I’d just like to take a moment here to officially tip my hat to fellow TBA blogger Dana Byerly of Green But Game. You see, Dana wrote an outstanding post today calling on the NTRA to do more in publicizing Curlin’s historic run at Cigar’s all-time earnings record, and Alex Waldrup, CEO of the NTRA has taken notice!
It’s amazing, is it not, that we have possibly the greatest horse of the modern era making his 2008 U.S. debut at Churchill on Saturday, and almost no one outside of die hard racing fans knows about it. This is the kind of event that should be trumpeted from roof tops. There should be TV commercials building the hype for weeks on end. We always say we want superstars – and by golly now we’ve got one in Curlin.
For those of you that aren’t familiar with Dana, she’s an oustanding blogger and someone I’m greatly honored to be affiliated with through the TBA.
Stop over and check out her letter to the NTRA, as well as Alex’s official response.
Most of you know how big a Curlin fan I consider myself – he’s the horse that first convinced me to blog about my passions. I think Dana is 100% correct that we need to do a better job of promoting the sport – especially after Big Brown’s Triple Crown flirtation and debacle.
I can’t thank you enough, Dana, for calling attention to this matter, and I’d also like to thank Mr. Waldrup for responding to you and posting about the issue as well. Slowly but surely it seems bloggers are making a difference, and it’s quite inspirational to learn that folks really are listening. As I said above, it’s an honor to even be associated with you.
Standing applause for Dana here at The Aspiring Horseplayer!
Now everyone reading this get ready to watch the Horse of the Year tomorrow at Churchill – and don’t forget the other stakes they’ve got on the card for the day. Days like this are just what the doctor ordered for anyone still suffering from the Belmont blues.
Wow, thanks Kevin, and of course, you’re welcome!
Go Curlin!
This is the kind of event that should be trumpeted from roof tops. There should be TV commercials building the hype for weeks on end.
Great call. We have always been treated as a second class sport. Why, I do not know? There is certainly more of a mystique in equine athletes than human ones. The media does not do our sport justice. That’s where you come in Kevin.
BAKIN
They could start by showing the Steven Foster on mainstream cable channels. AFAICT Curlin is a Gr-1 caliber horse on dirt although expert opinions vary. I think he should run a prep at Arl for the Million to see if he can handle the surface and if all goes well, point to the Champion Stakes in England. That would be more interesting than not watching him romp in a few dirt races before getting shipped to Japan to prep for the Japan Cup Dirt, or reading rumor about running in the Arc with a horse that’s mostly Canadian bred anyway and planting American flags.
It’s worse than them just “not doing our sport justice,” there’s a flat out void where horseracing should be. I’m trying to get my picks in for roadtothebreederscup.com and I can’t find anything at all on two of the prep races for tomorrow. I don’t think I should have to go to a gas station near a racetrack to buy the DRF to find that out. I didn’t have to do that to find out who the Celtics are playing.
I wish I did get HRTV, but how many other sports fans have to subscribe to a special channel to get everyday news on their teams (unless they root for a team on the other side of the country). Nah, theirs is tacked on to the end of the 6 o’clock news every night for free.
Even at work, people follow football games live on company computers, but horseracing is banned: “Policy Denied — Gambling.” They’re gambling on football!!! We aren’t even classified as “sport.”
Ok enough venting, but when Curlin went to Dubai it should have been newsworthy enough that they were touting the American representative going for the gold in the World Cup.
I wish I could watch him run. Guess I will have to see if I can sign up with an internet gambling site that will transmit the race.
Oh, and I just got done reading Dana’s post. Very well written and I’m glad she sent that in. However I cannot read Alex’s reply; he’s “Policy Denied.”
Aarrgghhh! Darn! – I know what you mean rifkind1969. I actually don’t get HRTV either (only TVG) despite numerous letters to Directv. I’m guessing I’ll have to watch on streaming video on my PC or head up to the OTB. I’ll probably opt for the PC version since I can stay home with the family then.
All the more reason it’s so crucial that Dana did that open letter post – and they hopefully have taken serious notice. Judging from Alex’s reply, it seems they have. His post was titled “we’re listening” and was all about her letter. Cool stuff.
Obviously I’m up late tonight because I’m so nervous about Curlin I can’t even sleep.
Curlin’s probably sleeping like a baby curled up on the floor of his stall. He knows his mares and retirement are already ‘in the bag’ so to speak.
hope you don’t think this is the first time NTRA & Alex has heard this…they & others have been hearing it from Bellwether Productions for Five Years…we need all the help we can get…Long Live The King!!!