Value Tech Blog

Court Rules, Hialeah to Move Ahead With Slots
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69293/court-rules-hialeah-to-move-ahead-with-slots

The Florida Supreme Court April 27 upheld a decision by a lower state court that authorizes Hialeah Park to have a casino with Las Vegas-style slot machines.
 
In a short notice on its website, Florida’s highest court said it declined to consider an appeal by Calder Casino & Race Course and two other Miami-area pari-mutuel facilities that were attempting to prevent Hialeah from having a casino. After hearing of the decision, Hialeah Park owner John Brunetti told The Blood-Horse the racetrack will soon begin renovating the north side of its building, with a goal of opening a casino with 900 slot machines in the spring of 2013.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Good news for racing from the Big Apple.

NYRA Reports Handle Gains for Aqueduct Meet
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69264/nyra-reports-handle-gains-for-aqueduct-meet

Pari-mutuel handle at this year’s 78-day Aqueduct winter/spring meet was up across the board, the New York Racing Association reported April 26.

With five more racing days than the comparable meet in 2011, total handle increased 22.6% to $513.79 million from $419.11 million. Average daily handle on Aqueduct races were up by 14.7% to $6.58 million from $5.74 million last year, according to NYRA figures.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Horse Racing Season Starts At Prairie Meadows | WHOTV.com …
http://whotv.com/2012/04/20/horse-racing-prairie-meadows-begins-season/

Horse racing season kicks off Friday at Prairie Meadows in Altoona.

Live thoroughbred racing gets underway Friday night but there are some changes for race fans this year.

Horse racing will run Thursday through Sunday. Prairie Meadows is trying to attract more people to stay the weekend at the new hotel that opened this spring. 

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Total Handle Increases 5% at Sunland Park
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/69046/total-handle-increases-5-at-sunland-park

The 2011-12 season at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino ended with a total handle increase of nearly 5%, the track reported April 18.

The 77-day season ended April 17 with a total handle exceeding $62 million, which was up 4.92% from last year’s totals. Director of Racing Operations Dustin Dix was extremely pleased with the results.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Derby contenders arriving at Churchill Downs
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/17/2754153/derby-contenders-arriving-at-churchill.html

The probable Kentucky Derby favorite is now stabled at Churchill Downs in preparation for the May 5 Run for the Roses. Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister along with stablemate Secret Circle, second in the race, are both housed under the Twin Spires.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Sign of the times…

Casino Company Buying Turfway Park Interest
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/68906/casino-company-buying-turfway-park-interest

Rock Gaming LLC, a partner in a casino being built in Cincinnati, Ohio has requested Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approval to purchase a part interest in Turfway Park in northern Kentucky.

The exact ownership interest in Turfway, which is owned by Caesars Entertainment and Keeneland, being purchased by the gaming company was not detailed in the application obtained from the KHRC. The commission will consider the request at its April 16 meeting.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Fair Grounds’ handle dipped slightly in 2011-2012 season
http://www.nola.com/horseracing/index.ssf/2012/04/fair_grounds_handle_dipped_sli.html

The Fair Grounds showed a slight decrease in average daily handle during the season that ended April 1.

Betting from all sources averaged $2,917,776 per day, down 1.7 percent from the daily average of $2,967,829 attained during the 2010-2011 season, according to figures supplied by the Louisiana State Racing Commission. On-track handle averaged $157,928 per day, an increase of 3.1 percent from the daily average of $153,179 in 2010-2011.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Not a good thing for promoting confidence in the game!

United Tote Error Leads to Incorrect Takeout
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/68838/united-tote-error-leads-to-incorrect-takeout

Due to an error originating with the United Tote totalisator system located in Kentucky, customers that wagered through the New York Racing Association on Keeneland’s April 6 card and the first two races April 7, were charged incorrect takeout rates.

United Tote has accepted full responsibility for the error and has acknowledged this in correspondence to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Kudos to Churchill CEO Robert Evans for focusing on the product rather than marketing gimmicks!

Churchill Downs Outraces the Decline of Horse Racing – Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/marcbabej/2012/04/05/churchill-downs-outraces-the-decline-of-horse-racing/

In other words, Evans is a nightmare CEO for conventional marketers: the kind that doesn’t care one whit about flashy ads, or newfangled forms research into consumer attitudes; the kind that is probably not inclined to increase a budget based on a song and a prayer about improving brand equity. Surprise, surprise: Evans vision of marketing resulted in some pretty radical staffing changes: the kind that resulted in marketing department comprised of people who previously never had the word marketing in the title

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology

Report: Racing Could Return to Yavapai Downs
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/68651/report-racing-could-return-to-yavapai-downs

A former president of the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association submitted the highest bid of $3.25 million for bankrupt Yavapai Downs and hopes to return horse racing there this year.

The Daily Courier of Prescott, Ariz., reported April 3 that Gary Miller was the top bidder. The United States Department of Agriculture must now decide whether to accept the bid, the newspaper reported.

Posted via email from Michael Pizzolla On ValueCapping™, Horse Racing, And Technology