark on their calendar. And tracks need to be flexible. Oaklawn deserves kudos for what they are doing, having a huge purse and putting together the one event all fans want to see, Zenyatta V Rachel. This will generate as much buzz as racing has seen in decades.
Hopefully other tracks will do the same and do everything they can to put together races people want to see. In the meantime, waive admission, get fans in the door. Give them a program with past performances. And hey how about a free hot dog and a coke? Once in the door, show them the beauty that is our sport. Many will become fans, and yes they will wager. But if you try and rape them at the door with parking, admission and the cost of a program and form? They will leave and rarely come back.

Racing is on life support, but we can keep the plug from being pulled. Lets start working towards that today.

Reprinted from EquineProject.com