Horse racing continues down the pipe.

Well, the report came in this week, horse racing continues down the drain. All predictions are that it will continue to do so, if un-abated by some actual action to turn it around. All indications are that NOW is the time to hit the street running with any half decent plan that might bring new fans to the game.

After the display of insider betting at Saratoga yesterday, I have to wonder if the principles of horse racing could possibly take a break from abusing current fans/bettors to spend a little time and money to round-up some new ones. It seems that there is little chance of that happening, because the best way to round up new fans/bettors would be to fill the public in on how to play the horse racing game. Something that the principles seem to want to keep to themselves.

In my 35 years of observation, I would say that keeping the public in the dark about what the game really is, is what has brought horse racing to this point. Full lottery ticket lines, and empty seats at the horse racing venues. Millions of people taking up the lottery because they want to play a game, instead of being gamed, all of the time. Sure, players will lose their asses on lottery games too, but, at least the winning scratch-off cards aren't marked so that the convenience store owner can snag them while selling a dud to the customer.

This is what it comes down to for horse racing, the public perception is that of an unfair game, or a game played on them. At this point, the only turn around possible is to go beyond lame attempts at changing this perception, all the way to making this perception incorrect. The time has come to enthusiasticaly apply the one remedy that might bring two lost generations back to horse racing.

That one remedy, is for the race tracks to unhand their advantages in the betting arena, and equip the public to play the game, as opposed to playing games on the public.