Pooling resources

Under the umbrella of NTRA, lies NTRA Investments LLC.

Within the framework of what passes for inter-track agreements and ADW revenue distribution, lies a gaping hole the size of the game.

What is there to prevent NTRA Investments from finding a backer, say The Jockey Club or Sheikh Mohammed or Halsey Minor(what happened to him?), and co-signing a loan to start up an industry standard ADW-wholly owned by the NTRA? Since the NTRA is not-for profit, it could pool all the ADW wagers and distribute them according to source, without regard for its own profit. A central clearing house if you will.

The office gets to market the game as well as the gambling and has a say regarding the direction of the revenue stream.

Every track pays a fee or a contribution to enter into deal (much like they do now). NTRA (backed by the loan or whoever) agrees to match all source contributions, thereby doubling the pot.

All wagers are funneled back to the host tracks with an administrative fee assessed by the NTRA, say 1%, to cover stamps, and bolster the original pot. Since host tracks and wagering tracks are in the agreement, the allocation of revenue is agreed upon no matter the source. Laurel to Gulfstream or Yavapai to Belmont. It doesn't matter.

Tracks get their money and gamblers get to bet on whatever track they want without blackouts. NTRA could buy out an ADW with the loan or start their own and build it to compete. Get somebody who knows what they're doing. Franchise it, have one in every shopping mall. Dream BIG.

Use the recognition, such as it is, of the office to promote the game and the ADW and have a say in the integrity of the sport.

At the end of the year, the pooled money is distributed back to the tracks according to whatever metrics they want, based on all source revenue; or field size; or fatalities per start...whatever.

Say, for argument, ten tracks sign up and each pays in $50,000. The total pot, after matching, becomes $1,000,000 plus whatever additional monies result from the commingled ADW revenue pool. At the end of the year, if the money is distributed evenly, every track gets at least double their money back, which they could turn around and funnel back into the pool or use for purses or, say, I don't know, customer service amenities.

Get a big name sponsor, or any sponsor for that matter, to support the initiative and back the loan or even fund the matching up to a certain amount. They have exclusivity of marketing and the game gets a financial kick in the pants.

If tracks dispute the revenue sharing or the percentage of distribution, institute a system of punishment where revenue could be subtracted from the offending track but with a penalty commensurate to a third of the infraction on the plaintiff track.

So, if Gulfstream thinks Laurel, over the course of the year made out to the tune of $30,000 at their expense, it could petition to have Laurel's end of year distribution reduced by the 30k-Gulfstream would not get that money, it would just stay in the pool. In addition, for filing the complaint, Gulfstream's distribution would be reduced by a third of the stated amount, or 10k. This would prevent tracks from just frivolously bitch slapping each other around.

The initial stake is the thing. Who is going to back it?

But who wouldn't join it and why?