On the Fairgrounds meet~
You know what bums me out even more about our site disappearing? The FAIRGROUNDS race meet is finally starting Thanksgiving! I've had to wait 2 years for this track to open up again since the hurricane destroyed it, but now I won't be able to post my picks on Hottalkers for it! (Yes, I know they had their so-called Fairgrounds meet last year at Louisiana Downs, but let's face it, it just wasn't the same. To me it was just an extended LaD meet.) So, I may post my picks here on my blog, if I have time to do it daily. Heck, maybe Hoosier Carol will even show up every once in a while to score me and then send me a t-shirt or hat or something, hahaha. (Just kidding Carol, don't go mailing me anything)

Plus that brings up another question- What's Fairgrounds going to be like this year? Sure, the track may be renovated, but the area SURROUNDING the track is the problem. It's a part of New Orleans that is still a mess from the reports I've seen... so are the trainers that typically take their horses there going to show up this year? I know some of the smaller LA trainers will be there, but what about the larger trainers? They like their upper-class living outside of the track. I'm curious to see who shows up down there this year.

And then there's the question of what the wager handle will be like at Fairgrounds. Even with Internet wagering it won't make up for the actual attendence at the track being down. We'll see what happens.

Also another point on that subject... I know the racetrack casino laws have pros and cons to what it's doing to the main attraction to the tracks (people spending more money in the casino instead of on the horses), but I have to wonder what effect the hurricane would have had on Fairgrounds if it didn't have state racino money helping out... would the track even be able to keep its doors open? Heck, Churchill is having to pay for repairs at what, 3 tracks under their ownership that were damaged by natural forces last year? They're probably thankful that the state of Louisiana can help pay the bill for at least one track...