Breeders Cup at Santa Anita

[Laro19]

OK, so I just got back from 2 days of great racing at Santa Anita. And now my question is, Box seats were $500 face value, granstand reserved were $300. I sat in a box provided by a trainer, and in my row, we occupied 4 seats out of 20. The rows behind me were the same or LESS. Friday the seats were virtually empty. The seats were all sold.........where were the fans? Were they all bought by scalpers? Look on the replays on TV, that white stuff behind the winners circle is EMPTY SEATS.........

[majxmom]

I think the problem was that they required you to buy two days of seats. If they are trying to make this into a Derby/Oaks kind of festival, then they should have the confidence to let people buy tickets separately. I might have decided to go, and bought higher priced seats for Saturday and lower priced seats for Friday. Plus the seat prices were just way too high. It's not the Superbowl, for god's sake. Why don't they just promote it like a regular race day, watch 80,000 people clamor to get in, and then sell seats inside of the grandstand for $200 if you decide you want to sit? Ever since Lone Star, this seating thing is getting ridiculous.

[spex4me]

We thought that too. Our thinking was either a whole lot of people took the same bathroom break or there were plenty of seats to be had.

[steward]

!. Economic problems worldwide.

2 The locals yawned - the SA Derby is a bigger deal.

3. It was controversial. Crap on tradition, and regulars get torqued.

4. Two-day dilution, G2 races. A lot of turf crap.

[Diane]

Being there you don't get all the tv hype. I'm standing at the gate in the clubhouse area where the tunnel comes onto the track. The horses come through with the connections following and enter the gate opposite where I'm standing. The Irish folks have a camera crew and their guy is at my shoulder waiting for any of their horses to win, I don't know who their on camera guy is but I know he's somebody. The Classic horses come through and I get my pics of as many as my camera will allow. The owners following en masse it takes them a few minutes to get through that little gate and I'm wondering who all the stewardesses belong to... I saw them coming out of the turf club as I was leaving they weren't stewardesses.

[Laro19]

Problem is, all those tickets were sold out. They've been sold out for months. In Kali-Fornia, (that was for Arnold) racing is dying. We need fans, and fan support. Now we have the chance to let locals get into the sport somewhat, and we price the tickets at $500.00. I'm supposed to take my family to the Breeders Cup? OK, get in for $40 and then stand in a crowded area, where nobody can see. Santa Anita is one of the most beautiful tracks in the country, and they are a great venue for this event. But this is wrong, stupid, and if they want to keep this up, move the damn thing back to the east coast, and I'll watch in on TV.

[majxmom]

Laro19, I don't think they were sold out. I was still getting solicitations from the Breeders Cup via mail and email to buy tickets as late as Thursday.

[Playwithfire]

I think ticket prices were ridiculous as well as having to buy both days. I bought $200 tickets for $50 on friday and bought GAs saturday ( but i think reserveds were going for about 1/2 price) and sat on one of the benches near the track. Much better to walk around, check out the paddock, etc. Sure the top seats should be a little more expensive but $500? They had about 50k fans there saturdayi think, they woulda had more with better prices. And the increased handle would probably have helped make up the revenue difference. Plus maybe have attracted some new fans for life.

Nonetheless, I had a tremendous time at my first Breeders Cup in person, despite not faring so well at the windows.

[Laro19]

Oh, it was sold out.........I couldn't get ANY tickets except GA the last month. It's absurd that they asked for $500 per, and then had NOBODY show. Stupid marketing, stupid concept, but great racing.

[wallinga]

[quote="Laro19"]Problem is, all those tickets were sold out. They've been sold out for months. In Kali-Fornia, (that was for Arnold) [quote]

Isn't it ironic that Arnold was an integral part of a steroidless Breeder's Cup

[wallinga]

A lot of turf crap.

Get used to it mate, your world is changing.

I'm not sure though, the "dirt marathon"? Firstly, not a marathon... it's only 2400m and it was far more craptacular than any of the turf races.

[karenkarenn]

Hello,
Well I was there and I paid 125 for the Buffet in the Infield. I guess my point is since I loved it - i got all the food that I wanted and the sights, if you dont like it, don't come back. Then Scalpers were out on Hunington and the Cops there did an excellent job controlling the crowds, esp during the Damascas Stakes.
karen

[Playwithfire]

Curlin just couldn't quite do it.

Ah, what could have been...too bad this was before the 1/16th pole where i was positioned. Oh well, maybe next year.

[docjocoy]

Terrific picture.

[majxmom]

What a great picture, playwith fire! Did you take that yourself, and if so, are you a professional? I can't believe the focus.