The Big A, a/k/a the world\'s largest pigeon coop, reopens for racing
Wednesday; DRF reports that NYRA may be filing for Bankruptcy before
the end of this month.
Last year, when NYRA was on the verge of Bankruptcy, my dear father quipped that
he couldn\'t believe the track was declaring bankruptcy before I was.
The possibility of an equine herpovirus outbreak at Monmouth could, but
hopefully will not, affect racing up and down the northeast corridor.
Between the utter state of disrepair of two of NYRA\'s facilities and the
potentially unfriendly political environment for racing in New York State, some
of the entities which submitted bids for this franchise must be wondering why
they even bothered.
And maybe this will be the way NYRA retains the franchise--no corporate suitor
will really be interested in NY Racing after it has struck the proverbial
iceberg.
My opinion is that a bad state of racing in NY is bad for racing nationwide.
David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, has numerous times said that a strong
franchise in New York strengthens the entire league; he just can\'t figure out
how to get the Knicks away from the Dolans.
Listen folks--owners, breeders,publishers,racing fans,anybody who derives income
or pleasure (or both) from racing--to take a line from one hit wonder Thunderclap
Newman\'s great song \"Something in the Air\", \"We\'ve got to get together sooner or later\".
Racing needs national governance. The NTRA, by offering discounts on John Deere
tractors and Dodge pickups,isn\'t really attacking the major issues.
Like Drugs in Racing. Steve Asmussen, issued a stiff six month suspension.
In Asmussen\'s absence, Scott Blasi, his stand in, has saddled 645 runners, winning with
120 of them. Where was the punishment here?
Like better scheduling of stakes races, so a race like the Sword Dancer at
Saratoga, which annually draws about 5 runners, is not run on the same day as
the Arlington Million.
Like better regulation/ coordination of racing and breeding so overpriced, over-
insured stallion prospects do not head for the breeding shed after minor
injuries.
Like a stronger TV presence, so important live races are not shown on tape delay
after an NCAA Division II Women\'s softball semifinal game is completed.
Like a bonus system which keeps racers racing. Hey, I just thought of one:
X million dollars for a horse who wins a Triple Crown
race and a Breeder\'s Cup race over the course of their career.
Way more than enough already. The best ten days of the handicapping year begin
tomorrow.
And by the way, I loved the discussion of the length of the thoroughbred. In my
30 plus years of racing/handicapping, my answer to the question is that the
average thoroughbred is either a nose too short, a head too short,or a neck too
short.
Richie,
Nice piece of editorial literature. You should send it to the major TBRed rags for an editorial piece.
It\'s funny you say that live racing on TV will be seen after the completion of the womens softball event is over. It\'s sad but true and relects the relative interest of the rest of the country in this NICHE SPORT, or is it a sport anymore? It\'s just gambling first and a sport second, sad to say.
Where is the advertising for the BC on ESPN? has anyone seen it?
Yeah\'I\'m betting that Zito\'s horse finishes second too Todd, as he certainly can\'t win a race at Keeneland this meet.he\'s sitting on the duck going into the last week.
NC Tony
Nice going richiebee on that post and nct is right , it\'s the kind of stuff that should be in major publications .
In reading the Dark Cloud article in the Form I was agahst when getting to the part about upcoming opening week stakes races at Aqu . Though I guess it doesn\'t matter if excuses are made in advance or after the fact , but by the time the reader gets to that part of the story - the good stuff definately gets relegated to the status of \"pointlessness\" ...
Instead of the usual \"villians\" from outside the sport bringing it down , it seems like those who supposedly benifit from racing while at the same time are , in principle , \"friends\" are really not certainly around either in promoting the Big \"BC\" Day or racing at the \"Big A\" for that matter ...
In a manner of speaking - perhaps at this juncture , only the \"Poly Tracks\" have the \"Juice\" with the media when it comes to proper marketing and good public relations ...
NCT and Marcus:
Thank you for your kind words.
And you both have a very good point--that Racing has done a poor job of promoting
Breeders Cup Day in a manner designed to bring new fans into Racing. I have
always thought that 2 obvious ways to accomplish this would be to make a dirt
cheap (50 cent) Pick 6 wager or tie a National Lottery into BC day where the
winning Lottery number was determined by the order of finish of the BC races. I
think this was done for years in New Hampshire.
The only racing event which has leached into mainstream American culture is the
Kentucky Derby, which has the advantage of a 130+ year tradition and being held
in the same location year after year. The Derby has become a truly American event
where people are encouraged to drink too much and women are encouraged to wear
too little-- not that there is anything wrong with that.
Also sad is the inability of Racing to get mainstream sponsors for BC Day. I\'m
sure we will all see the same sponsors we have seen year after year-- Alberto
Culver, Dodge, John Deere, Bessemer Trust and Emirates Air-- all of whom have a
longstanding affiliation with Racing and all of which sponsor individual BC
races. The inability of Racing to lure mainstream sponsors is probably one
reason why no one at NBC is mourning the loss of the BC broadcast rights.