How to save racing in California

[Playwithfire]

Apparently it involves $1 beers and dachsunds. "Dachsund Derby Day" at Golden Gate Fields today, also coinciding with "Sunday dollar day" there must have been 15-20,000 people there, the grandstands were seriously almost completely full. Granted, the fields were full (for the dachsunds), but the lines were long (for the beers). They opened parking lots that haven't seen cars since Seabiscuit raced here. Great to see so many people out at the track, albeit with alterior motives, a lot of folks will have fun and do it again

[majxmom]

I've been there the last two $1 Sundays, and there were much larger crowds than normal lately. Gee, there's a lesson in this for me: drop the cost to park, enter and buy a program. It costs about $20 before you ever place a bet on a normal day! They've finally got the right idea. I hope they run with it.

[jurneeka]

They opened parking lots that haven't seen cars since Seabiscuit raced here. Great to see so many people out at the track, albeit with alterior motives, a lot of folks will have fun and do it again

Seabiscuit never raced at GGF; the track didn't open until 1941, a year after he retired to Willits.

"The Biscuit" raced at both Tanforan and Bay Meadows (as well as Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar and the East Coast).

[tbrace]

Who cares where Seabiscuit ran.

The point is that tracks need to have free parking, no admission, and a free, scaled down program for anyone who wants to go in.

Would you pay to go into a casino?

[UmmYeah]

Would you pay to go into a casino?

You would if you were going to see a boxing match.

Or Air Supply.

[skywatcher]

Would you pay to go into a casino?

You would if you were going to see a boxing match.

Or Air Supply.

they'd have to pay me to go see Air Supply

[majxmom]

It was actually in the newspaper today that the attendance was 11,000. I think it was about that the day John Henry ran here.

[karenkarenn]

Hello I just got back from Golden Gate I loved the Doggies. Second about the free parking and admission. You know that money does go to the track so it would be an oxymoron to have a free anything... The track would regret it.

[majxmom]

I've spent my whole adult life at CA tracks, so the first time I went to a Florida track, I about fell over. Free parking. $1 admission included a program. And they were friendly at the admission gate when I asked to get in free on my CA license. At Tampa Bay Downs, they actually exclaimed, "You didn't park across the street, did you? You could have parked in the OT lot!" And then gave me a free program. They actually said "WELCOME!" when they handed it to me like they were excited that I came all the way from Ca to attend their tracks (this was at Gulfstream when the Donns still owned it). I had never faced that at a CA track. Usually it is "Um, I suppose I have to let you in now. Gimme $2 for the program. I hope you didn't park somewhere that inconveniences us." I brought a newbie to the races once, patiently taught her what to say at the window, and when she got flustered and stalled out a little, the mutuel clerk actually told her she shouldn't come up to the window unless she knew what she was doing! She never wanted to bet again.

A few more freebies and customer service could go a long way. If they had 8000-10,000 people there on a weekend, the vendors could start making money again, and then there would be more handle, more churn, more franchise from food sales, etc. CA tracks have definitely hit the point of dimishing returns. It's time to let people in for $1 and get some butts in the seats so they don't forget about racing. I've seen so many kids there lately with the snow days and other promotions, I can't believe it. The dachshund derby was a genius idea. It's working, Magna. Keep it up.

[Playwithfire]

http://www.goldengatefields.com/NewsEve ... racing.htm

Largest attendance in 14 years. I didn't mean to exaggerate the attendance but i could not believe the amount of cars that were there. They marketing people there have done a pretty good job recently, they've had good promotions, family friendly activities, and I think it is bringing more people out than in the past.

Now they just need to go back to four day racing weeks, which has to be more profitable for them. They'd get larger fields too, they've not been helped by that extra day this meet. At least its good to see the turf racing back.

[steward]

This trend is quite common among certain entertainment industries. Movie theaters and ski areas in my area have seen a surge during this economic downturn as people turned away from expensive trips out of town to Vegas, Cabo, and Hawaii, and began doing older pasttimes. People aren't cutting back completely, they are just downsizing by staying near home and doing the cheaper things.