We can't or the industry cannot look back. They have to bond together at this point in timeand understand this loss could bury the game. Racing without getting in bed with casinos was never going to see the attendance it once did, I don't disagree with anything that is written below. But here we are. racing needs the exposure it got from FDTV and should it not be replaced we and they will see even more demise. Racing is built for OFF TRACK no matter where you play it's not just the game it is where we are as a society globally. Fans are going to show up on big days but it is much easier for the real players to do so in a much more convenient way throughout the year. Adapt, learn have the smarts to move this entity forward.
Chuck
Terry-you were one of the first/maybe even the first people to see the harm
that casinos at racetracks has done, and is so glaringly obviously doing.
Not to mention the massive decrease in attendance that came with it, nor
the massive decline in attendance that OTB’s, and later ADW’s have played a
huge role in as well, with host fees making the tracks less than half of
they would from an on track bet.
All those things you’ve just said. But it’s really sad. And most of the
industry is still completely disillusioned-partly because they are
receiving a paycheck from it all.
smh
On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 09:45:45 PM EDT, thomas dejnozka via Derby wrote:
Terry-you were one of the first/maybe even the first people to see the harm
that casinos at racetracks has done, and is so glaringly obviously doing.
Not to mention the massive decrease in attendance that came with it, nor
the massive decline in attendance that OTB’s, and later ADW’s have played a
huge role in as well, with host fees making the tracks less than half of
they would from an on track bet.
All those things you’ve just said. But it’s really sad. And most of the
industry is still completely disillusioned-partly because they are
receiving a paycheck from it all.
smh
On Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 9:37 PM Terry Bjork via Derby
> First the various ADWs like TVG wormed their way into various states and
> sucked all the handle out of the state racing programs' OTBs and even
> racetracks.
>
> Then the OTBs and even some racetracks closed because there was no
> handle revenue to support them anymore, and the remaining racing bettors
> were left with no choice but to watch the sport on channels like HRTV
> and TVG.
>
> Out in the hinterlands even until today you'll be surprised by running
> across TVG / FanDuel TV playing on a TV in some little bar or gaming
> machine casino somewhere. Often the same bars that used to be OTBs,
> dutifully playing the races at the request of patrons including the few
> remaining horse bettors sitting on their barstools betting races on the
> their phones via Twin Spires or FanDuel or whatever, and providing an
> extra screen of entertainment to the bar in general. All while those
> bettors ship most of their handle dollars out of state to the big ADWs
> with a few paltry "source fee" dollars left over to support what's left
> of the home state's racing program. If any.
>
> But now no FanDuel TV either so poof! no more showing racing in all
> those little backwaters across the country. Will those bettors keep
> betting when all they have left is their phone screen? Will anyone new
> be exposed to horse races? They sure don't have local tracks anymore.
>
> If only, back in the day, someone had come up with a proposal for a
> single industry owned ADW hub and racing channel dedicated to pushing
> the content of all tracks out into the hinterlands. Like maybe backed by
> some national racing marketing association. Dedicated to growing the
> customer base and handle instead of just bleeding it dry while they could.
>
> But it really doesn't matter anymore. All the big players have
> successfully transformed themselves into casino companies. Racing was
> the wedge in but is no longer necessary.
>
> Terry
>
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First the various ADWs like TVG wormed their way into various states and
sucked all the handle out of the state racing programs' OTBs and even
racetracks.
Then the OTBs and even some racetracks closed because there was no
handle revenue to support them anymore, and the remaining racing bettors
were left with no choice but to watch the sport on channels like HRTV
and TVG.
Out in the hinterlands even until today you'll be surprised by running
across TVG / FanDuel TV playing on a TV in some little bar or gaming
machine casino somewhere. Often the same bars that used to be OTBs,
dutifully playing the races at the request of patrons including the few
remaining horse bettors sitting on their barstools betting races on the
their phones via Twin Spires or FanDuel or whatever, and providing an
extra screen of entertainment to the bar in general. All while those
bettors ship most of their handle dollars out of state to the big ADWs
with a few paltry "source fee" dollars left over to support what's left
of the home state's racing program. If any.
But now no FanDuel TV either so poof! no more showing racing in all
those little backwaters across the country. Will those bettors keep
betting when all they have left is their phone screen? Will anyone new
be exposed to horse races? They sure don't have local tracks anymore.
If only, back in the day, someone had come up with a proposal for a
single industry owned ADW hub and racing channel dedicated to pushing
the content of all tracks out into the hinterlands. Like maybe backed by
some national racing marketing association. Dedicated to growing the
customer base and handle instead of just bleeding it dry while they could.
But it really doesn't matter anymore. All the big players have
successfully transformed themselves into casino companies. Racing was
the wedge in but is no longer necessary.
Terry
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Terry-you were one of the first/maybe even the first people to see the harm
that casinos at racetracks has done, and is so glaringly obviously doing.
Not to mention the massive decrease in attendance that came with it, nor
the massive decline in attendance that OTB’s, and later ADW’s have played a
huge role in as well, with host fees making the tracks less than half of
they would from an on track bet.
All those things you’ve just said. But it’s really sad. And most of the
industry is still completely disillusioned-partly because they are
receiving a paycheck from it all.
smh
On Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 9:37 PM Terry Bjork via Derby
> First the various ADWs like TVG wormed their way into various states and
> sucked all the handle out of the state racing programs' OTBs and even
> racetracks.
>
> Then the OTBs and even some racetracks closed because there was no
> handle revenue to support them anymore, and the remaining racing bettors
> were left with no choice but to watch the sport on channels like HRTV
> and TVG.
>
> Out in the hinterlands even until today you'll be surprised by running
> across TVG / FanDuel TV playing on a TV in some little bar or gaming
> machine casino somewhere. Often the same bars that used to be OTBs,
> dutifully playing the races at the request of patrons including the few
> remaining horse bettors sitting on their barstools betting races on the
> their phones via Twin Spires or FanDuel or whatever, and providing an
> extra screen of entertainment to the bar in general. All while those
> bettors ship most of their handle dollars out of state to the big ADWs
> with a few paltry "source fee" dollars left over to support what's left
> of the home state's racing program. If any.
>
> But now no FanDuel TV either so poof! no more showing racing in all
> those little backwaters across the country. Will those bettors keep
> betting when all they have left is their phone screen? Will anyone new
> be exposed to horse races? They sure don't have local tracks anymore.
>
> If only, back in the day, someone had come up with a proposal for a
> single industry owned ADW hub and racing channel dedicated to pushing
> the content of all tracks out into the hinterlands. Like maybe backed by
> some national racing marketing association. Dedicated to growing the
> customer base and handle instead of just bleeding it dry while they could.
>
> But it really doesn't matter anymore. All the big players have
> successfully transformed themselves into casino companies. Racing was
> the wedge in but is no longer necessary.
>
> Terry
>
> _______________________________________________
> Derby mailing list
> Posting: Derby at lists.derbylist.com
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I feel a little strange posting here as it looks everyone is elsewhere on the Net. But I do feel compelled to air my feelings on the discontinuing of the only RacingChannel this sport has and by far I would say the biggest exposure this sport gets on a daily basis.
When the TVG product morphed into FDTV all we heard was the "dedication"to the sport from the heads of this muti billion-dollar company. And here we are today with its winding down of what they called dedication. For my $ two of the biggest "progressions"in recent years have been this channel giving the sport it's exposure and the involvement of HISA.
With The Big A in the midst of it's last days, and rumblings of who will step up and where can we find replacements for the tracks that have closed. Which we have not. Where does racing go from here? One has to ask. Not only have tracks closed but OTB's as well all over this Country with the in-home concept of this game and betting for various reasons.
In conclusion, I would say that the tracks have to work together to try and find the exposure for themselves that FDTV gave them and the sport that they run. To echo othersnot only did it give us the races, from all over the globe. It gave us Charity drives and The Eclipse Awards to name a few. Caton Bredar said it best when she said, "if no one picks up the pieces here everything they built would have be for nothing." Well said, Caton.
Here's to the enjoyment that those who have done the work and brought us those races and pieces and shows and info in front of the camera and behind. Then to be told we don't need you anymore as it does not fit with our bottom line anymore.
So, let's hope all involved here realize how their bottom line well be affected by the decision to pack this channel in after all these years. This all started in my backyard with Call-A-Bet. Then taken out to So Cal by the Stronach Group and branded HRTV then TVGtook over and then we saw FDTV. The tracks need this exposure, let's hope they figure it out.
Chuck
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1. 3 topsville somebeach
2. 4 g b gram
3. 4 vicious
4. 4 donegal Luther BEST BET
5. 2 samhara
6. 4 American dealer
7. 6 himself
8. 6 Lyons Benjamin
9. 3 speculating
Sally
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The annual Derby List Triple Crown contest is back for 2026. It starts
this weekend.
Go here to register. Even if you were in it last year you have to
register anew.
https://derbylist.com/contest/register.php
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BC government cut the slots crack off, so no more tbred racing.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/horse-racing-shut-down-permanently-hastings-park
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People don’t know how close all these slot track are to closing. KY is deep
in on the crack now tho so racing will never kick it
On Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 12:26 AM Terry Bjork via Derby
> BC government cut the slots crack off, so no more tbred racing.
>
>
>
> https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/horse-racing-shut-down-permanently-hastings-park
>
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