Hayward: There are better options than VLTs

Strike a big win for Belmont Park, and its surrounding communities, as Charles Hayward openly expressed his hesitation with VLTs. Instead, he hopes to market Belmont Park, as an elite sporting location. Now we are talking about revitalization.

From the Sports Business Journal (April 28, 2008):http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/58847Aqueduct Race Track in New York is slated to get more traditional slot machines in 2009, but New York Racing Association President and CEO Charles Hayward said he doesn’t expect many of the future slots customers to “cross over” and start betting the races.Four years ago, the largest crowd in New York horse racing history turned out to watch the Belmont Stakes, where Smarty Jones came up short in a bid for the Triple Crown. Instead, Hayward is targeting group sales efforts on Wall Street firms and law firms to find people who like things that are intellectually challenging. “You can’t take someone who is not predisposed to analysis and all the things that go into handicapping (and make them a fan). If people don’t like that, they are not going to be a horse player.”But, Hayward added, “If you get a good fan … that is a fan for life because there is no better game than betting on horses.”