JC / Railbird - Thoroughbred racing news and notes

I met Marc Subia today and he told me the story of his amazing autograph jacket. "It's my most prized possession." Marc started coming to Del Mar with his dad in the 1970s. It's his home track. And he's been collecting jockey autographs for decades ...

Grand Jete keeping an eye on me as I take a picture of Rushing Fall's #BC17 garland. #thoroughbred #horseracing #delmar

Another #treasurefromthearchive — this UPI collage for Secretariat vs. Sham. #inthearchives #thoroughbred #horseracing

Thanks, Arlington. Let's do this again next year. #Million35

That's a helmet. #BC16 #thoroughbred #horseracing #jockeys

Lady Eli on the muscle. #BC16 @santaanitapark #breederscup #thoroughbred #horseracing

Bet Needs a Payoff

Andrew Beyer on the TrackNet/TVG/ADW mess:

Churchill, Magna and TVG are pursuing a course of action all too familiar in the racing industry: forgetting about their bettors as they look after their own interests. This time, the industry has angered and alienated many of its dwindling number of customers, who want to make their own free choices about what they can bet and where they can bet.

Posted by JC in Racing & Technology on 06/29/2007 @ 9:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

The Fundamental Problem

“Between 1990 and 2000, the North American parimutuel handle increased from $10 billion to $15 billion, due not to some emergence of star horses with long careers but to the convenience of full-card simulcasting and an explosion of new betting opportunities. Since then, the figure has not budged, despite all the feel-good stories…. Instead of thinking like 21st century business operators competing for market share, racing prefers to imagine that some old-style publicity … will suddenly make it become 1957 again” (DRF).

Posted by JC in Marketing on 06/29/2007 @ 6:30 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Wireless Del Mar

The iPhone came out just in time (ThoroTimes).

Posted by JC in Web/Technology on 06/29/2007 @ 5:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

← Before After →