Players can only be squeezed so much
I saw a very interesting thing in an advertisement for the Aqueduct racino, or Resorts World New York, as the Big A is now known. Actually, what was interesting is what I didn't see.
There were pictures of people at the slots and electronic table games, people dancing, dining, and generally having a great time. What I didn't see was a reference to a horse at any time. It must be a dirty little secret that horse racing is going on somewhere on the grounds. None of the employees is letting on.
My concern is that no one cares about the horseplayers in this state. We continue to support this enterprise while getting nothing in return. The horsemen have been thrown the proverbial bone and will dutifully serve the master. The lifeblood of the sport, the horseplayers, get kicked again.
When does the price of playing this game, the takeout, go down? If it did, the track could actually survive on its own, as numerous studies have shown. But bettors are ignored.
Allow me to let the New York Racing Association and the horsemen in on another dirty little secret. A few years from now the state is going to say that it can no longer afford to subsidize your losing enterprise. When that happens, try coming to the horseplayers for another takeout increase. Sorry, we'll be gone. Then, in turn, so will you.
Caveat vendor: You need to recognize who has paid the bills and help us now.
Russell A. Weber - Amityville, N.Y.
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