June 23rd, 2011 §
With NASCAR ranking as the number one spectator sport in North America, there is undoubtedly widespread interest in racing.
A race, in and of itself, is exciting.
There is something awe-inspiring about watching a single soul triumph over any comers to the challenge, whether in a track meet, stock car showdown or witnessing a Thoroughbred racehorse blaze past their opponents in a simple refusal to lose a race.
Racing, in any form, highlights the excitement of individual achievement above and beyond many other sports.
The very nature of racing is that a single victor bested a field of several contenders that arrived with all of their eyes on the same prize. And, in the end, it is the lone champion that captivates an audience long after a race is run.
NASCAR’s marketing gurus figured out the value of the individual athlete many decades ago. And, they showcased their athletes in response. Within fifteen minutes of wandering onto the NASCAR site, I left with the ability to name a few leading drivers, point to a couple legends in the history of the sport and access plenty of videos if I chose to learn more about the sport.
And, unlike many major horse racing sites, it was free to learn how to actively participate as a potential fan of NASCAR. I didn’t have to open an account or pay to watch races. Their champions, past and present, were easy to spot. I just clicked, “Drivers,” and there were plenty of drivers to read about and learn why they are exciting figures in the sport.
In contrast, horse racing doesn’t have a free industry-supported site that gives away non-stakes race videos or past performance records of the athletes that are currently racing. We also don’t showcase our champions throughout the history of the sport to potential fans at their first access point to the sport.
It made me wonder about techniques for marketing horse racing so that newcomers may find an interest in our sport, and ultimately, visit the track for a race.
Wouldn’t it be great if the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) had an introductory video compilation of some of the greatest moments in racing when a visitor arrived at their home page? A newcomer could see the glory of Secretariat racing in the Belmont, Zenyatta winning the Breeder’s Cup Classic, Seattle Slew being crowned the only undefeated Triple Crown Winner, along with plenty of other magnificent racing moments during their first glance at our sport.
What if the NTRA posted all of the live track feeds and race replays in one location for free on their site? A newcomer wouldn’t have to dog hunt from track-to-track to find a race or set up a wagering account to learn more about horse racing.
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a timeline of the historical moments in racing, with free video footage, for newcomers to browse when they visited the NTRA site for the first time?
What if the NTRA published a list on their home page of every Eclipse-award winning horse and provided a biography of each Champion for a newcomer to learn about the Kings and Queens of our sport?
Finally, wouldn’t it be nice to see horse racing being promoted via television advertisements and on billboards near major tracks? NASCAR doesn’t wait for mainstream media to get interested in their sport. Instead, NASCAR jumps right in to mainstream culture with ad campaigns geared toward building and keeping a fan base.
NASCAR has advertising campaigns to target their core base, reminiscing about the most captivating moments in the sport, as well as showcasing their popular drivers in the sport at the present. The commercials are emotional, fast-paced and highlight the excitement of attending the races. As a non-enthusiast of NASCAR, I actually wondered while watching a few NASCAR ads, “Why haven’t I ever been to one of these races?” It would be nice to instill that wonder in potential enthusiasts of horse racing with similarly inspiring commercials and advertising campaigns.
So, you may be wondering, why is NASCAR giving away so much information for free that fans pay for in horse racing? And, as the most popular spectator sport in North America, why is NASCAR advertising at all?
Simple. NASCAR recognizes that the athletes and the fans are what drive their sport. They showcase what draws fans to the races and continue to market to strengthen their fan base.
And ultimately, the focus of NASCAR’s website wasn’t to make money from information that was critical to learn about the sport and get involved as a fan. The NASCAR site seemed to provide fans with as much free information as possible about the sport as part of a larger goal – to drive fans to purchase a ticket to a race.
After looking at the NASCAR marketing strategies, it made me wonder what an industry-based horse racing site would look like to a curious NASCAR fan that didn’t follow our sport.
Would the NASCAR fan leave with any knowledge of some of the greatest moments in horse racing?
Could the NASCAR fan name a few of our champion racehorses throughout history?
Would the NASCAR fan feel like there was a community to welcome them into the sport if they wanted to attend a race and didn’t know another horse racing enthusiast?
Sadly, I believe the answer is “No” to those questions.
Yet, one vital question remains: “How can we get our core fans, along with newcomers, to come to the racetracks on a regular basis?” NASCAR’s marketing model provides some valuable ideas.
The horse racing industry should provide free access to educational tools about the sport, including past performances and race replays, to educate newcomers and showcase our athletes.
Horse racing also needs to highlight the greatest moments in the history of the sport, provide free video footage of important races throughout the ages and advertise the current excitement surrounding the sport on mainstream television.
At the heart, NASCAR’s success demonstrates that the athletes and the fans drive a spectator sport.
Put them in the spotlight first.
In the end, let the stands fill with the wonder of what may lie ahead.
June 13th, 2011 §
There was no coronation of a king at the Belmont this season, but a ruler emerged for fans to follow – Ruler on Ice.
In my view, the gelding is good for the sport.
Yet, Ruler on Ice didn’t always look good from my vantage point.
When he emerged from the tunnel for the post-parade in the Belmont, the gelding appeared rattled from the crowd as he made his way onto the track for the last jewel of the Triple Crown. I thought he was going to fall down in front of a national television audience. He certainly didn’t look like he had a shot in the Belmont.
At odds of 24-1, I felt downright bad for the guy as he set foot on the track. It appeared few had placed a vote of confidence in his ability to win at the wagering windows. The sad sight of him made me place a bet in his favor just to show support. As I viewed it, I didn’t want to see the poor guy go out there all alone.
If I had researched a thing about Ruler on Ice before making my bet, I would have known there was nothing particularly sad about his entrance into the Belmont.
At his stable, Ruler on Ice had always been the underdog, and, the gelding seemed perfectly fine with it. The top selection for the Triple Crown trail at the start of the year was Sweet Ducky. After Sweet Ducky was sold, Pants on Fire emerged as the hopeful in the barn for the Triple Crown outings. And, as the first two legs of the series came and went, Ruler on Ice didn’t seem to be targeting a single jewel.
It appears Ruler on Ice was busy sorting out his “likes” and “dislikes” as a racehorse.
As I read through the post-race transcripts for the Belmont, Ruler on Ice emerged as quite a salty character. He was gelded in an effort to calm his disposition. Yet, gelding him didn’t seem to change the bulk of his quirky behavior. Ruler on Ice decided that he didn’t like his trainer’s main barn. Instead, the gelding preferred his plain stall in the trainer’s “B” Barn at Monmouth Park. Further, Ruler on Ice didn’t like being shipped. In an effort to simply make it the Belmont, the gelding was given his own van and an attendant to pet him during the sixty mile trip to Belmont Park.
Yet, in the end, Ruler on Ice went to the wire all alone, awarding his connections with their first victory in a Triple Crown race. The “poor guy” that prompted my “sympathy bet” had just captured a commanding victory in the Belmont.
And, in his fickle-fashion, the gelding didn’t want to wear a blanket of carnations or pose for days of photos with the media. Instead, the Belmont-winner simply wanted to head back to his plain stall in his “B” barn with a single gem – a Triple Crown victory.
At the end of the day, the gelding did just that.
Yet, in my view, the victory of Ruler on Ice provided a perfect close to the Triple Crown season. As the television cameras and non-industry publications showcased the sport, the athlete and his connections rose to the occasion.
It was good for horse racing.
His owners, George and Lori Hall, seemed genuinely humbled and awestruck by their Belmont-winning racehorse. It was their first Triple Crown victory.
The trainer, Kelly Breen, appeared in an elegant hat and told the tale of how he wasn’t born into a racing family. Breen graciously thanked the winning owners for the opportunity to train their horses during the moment of glory. It was his first Triple Crown victory.
And finally, Jose Valdivia, the winning rider, stood in a beautiful juxtaposition to Breen, describing what it feels like to win the Belmont having come from a racing family. He relayed that his first congratulatory call came from his Uncle, a trainer in Peru. The rider beamed, saying he felt like he was “on cloud nine right now.” It was his first Triple Crown victory.
And, Ruler on Ice took his first step toward providing the longevity that many racing fans crave from the equine athletes in the sport. At the end of the Belmont, the salty gelding took the trip back to his plain stall at Monmouth Park and gave fans something to bet on future race cards – a Belmont-winner. It was a victory for the sport.
Yes, there was no coronation of a king at the Belmont this season, but there certainly remains a ruler.
Ruler on Ice.
I think the gelding, and his gracious connections, are good for the sport.
Thank you to horsephotos.com for the photo of Ruler on Ice in the Belmont. To visit the horsephotos.com website, please click here.
May 24th, 2011 §
Every now and then, a remarkable racehorse can elude you when it is in your direct line of sight.
And, in our home, there are few places to fix your eyes without finding a photo of some racehorse that was a remarkable horse for varying reasons, ranging from claimers to Triple Crown Winners.
It makes it hard to see the forest through the trees at times, especially when a big red oak like Secretariat has a photo of his Belmont stretch run posted squarely in the middle of the room.
When I think of the Belmont, my mind immediately drifts toward Secretariat and his 31-length victory. The photo of that moment has been hanging in the same spot for years, and, I never dream of moving it. In my view, it is a perfect snapshot of the level of otherworldly talent that deserves the honor of the Triple Crown.
Yet, this year, as two jewels of the Crown divided in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, I was left to ponder the importance of the achievement of winning the Belmont when there is no Triple Crown in contention. And, as I stared at my pictures of beloved Triple Crown winners, another remarkable horse emerged to answer my question of the importance of the Belmont when there is no Triple Crown at stake this season.
A picture of Summer Bird and my husband emerged from the tapestry of photos hanging around the house. In the photo, they are walking together in the grass like two old pals on a Sunday outing. My husband has a look of admiration on his face as he is watching Summer Bird toss his head in the air without a care in the world.
While I looked around the room at the array of racehorse photos, Summer Bird continued to peek out in various situations. In one photo, the big Chestnut is stopping to smell the flowers at Saratoga before the Travers Stakes. In another snapshot, Summer Bird is staring down my husband while he grins back at the horse, beaming with joy. And, in a final picture, Summer Bird is sniffing his new blanket of white carnations after he just won the Belmont in 2009.
As it turns out, Summer Bird’s items are such a fixture in our house that I barely even notice him anymore. He has his trophies positioned in the dining room, saddle towels in various frames and his halter hangs quietly on the kitchen wall from his start in the Kentucky Derby. On any ordinary day, I just live with his things. His presence is barely noticeable on a conscious level.
Yet, on this particular day, Summer Bird took center stage in my mind as the Belmont approaches and there is no Triple Crown in contention. I looked at my husband, Trainer Tim Ice, studying the Daily Racing Form across the room in perfect tranquility.
Unbeknownst to him, he was about to get bombarded with questions from his wife about the personal importance of Summer Bird capturing a lone jewel in the Triple Crown.
I turned to him and asked, “What do you think is the importance of the Belmont without a Triple Crown in play?” He looked up and replied without much thought, “It’s the oldest race in the Triple Crown series and the first time that a three-year-old horse is asked to run a mile and a half.”
In his mind, the matter was closed.
Yet, it wasn’t closed at all in my mind. I shot back, “What about when you went to the Belmont with Summer Bird. How did you feel when you realized he had won the race?” He looked up at me and considered his answer more carefully this time around.
He gave a humble smile and answered, “When Summer Bird got clear in the stretch, I stood watching and said to myself, ‘Oh my God. He’s going to win the Belmont.’”
His description of the moment seemed to prove the magnitude of the race in its own right and the glory that falls upon any horse that claims the final jewel.
Then, I looked over at the Belmont trophy that sits in our home. Suddenly, it stood out as I considered the moment Summer Bird earned that trophy as he shot out from the pack to claim his victory in the Belmont Stakes.
I also considered the other Belmont-winning horses, whether they won the Triple Crown or solely the final jewel in the Belmont, and was awestruck by the idea that all of the winners stood next to same trophy.
A Triple Crown trophy itself, in any race of the series, holds something sacred. They are holding the same trophy that all Triple Crown winning teams stood next to at some point in racing history.
It occurred to me that holding a single jewel of the Triple Crown makes a horse a king, even if it is just for a day, whether they hold all three gems or a lone jewel. And, for those who have stood in the winner’s circle in any Triple Crown race, it appears that the moment lasts long beyond the winning garland.
It lasts a lifetime.
I considered the original picture on the wall, the two of them walking side-by-side, without a care in the world. And, I had to ask, “What was it about Summer Bird that made you so happy?”
Tim replied without any hesitation, “Just being with him made me happy. You see, I wasn’t just his trainer. I was a fan of him.”
And, in retrospect, it seems that Summer Bird was just as happy to be walking side-by-side with his friend and admitted fan, whether they were en route to a race or simply enjoying an ordinary day.
In a recent trip to Kentucky, we visited Summer Bird at Paul’s Mill Farm. And, that morning, the portrait of the friendship between the two standing side-by-side was brought to life before my eyes.
There is no doubt that Summer Bird recognized his old friend when his former trainer entered his sight. It was as if they maintained a repertoire with each other that outlasted the stallion’s racing career. Summer Bird was downright giddy and appeared to bask in moment the two of them took a walk together outside of the barn. It was as if the photo in our home had come alive for a brief moment in time.
As we left the stable that morning, the Champion made a long noise as he watched his old friend walk away. I asked Tim, “Do you think he recognizes you?” And, in an easy reply, he answered, “I think he recognizes me. We spent a lot of time together.”
I replied, “Did you hear him make that noise at you?”
Tim laughed, “Yes. He was hollering at me.”
I joked, “What did he holler at you?”
Tim smiled and said, “He hollered that he would love to race again.”
And, as we walked away, it appeared that the two of them would never forget the day they captured a jewel in the Belmont.
PHOTO CREDITS:
Summer Bird with Carnations. Photographer: Dianne Boothe. (Website: http://www.nyraracingphoto.com)
Summer Bird at Saratoga with Flowers. Photographer: Cathleen Duffy. (Website: http://www.thehorsewhisper.com)
Summer Bird Winning Belmont. Photographer: Dianne Boothe. (Website: http://www.nyraracingphoto.com)
Summer Bird and Tim Ice Staring at Each Other in Stable Area. Photographer: Cathleen Duffy. (Website: http://www.thehorsewhisper.com)
Summer Bird and Tim Walking With Each Other. Photographer: Adam Mooshian. (Website: http://www.adammoosh.com)
May 14th, 2011 §
They call her the “Black Flash.”
An imposing mare holding an undefeated record of 13-0 that has been grinding out victory after victory at top-level outings against every male challenger that sets foot in her domain.
They call her “The Horse that Stops a Nation.”
At least, The Australian newspaper coined that descriptor of the four-year-old racemare as the international racing community held their breath to see if she could maintain her undefeated record in her recent outing in the Group 1 BTC Cup at Brisbane’s Doomben racecourse.
And, the “Black Flash” did it with ease. As daylight stood between herself and her rivals as she approached the wire, Black Caviar clinched her thirteenth victory in a style that embodied all of the markings of being a wonder horse.
Today, Black Caviar has many racing enthusiasts in the international community wondering whether she may be one of the greatest racehorses of all time. And perhaps, she already has claimed her place in that rare territory among a few that have been struck by her majestic talent.
Yet, prior to the rise of Black Caviar on the international stage, there was the wonder of whether Zenyatta was one of the best racehorses of all time.
In a 60 Minutes segment, the crew visited her stable, where her rider Mike Smith stated, “I think she could arguably go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, racehorse of all time.” And in the eyes of many, Zenyatta does hold a firm place in the canon of the greatest Thoroughbreds to ever grace a race track with her presence.
Similar to Black Caviar, Zenyatta had many spectators holding their breath as she claimed victory after victory. And, in her final outing, Zenyatta concluded her consecutive nineteen-race winning streak with a heartbreaking defeat that demonstrated that immortality doesn’t necessarily mean invincibility.
Yet, with true class, Zenyatta stood before the crowd at Churchill Downs after her lone defeat and received an honor that is arguably greater than a victory could award – a standing ovation from the 72,000 spectators in the crowd as they paid homage to her racing career during its saddest moment.
And, despite her sole defeat, Zenyatta remains one of the greatest racehorses of all time in my view.
However, there is also a majestic quality to the racemares that have been defeated and strike back without missing a step in their race for immortality. Goldikova, the European record holder for the most Group 1/Grade I victories, doesn’t boast an undefeated record. However, defeat doesn’t detract from her immortal quality.
Since becoming the only racehorse to win three consecutive Breeder’s Cup outings, Goldikova is pointing toward a dramatic finish to an exceptional career – a fourth consecutive victory in the Breeder’s Cup this fall. And, like Black Caviar and Zenyatta, Goldikova is credited by many racing enthusiasts as being one of the greatest racehorses of all time.
In the past few years, the tracks have been graced with three racemares that arguably will be held in the canon of immortal Thoroughbreds. And, the qualities that make these racemares “immortal” are being drafted before our eyes through the endeavors of racemares like Black Caviar, Zenyatta and Goldikova.
Roughly four years ago, when Rags to Riches became the first filly to win the Belmont in over a hundred years, I thought I had just watched a historical moment in racing.
I was wrong.
It wasn’t a historical moment.
It was an important moment in racing. It was long-awaited moment in which a single filly took on the boys in the Belmont and beat them in their home court, a feat that had not been accomplished since 1905.
And, since that moment, the modern quest to hold a place among the canon of greats seems to be a “mare’s world” in racing.
May 3rd, 2011 §
When I was a twenty-year-old college student, I paid a visit home to my mother one weekend.
It wasn’t your typical visit home from college.
The reason I had come home that weekend was because my mother had just undergone one of her many chemotherapy treatments in her fight to survive breast cancer.
When I arrived at her hospital bed, she had lost the fiery red hair that made her easy to spot whenever I looked for her as a kid. She was bald and pale as a ghost now.
She had also lost the joyful presence that she carries into any room. She was tired now. You could see the pain that she was suffering in her eyes and it was absolutely heartbreaking.
In my mind, she was dying of breast cancer. I remember being a young student walking up to the nurse station and saying to them, “Do Something.” Just do anything. But sadly, as many other families know, there is only so much that medicine can do in these moments.
Yet, thirteen years later, my wish for someone to “Do Something” has been answered in a beautiful turnaround of events.
As for my mother, she is among the lucky women that have been fortunate to survive breast cancer. I am happy to report that her joyful presence has returned and she has regrown her red hair that makes her easy to find in any crowd. And, my favorite place to find her today is in survivor walks to help find a cure for breast cancer.
However, she isn’t the only redhead who is doing something in the future for breast cancer.
Thirteen years after my mother became a “survivor,” a redheaded filly showed up. And, this filly is also hoping to “Do Something” that contributes to a cure for breast cancer in her own domain – the race track.
West Point Thoroughbreds currently plans to race a two-year-old chestnut filly that will be donating a share of her winnings to support finding a cure for breast cancer. When the filly begins racing, 2.5 percent of any of her winnings will be donated to a breast cancer charity. West Point will also provide a 2.5 percent matching donation whenever the filly wins a race.
So, you may wonder, what inspired West Point Thoroughbreds to race a filly for breast cancer? Simple.
It hit home at the company.
As Shannon Castagnola of West Point Thoroughbreds explained, “We are a small company. There are eleven full-time employees, but seven are women.” She continued, “Breast cancer awareness is something we must all confront at some point or another. It could be your mother, aunt, your sister, or your wife.”
Castagnola noted, “My mother was diagnosed 5 ½ years ago, in October of 2005.” After seeing the “Think Pink” Breast Cancer initiative on Oaks Day, Castagnola recognized that breast cancer awareness was a cause that racing could benefit. She explained, “I remember clearly looking out at the Oaks crowd last year, seeing an absolute sea of pink, and thinking ‘They get it, they want to embrace this cause.’”
And, in the end, West Point Thoroughbreds has embraced breast cancer awareness with the one beautiful filly. When I asked Castagnola about the filly’s demeanor, she said “She’s a big, strong filly and she has a great mind.”
In my view, there couldn’t be a more perfect way for a racehorse to start out a campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer.
The filly is currently nameless - just like many of the women in the statistics that we see about breast cancer. But, when she hits the home stretch in her first race, many racegoers will hopefully know her name and her reason for racing. She will be adorned with pink silks, according to Castagnola.
So, in the end, just like my mother in the survivor parade, there is one more redhead that I can spot in a crowd that answered my call to “Do Something.”
And, with her pink silks and strong build, I hope to spot the redheaded filly in the same place where a find my mother today.
I hope to see her in the winner’s circle.
To learn more about the breast cancer filly through West Point Thoroughbreds, please visit http://www.westpointtb.com or contact Shannon Castagnola at shannon@westpointtb.com.
April 27th, 2011 §
Recently, a male handicapper and I were engaged in a debate about treating racehorses with respect regardless if they win a race.
My opinion was pretty clear: The horse comes first in horse racing. It is never acceptable to bash any horse because they failed in a race or caused a bettor to lose money. We aren’t racing automobiles. These are living creatures that deserve respect despite any outcome in a given race.
The male handicapper’s opinion differed from my viewpoint. In his opinion, a losing horse can cost a bettor a lot of money. And, as he pointed out, a professional bettor relies on his winnings as income. It can be a cause of frustration when the horse of your choice loses a race since it impacts your earnings.
At the close of our exchange, I believed that we had simply agreed to disagree on the subject of what racing means from our personal vantage points.
Yet, moments after ending our debate, I received a private message from the same male handicapper. And, in three classless words, he made my blood boil with his sexist ignorance about women in racing.
“Female Racing Groupie.”
Those were his words to describe my enthusiasm and participation in horse racing as an owner, blogger, bettor and racegoer.
Admittedly, I have a healthy sense of humor and a thick-skin when it comes to silly remarks. And, although I’ve never been called a “groupie,” it made me laugh to envision myself hanging out in a dress next to horse trailers to try to grab the attention of a (male) member of the industry to let me stare at a racehorse.
I can stare at them anytime I like at the track without a male escort to guide me or babysit me while I am betting.
So, why am I so disgusted with this remark? In my view, it wasn’t simply an attack on myself as a racing fan. It was an attack on females and their role in racing.
In this man’s mind, a guy is a fan if he is at the races. If a lone woman without a “Rockefeller” portfolio or a slew of children is standing at the track, she is a “female racing groupie.” And, the only separation between a respectful title and a denigrating descriptor for the exact same activity is the gender of the racegoer.
Now, I’m not saying that all men share this view. There are plenty of males who embrace both women and men equally at the track and I am thankful to call many of them friends. Yet, I would like to put to rest a couple of sexist ideas that a few bad apples in the batch like to use as bargaining chips in classless commentary.
Women have a role in racing. The female roles are as follows: Owners, Breeders, Jockeys, Trainers, Bettors, Backstretch Workers and Fans. And, when we are being fans, we aren’t being “groupies” or cheerleaders to handicappers or the men in the industry. We are fans in our own right. Fans of horse racing.
As fans of horse racing, women have every right to get excited or emotional about a horse, just like their male counterparts. I imagine that plenty of men, along with women, cried in many exhilarating moments of racing. Jack Nicklaus admits that he cried as he watched Secretariat win the Belmont by 31 lengths. And, he wasn’t the only spectator without a dry eye at that moment from most accounts.
And, women had every right to get excited when Zenyatta won the Breeder’s Cup in 2009 and when she made her campaign for Horse of the Year in 2010. During that period, I read more than a few comments about how women were “just being emotional” about Zenyatta. I am at loss for words on why we weren’t supposed to be emotional while staring at a horse that is arguably among the greatest mares of all time.
It does this sport no justice if average female fans and participants are trivialized as being “groupies” or if we are considered to be irrationally “emotional” when we get excited about our equine athletes and the welfare of the horses.
Yes, Zenyatta, as well as other horses, have brought new fans into this sport in recent years. Many of the new fans are female. And, the new female racing fans won’t stay if they aren’t allowed to hold the same ranks as men in this sport.
Yet, I have been a female fan of this sport before, during and after Zenyatta appeared on the track. And, in being a female fan, I won’t stand for the new generation of women at our tracks to be relegated to “groupies” or spoken to like children.
This sport is not restricted to men. And, being a fan of it is not a title bestowed upon men alone. Being a fan of this sport is equal opportunity and the word “groupie” should hold no place in our dialogue on what it means to be involved as a female participant at any level of this sport.
April 16th, 2011 §
Last week, Toby’s Corner won the Wood Memorial and stamped his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
Beyond the surprise of many fans that Uncle Mo had been defeated for the first time in his career, a few other folks were shocked when Toby’s Corner won the race. Namely, the connections surrounding the winning colt.
After the Wood, Trainer Graham Motion commented that he hadn’t expected Toby’s Corner to beat Uncle Mo in the race. In fact, Motion stated that he had never even discussed the idea of Toby’s Corner starting in the Kentucky Derby with Dianne Cotter, Owner and Breeder of the colt.
The trainer was unsure if the Cotters even knew that he had nominated Toby’s Corner to the Triple Crown.
Yet, in a few golden seconds, Toby’s Corner delivered a victory that would provide him with the necessary graded earnings to start in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. And, in the same moment, the home-bred colt also gave Cotter and Motion the opportunity to point toward a highly-elusive prize, namely, a win in the Kentucky Derby.
Many onlookers completely missed the beauty of the victory for Toby’s Corner and his connections.
Instead, as Toby’s Corner made his way to the winner’s circle after the Wood Memorial, many fans fixed their eyes on Uncle Mo as he passed the stands in a third-place finish. The colt garnered more attention through his lone defeat than the actual winner of the race received in his spirited victory.
And, since the Wood, Uncle Mo has been subject to scrutiny that falls nothing short of brutal. The bulk of the news stories from the Wood Memorial don’t focus on the victory of Toby’s Corner, but rather, the fact that Uncle Mo finished third in the race.
Further, many racing fans are relishing in the loss of Uncle Mo in comment threads from related articles and blog posts. A lot of the opinions focus on highlighting any flaw they can find on the colt. In some cases, the comments are downright mean-spirited and hateful, not only to Uncle Mo, but to the spirit of racing itself.
There is no value in tearing down Uncle Mo, or any other horse, for competing in a race and losing it.
And conversely, there is no respect for the achievement of Toby’s Corner, or any other winning horse, if we fail to celebrate the victory.
I am fan of horse racing. As a fan of horse racing, I am a fan of horses. Being a fan of horses, I respect the achievements of Uncle Mo and Toby’s Corner in their own right, without comparison or criticism to the other athlete.
Whether a horse wins or loses a race, the equine athletes in our sport deserve respect during and after every outing.
This isn’t just racing. It’s horse racing. And, respect for the horses should remain the first priority above the outcome in a race.
April 2nd, 2011 §
Meet “Kegasus.”
“Kegasus,” a half-man, half-horse creature, is the new mascot for the Preakness marketing campaign to draw larger crowds to the infield during the middle-jewel of the Triple Crown. With his pierced nipple and beer gut, Kegasus was recently unveiled with the goal to “promote a party” at the infield festivities on Preakness day.
Kegasus’ party is intended to reach a demographic between the ages of “21 and 35 or 40,” according to Tom Chuckas of the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC). And, in order to conjure up a “Party Pro” like Kegusas in the first place, the MJC paid Elevation, a marketing firm, $400,000 to dream up this creature for the infield crowd.
Sadly, I find myself in the age demographic that has now become “Kegasus Territory.” And, being a younger fan, I feel like “Kegasus” denigrates the sport of horse racing to a drunk fest that insults the accomplishments of all of the equine athletes that will race around the oval surrounding “Kegasus Land” on Preakness Day.
In my view, the “Kegasus Campaign,” like “Kegasus himself, is marketing mythology. The idea that these alcohol-laden infield campaigns will allure intoxicated young people to throw money down during the races, and ultimately, become lifelong fans of the sport, isn’t a long-term strategy to bring newcomers, or young people, in the sport.
Let me dispel that rumor so that we can kick “Kegasus” out of the park and ask for our $400,000 back to do something worthwhile for horse racing.
Of my friends who have been to the infield parties, I hear a common reporting of their experience. Here are a few direct quotes from my friends and acquaintances who visited the infield during their twenties:
“I didn’t see a horse that whole time I was there.”
“I saw a band play and they were really good.”
“I had so many shots of Jager that morning, that I was too drunk to hit on a girl and wound up sleeping all day on a blanket.”
It has been a few years since the above-quoted individuals have been to an infield party. And, in the meantime, they have never showed a spark of interest in horse racing. In their mind, the event was about pounding down as many drinks as possible, and, if they ever feel like revisiting that experience in the future, they can go to any local bar of their choice to get “too drunk to hit on a girl” or to listen to a band play some music they might enjoy.
In contrast, as a young person that truly loves the equine athletes in this sport, “Kegasus” is a mockery of what I find beautiful about horse racing. He distracts newcomers from the horses and the stories of their connections. They become mere landscape to a liquor-slamming contest that has nothing to do with the sport.
And, for the young people who are regularly involved in this sport, “Kegasus” is an insult. If the industry wants true fans who marvel over the athletes and bet on races, they need to target young people who aren’t there for a cheap drink promotion. They need to accommodate the young people who have jobs and enjoy horses.
As a young professional and racing enthusiast, I don’t want to drunk kids falling around me while I am trying to watch the races in a sundress and heels. And, as a woman, I don’t want slobbery drunk guys hitting on me after countless shots of Jagermeister when I am trying to see if I won my trifecta. Finally, I don’t want my equine heroes to be relegated to a mere sideshow while “Kegasus” parades around the infield for drunken enjoyment.
For me, there is a wealth of beauty in this sport that can allure young people. The power of equine athletes. The human interest stories. The pageantry of the major races. The quiet triumphs in the minor races. The glamour of women in their best dresses and beautiful hats. The raw beauty of the horses as they parade past the crowd. The idea that your fortune can be changed in a single winning ticket. And, the sacred principle that an equine athlete can deliver what you previously believed to be impossible.
“Kegasus” is the opposite of all that I find beautiful in racing. And, the crowd that he will attract won’t marvel over these things. They are will come and go as soon as the cheap alcohol promotions run their course. And, when they go, “Kegasus” will be a part of how they remember their day at the race track. A beer-gutted, nipple-pierced, shirtless guy who wore a centaur-suit and glorified the idea of becoming a drunken “legend.”
If I ran the MJC, I’d want my $400,000 back and a written apology from the marketing firm that felt “Kegasus” best defined our sport for the young demographic.
And, I would start asking young people with jobs, who may actually bet or own a horse someday, about the things they find alluring and worthwhile in their world.
At the end of that dialogue, I’d put my $400,000 toward accommodating the young people who would actually return to the track with a true interest in horse racing.
March 20th, 2011 §
The Saturday Post picks their top three hopefuls for the Kentucky Derby and top three hopefuls for the Kentucky Oaks as of March 2011.
This month, we’re watching Uncle Mo, The Factor, and Soldat for the Derby, along with DancinginherDreams, Kathmanblu and Zazu for the Kentucky Oaks.
Click here to watch our video.
March 6th, 2011 §
In my last article, I pledged to write non-industry newspapers to request regular coverage of horse racing.
Since the article was published on this site, a small group of various racing enthusiasts have started a “Campaign for Coverage.”
This is my first “Letter to the Editor” to support the “Campaign for Coverage.” It was sent to The Chicago Tribune, The Altanta Journal-Constitution and The Denver Post – three major non-industry publications that do not engage in regular coverage of horse racing. To join the “Campaign for Coverage,” please click here.
Dear Editor:
I am writing to ask why your publication does not provide regular coverage of horse racing. Racing is a multi-billion dollar industry with roughly 50 million fans that follow the sport. For many fans, including myself, racing holds an endless array of captivating stories that merit coverage in the media at large.
Behind nearly every horse that sets foot on the race track, there is a human interest story. The beauty of this sport does not lie in simply watching a horse win or lose a race. It is also not a sport where “victory” is defined solely by winning a bet or earning purse money.
This sport is a portrait of the human spirit in its purest form. At the heart of racing, a handful of individuals set out with a dream, a single horse and aspirations to conquer a feat that appears impossible.
For the media at large, this sport is summed up in two minutes with a winning horse on Kentucky Derby day. However, for those involved in the sport, the upcoming Kentucky Derby started with the birth of roughly 32,000 registered foals in 2008.
The dreams surrounding those foals weren’t followed in the media. However, those foals held the dreams of countless breeders, owners, trainers and many other individuals in the industry. In large part, those stories will remain untold in the media since most of those horses aren’t on the Triple Crown trail. Yet, I am certain that there were inspiring stories behind those horses that merited reporting – Thousands of stories that will never be printed.
The story that is guaranteed to be printed is the winner of the Kentucky Derby. The media reports on quantifiable numbers. And, the Kentucky Derby has numbers that quantify its’ popularity, ranking among the fifth highest-rated sports broadcast, behind events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Men’s basketball finals.
Yet, there are a few numbers that the media should focus on right now. Currently, there are 364 horses nominated to the Triple Crown series. In other words, there were 364 horses that inspired their connections to believe that they might have found “the horse” that can win some, or all, of the Triple Crown races. Imagine the dreams and sacrifices that many of those individuals endured in the past three years to arrive at this moment. There are stories that lie within those numbers.
But, the media isn’t covering those stories.
And, currently, there are many prep races being run in various parts of the nation to determine the final twenty horses that can garner enough graded earnings to qualify for a spot in the gate on Kentucky Derby day.
But, the media isn’t covering those qualifying races.
In my mind, the failure to provide media coverage for the Kentucky Derby prep-race season is like ignoring the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament until the championship game. The heart of the coverage would be lost without reporting on the teams that made the “Sweet Sixteen,” “The Elite Eight” and the “Final Four.” Likewise, the failure to write about the Derby prep-race season ignores the excitement of those races, the accomplishments of the equine athletes and the stories on their human connections until Kentucky Derby day itself.
This is an important moment for media coverage in the Triple Crown season. And, I hope that you begin covering the journey of the equine athletes, and their connections, as they compete for a spot among the final twenty horses that are privileged to enter the gates at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.
And, after the winning garland of roses is placed on the Kentucky Derby winner, it is my hope that you continue coverage of racing beyond the remaining Triple Crown season and the Breeders’ Cup races in the fall.
I believe that regular media coverage of this sport is a valuable undertaking, not simply for the beauty of the sport, but also, for your publication. There are 50 million fans that follow horse racing. There are 50 million people who want to hear about this sport. I hope that in the future, your newspaper follows this sport along with those 50 million fans of racing.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wirth
With NASCAR ranking as the number one spectator sport in North America, there is undoubtedly widespread interest in racing. 
