FUN SHINES AT LONE STAR
On Belmont Stakes weekend at Lone Star Park, I provided the
paddock commentary for a vacationing Dave Appleton. I have been to Lone Star
Park in a variety of capacities – all of them work-related. Back in the ‘90s, while I was still calling
races at Louisiana Downs, I was also an executive casino host at the Horseshoe
Casino & Hotel and I hosted a group at the races. In 2006 I covered the Bank of America Challenge
Finals at LS for TVG. And last year I
did a book signing at Lone Star with Jack Van Berg for his biography, “JACK,
From Grit To Glory.” My visits to Lone
Star Park in Grand Prairie for racing, national simulcast wagering or horse
sales, have surely not been plentiful, but I think I have figured out the lay
of the land. It’s a nice place. In fact, it’s a very nice place!
For Lone Star park to be successful, the huge population of
the DFW metro area calls for: 1.) a nice
facility; and 2.) good attendance – and they
both. The racetrack (and Bar & Book)
is run like it is a feature attraction; it is clean, contemporary and a fun
place to see and be seen. I was also
very impressed with what appears to be a very large demographic of young and
novice guests. Across the nation we hear
and read about racetracks not being able to lure new fans to the track. That’s not the case at Lone Star – they are
there. However, just because they have arrived, that does not mean
they are officially new fans. It only
means, their presence = potential. As
with any business, potentially new fans won’t likely return if they have a poor
experience. Fortunately, the mantra of
the “Winning Experience” that Scott Wells, President & General Manager of
both Lone Star Park and Remington Park, perpetually perpetuates is alive and
well at both properties. You can really
feel it. Across the board, the employees
I encountered all greeted me with a smile and they seemed happy to be providing
a service.
The 600-pound gorilla in the room is that Texas is entirely bordered
by states with not only horse racing, but full-on casino gaming. There is a daily flow of millions of dollars
in revenue that streams out into the coffers of those bordering states. It is boggling to me (and I am not alone) why
that cannot change. If gaming laws
change in Texas, it is widely believed that racing at Lone Star Park will gleam
as bright as racing in New York, Kentucky and California.
But until it does, Lone Star Park continues to be a steadfast
and stylish host to horse racing, concerts, large group events and in whatever
way fun may manifest itself at the
racetrack.
Chris Kotulak 6.10.2015
Broadcast, Marketing & Communications Assistant
Photos by. Dustin Orona Photography
Photos by. Dustin Orona Photography
