MobileRJ | RSS TwitterTwitter FacebookFacebook E-mail Alerts
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

Sports
Nov. 20, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

RICHARD ENG: Mistreating customers no way to grow business

RICHARD ENG
MORE COLUMNS

Two recent stories made me wonder if the people running horse racing understand the concept that mistreating your customers is a bad business practice.

The first item was for a new wager called 123 Racing. The tracks involved in the startup are Canterbury, Hawthorne, Mountaineer, Philadelphia Park and Presque Isle. The wager has a carry-over proviso, so the hope is horseplayers will bet big when the pot grows. My problem with it, the takeout is an outrageous 35 percent.

Most Popular Stories
  • MATT YOUMANS: Sharp money avoids Saints
  • MATT YOUMANS: Underdog bettors profit as Manning takes fall
  • UFC 109: Couture rules by submission
  • BIGGEST GAME OF SEASON: Rebels concede little to BYU
  • ED GRANEY: NCAA proposes March mediocrity
  • Hauck's roster overhaul begins
  • STRESS-FREE NIGHT: UNLV avoids drama
  • 'SEVEN BIG GAMES LEFT': Rising Rebels stay grounded
  • RON KANTOWSKI: Kruger helps UNLV pack Mack again
  • Game, sports book tour live up to hype




    • The second item occurred in California when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill allowing state racing associations the option to raise their takeout on wagers up to 5 percent across the board. Thank goodness it's voluntary.

    However, with shrinking revenues, the temptation to raise the takeout somewhere between 1 and 5 percent in the future might become a reality.

    We horseplayers still are waiting for a think tank to hatch ideas to grow horse racing. Part of that is creating new fans to attract new bettors. Another is marketing to an audience that wagers already but maybe hasn't tried horse racing yet. A third is renovating the wagering product so it is an attractive investment. For example, if straight pools were reduced to 10 percent takeout, the tax would be similar to the vig on sports betting.

    • SPLIT VOTE -- This cat fight between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta supporters is ludicrous. My manhood has been questioned just because I want to split my Horse of the Year ballot between them. The vote has been compared to a presidential election; man up and vote for one or the other.

    Be real. This vote is not for the leader of the free world. It's a marketing tool to promote horse racing. If two horses are worthy of the honor, so be it. It would help the sport, not hurt it, to honor two champions. I say let's celebrate the accomplishments of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, equally.

    • FRANKEL 'A GOOD MAN' -- Many fine eulogies have been given this week on the death of Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. In fact, HRTV will air ''A Tribute to Bobby'' on its Inside Information program at 6 p.m. Sunday. One of Frankel's best friends was trainer Julio Canani, so I'll quote his simple words: ''The man was unbelievable. He had a heart as big as they get. A good man.''

    Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 8 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Richard Eng wrote on November 22, 2009 11:40 AM: Lou,
    I received only 4 e-mails with ideas. There was not enough, in my opinion, to write a follow up column. Sorry, but I had to call an audible.


    HANA Fan wrote on November 21, 2009 11:24 AM: KrankyVet has it right...the time is now, the group is here, 1500 members and growing. join, spread the word, champion them.

    http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/


    KrankyVet wrote on November 21, 2009 01:07 AM: You want a think tank, well here it is...Horseplayers Association of North America

    http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/

    Please join us!


    roger newell wrote on November 20, 2009 09:54 PM: unfortunately, the major racetracks continue to be hesitant to change.I've recommended several innovative wagering ideas for the last 9 years with zero success.

    I didn't have any problems implementing rolling doubles,Friday night theme of music and discount to young fans,post parade music,bet runner dept.,V.I.P. Rooom for big bettors among other things from 1990-1999 working for a smart businessman like RD Hubbard but men like him don't own major thoroughbred tracks anymore.


    Lou wrote on November 20, 2009 04:39 PM: Rich,

    We gave you a bunch of ideas a while back, per your request, and you seem to have done nothing in the way of writing about them as promised.

    If you cannot be part of the solution, please don't be...


    Willy wrote on November 20, 2009 04:33 PM: A 10% takeout still isn't close to sports Richard. At standard 11/10 sports betting terms the house is theoretically taking 4.55%. Only time the house gets near 10% is on future bets and some longshot parlays.


    Bob Larimore wrote on November 20, 2009 11:28 AM: Richard,

    I always look forward to your Friday columns and your insightful writing on The Sport Of Kings. I do agree with you that Rachel Alexander and Zenyatta should share horse of the year honors.
    I think that is the only fair solution.

    Bob Larimore
    Dallas, Texas


    Matt Pomposelli wrote on November 20, 2009 10:38 AM: Sportsbooks in Las Vegas have no idea how to treat customers, especially anyone who tries to make limit bets. There is a reason 99% of the betting action is not done in Nevada. Most sportsbook directors couldn't run a lemonade stand.