Belmont Stakes Festival

[FrankD.]

Klueless Kay and his \"enhancing the guest experience\" crew may want to re think their program?

In an attempt to create a derby week like experience for the Belmont Stakes they have come up with a festival concept with entertainment,food trucks, etc...
NYRA does not post attendance other than the Spa with season pass holders counted every day and on Belmont Stakes day. If anyone has been trackside the past two days and cares to make a guess? From my TV, computer and phone viewing races it looked none too crowded, I be surprised if today was even 10K.

The two day handle was a shade over 20 million with 20 races. Every Spa Saturday last summer handled 20 mil plus. There were 7 races today with 7 or less entries, in those races after early scratches be they trainer or vet plus gate scratches a mere 40 horses ran in those 7 races.The pick 5 the sequence had 28 horses that opened the gate! REALLY!!!

Tomorrow will certainly be interesting I\'m putting out the over under on attendance at 50K. The mega day concept had a horse going for the triple crown in it\'s first two years.

Their shameless price gauging promotion of \"the festival\" does not get a passing grade without a triple crown on the line.

King Andrew wants to cap the casino dollars at 7 % up to 46 million previous deal aside that gave NYS a billion dollars in property. Now the Toys R Us crew is left to pick the pockets of the Spa tourists and the daily players.

On to Belmont tomorrow for $30 parking, $25 admission  lots of empty seats and $15 Heineken to push a few K through the windows, BRILLIANT!!!

PATHETIC,

Frank D.

[alydar61]

Point well taken.

I\'ll be taking the train and sneaking in 24 oz of Stoli.

Smarter than the average bear...sometimes.

[miff]

Frank,

Handle down 15% vs last year and they had one more race this year. Friends just left, said place was light on people for a big day.

Concert now has a couple of hundred people.Make sure to say hello to Gov Cuomo tomorrow, heard he\'s getting there for first race, hates Cupid coming off entrapment. Umbrella needed??

Good Luck

Mike

[FrankD.]

Mike,

track john says no umbrella\'s until after 1000, I\'ve deferred this weeks weather to him as I\'ve been out of town on a project. I did manage to stop at Finger Lakes on my way back today for a couple practice swings!

Alydar I\'m on my way out now for plastic juice bottles of oj and cranberry to be drained and half filled with vodka

Frank D.

[yesthatwouldbeme]

Frank,
If you can rally, I always enjoy your perspective on the Pk4 and hearing how you edit these deep races. Big day tomorrow for all!

Chris

[trackjohn]

Frank

Try parking ranging from $40-80...grandstand admission \'pre-pay\'-$25, $30 \'on-site\'... pathetic IS is appropriate word...

[trackjohn]

Final forecast...there is 40% chance of SCATTERED pop-up storms...the maps that I just reviewed indicate that they are going to be MUCH prevalent in PA/ western NJ... they WILL Lose energy as the front gets closer to NYC... they also will be quite scattered and won\'t last more than 20-25 minutes...again...it\'s weather... anything can develop... but... IMO, will be hit/miss at worst...

[belmont3]

Frank,

As you know, my 45 consecutive Belmont Stakes streak (Canonero to AP) will end tomorrow.
Family wedding at 2 pm in Yonkers with a 6 pm reception.

Any thought of a \"Mike Smith\" detour going 10 wide from the wedding to the Cross Bronx and Triboro....well all this GPS tech cancels that concept. Looks like a 1w 1w from the Bronx to Woodcliff Lake NJ. At least I have the Twinspires mobile app with video.

So, best of luck tomorrow! Cash some tickets and enjoy.

As to the \'Belmont\' experience, our normal Pa caravan bought 8 tix at $150 each. Only 2 are going. I am sure the 8 count as official \'attendance\'.

[Edgorman]

FrankD. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Klueless Kay and his \"enhancing the guest
> experience\" crew may want to re think their
> program?
>
> In an attempt to create a derby week like
> experience for the Belmont Stakes they have come
> up with a festival concept with entertainment,food
> trucks, etc...
> NYRA does not post attendance other than the Spa
> with season pass holders counted every day and on
> Belmont Stakes day. If anyone has been trackside
> the past two days and cares to make a guess? From
> my TV, computer and phone viewing races it looked
> none too crowded, I be surprised if today was even
> 10K.
>
> The two day handle was a shade over 20 million
> with 20 races. Every Spa Saturday last summer
> handled 20 mil plus. There were 7 races today with
> 7 or less entries, in those races after early
> scratches be they trainer or vet plus gate
> scratches a mere 40 horses ran in those 7
> races.The pick 5 the sequence had 28 horses that
> opened the gate! REALLY!!!
>
> Tomorrow will certainly be interesting I\'m putting
> out the over under on attendance at 50K. The mega
> day concept had a horse going for the triple crown
> in it\'s first two years.
>
> Their shameless price gauging promotion of \"the
> festival\" does not get a passing grade without a
> triple crown on the line.
>
> King Andrew wants to cap the casino dollars at 7 %
> up to 46 million previous deal aside that gave NYS
> a billion dollars in property. Now the Toys R Us
> crew is left to pick the pockets of the Spa
> tourists and the daily players.
>
> On to Belmont tomorrow for $30 parking, $25
> admission  lots of empty seats and $15 Heineken to
> push a few K through the windows, BRILLIANT!!!
>
> PATHETIC,
>
> Frank D.

Frank,
Today, Friday

There were more ushers working () than patrons sitting in reserved seats on second and third floor. I would estimate 100 -200 people total in entire grandstand/clubhouse.  Perhaps the \"Festival\" at $25 was overpriced??? Duh.  Maybe seats for $1 would have brought in new fans??
I also remember last year, live triple crown, stands were empty Friday also. What marketing genius makes these decisions??
At least the ushers wiped our seats and kept the riff-raff out. Jeez