*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !*

3/03/06 - THE STICK SOUNDS OFF AND IS UNLIKE YOUR USED TO HEARING HIM, The Stick Studio, Florida

*THE DECLINE IN PROFIT, FANS, AND ATTENDANCE*

In a recent article by Cindy Pierson-Dulay, http://horseracing.about.com/od/latestnews/a/aa123005a.htm, the light has been shed on something we have been warning you and telling you about for many years....HORSE RACING AS A SPORT IN THE USA IS HANGING ON THE EDGE OF OBLIVION !

According to Cindy's article, in December of last year, NYRA, was on the brink of declaring bankruptcy. How upsetting is that ? Its very upsetting ! One of the greatest racing associations in history unable to meet its financial committments ? We're not talking about some small town track or some oblvious harness facility, we're talking about the establishment of racing in the US.

We have been following the attendance figures at many tracks, and we noticed that one Saturday Aqueduct had all of 2,200 people in a facility designed to hold at least 60,000 comfortably.

Its no surprise to us, as we mentioned in previous article's that we sat in an almost empty 4th floor terrace restaurant at Belmont Park last Summer, and it was shocking to hear the echo's of a handful of people cheering for a race. One of our friends, John, told us it was impossible to make money from tips working there.

I can only say that if Slot Machine's will save the track, then give to the track already ! I've spoken against slot machines in the past, but I mentioned that I felt if they saved Laurel Park, then give it to them. Well, give them to NYRA already. We keep hearing about how they have been approved and will be in place next year, but those comments were being spoken about 3 and 4 years ago. Put the damn VLT's in and let the track save itself from the brink of oblivion.

The shock of hearing that NYRA could declare bankruptcy really made me sick to my stomach. Almost as sick as when I had the misfortune of overhearing two loudmouth "old school" types blathering there garbage and filth in the restaurant at Pompano Park on Isle of Capri final night.

Talking about fans, something has to be done to clean up the track and its image and make "normal" "family-oriented" people want to come and not be scared off by the loudmouth, lower element that inhabits most gaming establishments.

I love the blue collar, working fan who enjoys the races on his day off or over the weekend. Im on your side always and forever. If you feel uncomfortable at the track or simulcast, or you have had the experience of listening to the rotten low lifes who want to tell you off or root against you or make you feel uncomfortable, Im on your side ! If it makes tuff, working people feel uncomfortable just imagine how clean cut, white collar successful pretty people feel ? I know how they feel because I used to be on that side of the fence too. They hate the track element. They would not be caught dead at a racetrack, except maybe on KY Derby day or for someone's birthday or group outing.

You can look at the change in fans that Wrestling had....they went from a very tough crowd to a very family oriented one, and they made MILLIONS !!! If the tracks are to survive they must revive and revamp their image and get people out to the track that represent everyday middle America, not the "IN CROWD". I will never be a member of the "In Crowd" and Im damn proud of it !

*THE ATTENDANCE FIGURE DISCREPANCY AT GULFSTREAM AND SANTA ANITA*

Another interesting thing I have discovered since watching HRTV on satilite dish, is that the attendance figures shown on the replay shows at the end of each show from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita do NOT have the same figure as the Equibase Charts. The Equibase Charts show a much lower number for the attendance figure.

I have emailed in a question to DRF editor Steve Crist and he responded by telling me that sometimes the tracks include their simulcast facility attendance. Im wondering though how can you accurately count people at a simulcast if there is no entry fee charge and no turnstyle to count the pepole as they enter ?

I hope there is a resonable explanation for the discrepancy and can fully understand if there is some difference in how the tracks keep attendance figures comparedwith other companies such as Equibase. We will stay tuned to see.

*WHO'S TO BLAME AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ?*

I DON'T blame the companies and organizations. They are the ones who lose out and people they employ will lose their jobs. Certainly Magna and CD Incorporated and NYRA have tried to offer exciting races and cards. However, they have been swallowed up whole by the massive surge in casino gaming that has been allowed on the illusion of "Indian" lands, some of which are leased in major metropolitan area's. The massive growth of other non-Indian casino gaming in the Mid West and South also contribute to the loss of revenue at many race tracks.

I don't blame the Indian and non-Indian Casino's. They want to make money, but where the hell was the local legislature's and racing supporters that let the casino industry overwhelm and crush the racing industry ? If both industry's can co-exist, fine....but if Casino gaming is going to destroy racing, some protection has to be granted to the industry from local and state governements.

Here's how it started....at Roosevelt Raceway(now gone and torn down), a track with 40,000 people a night that dwindled down to under 1,000 before it closed, complained that Atlantic City took away the customers. You can examine this model and see exactly what is happening now to racing as a whole. People who only want to gamble will always choose easy, quick, instant gratification over the slow pondering day or night at the races.

Racing is not an instant gratification game. Its a SPORT ! DO YOU HEAR ME ??? ITS A SPORT !!! Horses are living, breathing animals and they run majestically for human beings enjoyment. ITS TIME TO PROMOTE THE SPORT AS A SPORT NOT AS A NEW GAMING OPTION.

We mentioned above that a more family oriented crowd has to be brought in. How about educating people openly about Horse Racing. Itsa sport with competition, and you can bet on it. Bet Responsibly, don't get engrossed in making money when you come to the races. Dont gamble large amounts. If you have a problem or develop one, there should be counselors ON TRACK to talk to and relax you and help you enjoy your day watching the races, being out in the open, etc.

Im so mad right now. Im as mad as hell and Im not going to take it anymore ! The Stick Horse Racing dot Com will not go quietly in the night. We will be here forever, speaking on behalf of the fans, the sport, the jockey's, the trainer's, the horsemen, and most of all the many people who devote their lives and livelihood to working at the track.

It would take a nuclear bomb sent straight from hell(or Iran) to shut us up or close us down. We are here for you fans, and we're going to fight. I have devoted 7 years of my life to this damn, f-cked up, anti social, dysfunctional web site, and its not going to be in vain. I have had the mispleasure and misfortune of attending Law School in NY and I could vomit over the last 15 years of my Life, but I will never give up or be quiet. Im here, and Im going to fight.

Finally, you might say to yourself....MC is an asshole, his site sucks, and who gives a shit about Horse Racing's future anyway ? ....You might be right on all 3 counts, However, even if I am an asshole, and my web site sucks, and Horse Racing will be a lost sport, that does not mean that I have to accept your judgement, and that I would ever give up in attempting to save the sport and myself.

While I could write a book about my mother and grandmother and Horse Racing, I have to say that I write this article on behalf of my Uncle Charlie. G-d bless you Uncle Charlie, wherever you are, wherever we all end up. Your heart and my heart beat to the same drummer.

PS-To make all you guys out there feel better, look at the bottom of the Entry Page below the instant view selections. There is a link for a Pamela Anderson Video and a good hand lube....SO SPEAKS THE STICK !

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Please Email us with any questions or Orders that you would like filled for Selections Sheets at your favorite tracks.

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Best Regards and Racing, MC_Excelsior