Harrahs Philadelphia race dates suspended

[maywoodmaniac]

By now you've probably heard the latest news about this track:

www.harnessracing.com/news/harrahsphiladelphiaracedatessuspended.html

I agree with the many assessments that company management doesn't give two cents about harness racing or the people involved.  They regard it as the cost of doing business so they can make the real money in the casino.

Speculation has it the track will get fixed but only after the casino license is threatened if management fails to act.  They have another 6-7 weeks before racing is supposed to resume.

So it should come as no surprise what management did when they put together a PowerPoint presentation for their annual license renewal.  Check out page 16 under the headline "World Class Harness Racing" and talks specifically about racing operations:

gamingcontrolboard.pa.gov/files/meetings/Meeting_Presentation_20130625_Harrahs_Philadelphia_License_Renewal_Hearing_pdf

Out of the thousands of races they have held, management shows a close-up action shot on the clubhouse turn. Except the picture has Delvin "Ole" Insko on the lead and Jim Curran in the back, and that's probably an obscured Daryl Busse in red on the outside. Unless they experienced some kind of time warp, that wintertime shot was likely taken at Hawthorne in Chicago in the 1980s.

Talk about not giving a shit.  I wonder if anyone in the room even noticed.

I don't like hearing of race tracks closing but my guess is not too many people would miss this place.  It's a damn shame because Philly used to have great harness racing.  This place was supposed to not only help revitalize the area but put the game back on the map.  The promises (lies) Harrahs made is what won them the license.

I have never wagered on a race there and probably never will.

[3 wide and wingin]

They need to have racing to turn on the slot machines.

Ill be surprised if any live dates are missed.

Unless they can get away with having the casino without racing.

Which is actually what they want.

[3 wide and wingin]

Racing at Chester/Philly was doomed from day one because Harrahs has zero interest in harness racing

This latest fiasco is more proof of this failed raceway. Lets see if they can conduct gaming while the racing has this "suspended license

Too bad---its a beautiful facility 

It is the best venue Ive ever been at to sit or stand and watch a race.
I always wondered hwo that happened when they have 0 interest in racing.
Just luck I guess.

If they can have the casino without racing obviously that is what they have always wanted.

If it was always this easy to have that youd think they would have done it years ago.

My gut says to me its posturing and racing wont miss a day.

[Gazoo]

Sooner or later the casino and state are going to come together and eliminate funding for the race tracks.
If you own to businesses and one is making money and one is not what would you do ? you eliminate the one that's not.

You don't think the states licking their chops at the thought of getting that money that's being pumped into harness racing ?

[jordanjacob]

Sooner or later the casino and state are going to come together and eliminate funding for the race tracks.
If you own to businesses and one is making money and one is not what would you do ? you eliminate the one that's not.

You don't think the states licking their chops at the thought of getting that money that's being pumped into harness racing ?

Gazoo,

The state is getting the money anyway. Trainers and drivers are earning, and therefore paying state taxes. Very successful owners the same. Lots of people employed in harness racing receiving taxable income, vets, shippers, farriers, etc.

[maywoodmaniac]

Woodbine was successful for many years because the track and racing commission held to agreements that led to slots at the track.

Places like Harrahs Philly say one thing to get the license, then fail to do the right thing with proper administrative and marketing support for the game. Tilt it in favor of the casino getting most of the attention and you create a situation where they can start validating cutting racing out of the picture. 

Horsemen and racing commissions need to remind them of their obligations and what they committed to in the first place to earn the license.  If they don't hold up their end of the agreement, then the State should auction off the license.

[maywoodmaniac]

Possible new twist with HRU reporting attorneys representing Anthony Coletta will be allowed to inspect the condition of the track. 

Coletta suffered severe injuries in a November race accident, and HRU reported several drivers afterwards talked about problems with the track that were allegedly ignored by track management.

HRU is also reporting the track went without an outrider for 7 weeks last summer.  They even quote the executive director and how the horsemens association offered to hire and pay for workmans comp.  But Harrahs didn't budge, and of course the race operations guy wouldn't comment.

A strange situation that gets stranger by the day. 

[Gazoo]

Gazoo,

The state is getting the money anyway. Trainers and drivers are earning, and therefore paying state taxes. Very successful owners the same. Lots of people employed in harness racing receiving taxable income, vets, shippers, farriers, etc.

I know that jj   , that's not my point