Playersboycott.org: Horseplayers Boycott Keneland

Join us by not betting one track -- Keeneland -- for one month -- October 2017. That's it.

Together we can convince Keeneland
to reverse their decision.

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Keeneland Announces Partial Rollback of Takeout Hike

Keeneland has announced a partial takeout rollback for their upcoming spring 2018 meet:
  • Win-Place-Show to 16.0% down from 17.5%
  • Exacta to 19.5% down from 22%
  • Pick5 remains at 15%, all other exotics to remain at 22%
 The Bloodhorse.com | by Frank Angst 02-07-2018--
Keeneland to Reduce Takeout Ahead of Spring Meet:
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/225999/keeneland-to-reduce-takeout-ahead-of-spring-meet

--quote:

"Noting that 57% of wagering on its races is either win, place, show or exacta wagering, Keeneland will reduce takeout in those pools. Takeout in the win, place, and show pools will be reduced from 17.5% to 16% and exacta takeout will be reduced from 22% to 19.5%. The 16% rate on win, place, and show matches the previous rate before the fall 2017 increase and the 19.5% exacta rate nearly matches the previous 19% rate.

Takeout is the amount of money removed from each pari-mutuel pool largely used to pay tracks and purses. Essentially it's the price of wagering on horse racing.

Keeneland vice president of racing and sales Bob Elliston said the track expected some pushback on its fall 2017 takeout increase—"nobody likes a price increase"—but the quality of the points made by many customers made an impact. That pushback included a Horseplayers Association of North America boycott of the Keeneland fall meet."

--end quote.


This would not have happened without support from a lot of horseplayers.

I want to say THANK YOU to every single horseplayer who stood on principle and bet less at Keeneland last fall than they otherwise would have.

--Jeff Platt, HANA President


Keeneland Announces Takeout Increase

Horseplayers Announce Boycott

Keeneland has announced a takeout increase for their fall 2017 meet beginning Friday October 6, 2017:
  • Takeout at Keeneland for Win Place Show wagers will be increased to 17.50% (the maximum allowed by Kentucky state law.)

    --This is an increase of 9.375% vs. the previous takeout rate of 16.00%.

  • Takeout at Keeneland for Exacta, Double, Trifecta, Superfecta, Pick3, and Pick4 wagers will be increased to 22.00% (the maximum allowed by Kentucky state law.)

    --This is an increase of 15.79% vs. the previous takeout rate of 19.00%.
• PLAYERSBOYCOTT.org is asking horseplayers to join us in sending a clear message by not betting one track -- Keeneland -- for one month -- October, 2017. That's it. Together we can convince Keeneland to reverse their decision.


An Open Letter to Horseplayers:

Keeneland is raising takeout. Win, Place, and Show to 17.5% from 16% (an increase of 9.38%.)

All Exotics except the pick5 to 22% from 19% (an increase of 15.79%.)

HANA surveyed its membership about the Keeneland takeout increase.

When asked whether or not HANA should organize a boycott the results were:
  • 63% Yes
  • 28% No
  • 9% Other

When asked whether or not HANA should use the Playersboycott.org site, the results were:
  • 77% Yes
  • 17% No
  • 6% Other

As a horseplayer I've decided to join the boycott because I believe higher takeout is harmful to the long term health of thoroughbred racing.

As a horseplayer I believe sitting on the sidelines is not an option for me because everybody in the industry is waiting to see how players react to this.

I believe that if a clear message isn't sent: Not just Keeneland -- but other tracks -- will have takeout increases too.

When we boycotted Churchill in 2014 because of their takeout increase: They were down a solid 25% outside of the Derby.

How much of that was the market speaking and how much came from us drawing attention to the takeout increase is hard to say. But we sent a pretty clear message.

I expect Keeneland Fall 2017 numbers to mirror Churchill 2014 numbers - and be down a similar 25% to 30%.

But that may not be a strong enough message.

I believe that by getting the message out to as many horseplayers as possible -- we can knock Keeneland numbers down significantly.

I am asking you to join us by not betting one track -- Keeneland -- for one month -- October 2017. That's it.

If enough players do that:

I believe that together we can convince Keeneland to reverse their decision.

--Jeff Platt, HANA President




Ken Ramsey on a roll:


http://latalkradio.com/content/horse-081517%20#audio_play

--Hint: Scroll to about the 35:30 mark to hear horse owner Ken Ramsey talk about the Keeneland takeout increase.




On August 8, 2017 DRF.com ran an article beneath the following headline:


http://www.drf.com/news/keeneland-boosts-takeout-across-board

The following is a direct quote from the article:

--quote:
"Bob Elliston, Keeneland’s vice president of racing and sales, said on Tuesday that Keeneland has already informed the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that it intends to exercise its right to raise the takeout rates for its fall meet, which is scheduled for Oct. 6-28. Elliston said that Keeneland plans to use the additional money to boost its purses, and that the new rates would be competitive with the blended takeout rates at tracks on other major circuits.

Elliston said that Keeneland will lower its takeout rate for the pick 5 from the existing 19 percent to 15 percent as part of the new rates.

"I hope the wagering public understands that this is going to our purses to keep us competitive, it’s not going into our pockets,” Elliston said.
--end quote


The takeout increase goes into effect on Friday October 6, 2017 and you can read the full article at the following link: http://www.drf.com/news/keeneland-boosts-takeout-across-board



A rebuttal to Higher Takeout in the name of Bigger Purses:

Higher Takeout in the name of Bigger Purses isn't the answer.

Higher Takeout in the name of Bigger Purses only serves to compound the many already existing problems racing faces and needs to address.

Higher Takeout in the name of Bigger Purses has been tried before -- and it has FAILED each and every time.

Consider:

• In 2010, during the six months immediately following the takeout increase at Los Al: On track handle was down 27%. They've since cut dates and purses. And their handle today looks nothing like it did before their takeout increase.

• In 2011, nine months after the SB1072 takeout increase went into effect for California's thoroughbred tracks: There were not only purse cuts but Santa Anita announced they were 'reorganizing' and laying off one third of their staff.

The so called racing press didn't cover it.

But the local paper in Arcadia, CA where Santa Anita is located did.


http://arcadiasbest.com/2011/10/santa-anita-cuts-third-of-staff/

• In 2014, Churchill raised takeout for their Spring meet. Handle outside of the Derby was down a solid 25%. As direct result: Churchill announced a 20% purse cut for their 2014 Fall meet.

The so called racing press didn't cover it.

But Maggi Moss reported it: here on her Twitter account.


In my opinion Keeneland is doubling down on the same bad idea.

Why would anyone in their right mind think the results will different this time?

Higher Takeout in the name of Bigger Purses isn't the answer. It only serves to compound the many already existing problems racing faces and needs to address.

Join us. Together we can convince Keeneland to reverse their decision.

--Jeff Platt, HANA President




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