Depending on the situation, the word change either invokes a religious like fervor for reform, or reduces people to quivering masses of fear and uncertainty. One thing is certain, as the hands of time move ever forward, change inevitably becomes – well, inevitable.
This isn’t some random rant about recent national elections. I tend to shy away from direct (or even abstract) political musings wherever possible. They are simply too divisive. That doesn’t mean that every potentially divisive issue must be ignored or swept under the rug though. Some you have to just come right out and confront.
The “change” we’re talking about here is within the sport of horse racing. As anyone who has read this blog before knows well, I had the opportunity to take part in the NTRA online marketing task force several months ago in Las Vegas, where a group of bloggers, fans, and others involved with horse racing were asked to come up with a way to market the sport to a new generation of fans.
I blogged a bit about this, then sort of went back to business as usual only making passing references to what was done. As my recent post about horse racing needing to “tell it’s own story” showed, some recent events have brought things back to the surface. Namely, the state of affairs following the retirement (or near-retirement, since technically there still “could” be one last race – although it won’t be the Clark Handicap) of thoroughbred racing’s richest horse: Curlin.
Recently I ventured over to Alex Waldrop’s blog on the NTRA website. During my trip to Vegas, I had the pleasure of meeting Alex and left convinced he was possibly the only guy in the world that could “save” horse racing. I still feel that way. He’s been out in the forefront of some aggressive “change” reforms all year long – pushing to ban race-day drugs from the sport as much as possible, and trying to unify a typically pessimistic “we can’t accomplish that” base.
I’m pleased to see that he’s out in front again, talking about “innovative reforms”and pointing out that in a declining economy with rapidly evaporating handles at out tracks that we “don’t have the luxury of allowing disagreements (such as ADW disagreements) to disenfranchise players.” He then asks what other innovations fans want to see – and I encourage anyone who cares about the state of horse racing (whether you agree with me or not) to sound off.
You can see my long-winded, “Take Back Saturday” infused response as the 4th comment to the post. Actually, I kind of look like a raving psychopath in hindsight. I assure you all that there were paragraph breaks in the comment as I typed it - although now it looks like one jumbled, run-on sentence…but I digress. The point is that we should all speak up. And yes, I wholeheartedly concede that the possibility exists I may just be a raving psychopath. I must concede the possibility exists, at least.
To summarize my feelings, I know that Alex is focused on cleaning up “drugging”, resolving the ADW issue, and on improving human/equine safety within the sport. I feel all of this is well and good, but that none of it will really matter if we don’t find a way to give our sport more relevance. This is largely a repeat of my previous column, but I’ll stick with it until the message gets through. If the only thing that matters in our sport is one day, and indeed 2 minutes of one day (the running of the Kentucky Derby), then all the reforms in the world won’t save us, no matter how fitting, proper, and necessary they are.
What say you? Oh yes, and please, if you’re passionate enough to leave a comment here, I beg of you to comment over on Alex’s post where the NTRA willactually hear what you have to say. It matters not if you agree or disagree with my stances, the important thing is to stand up and be heard.
In lighter news, is anyone planning on purchasing a “moneigh” for a loved one over the holidays?
I agree, it is great that he is trying to save the sport, but the PETA people are not going to be the ones who will keep the sport going. The NTRA needs to engage young fans who are going to keep the sport alive first.
Don’t worry about it…there’s a little bit of the raving psychopath in all of us. Well, all except Alex Waldrop, who’s a politician.
Kevin,
Thanks for the post and for commenting directly to Alex Waldrop’s most recent blog. I am certain he will respond directly in the next few days.
I continue to believe that racing, and by that I mean our best races, needs greater context. You call it “Take Back Saturday”; I call it context.
But for a very small number of races – including the path to the Ky. Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, both of which are not perfect by any means – our sport features some 51,000 races annually in the U.S. offering very little connection and relevance (or context) from one race to another to anyone other than those of us who love the game and follow it closely enough to know how to put the pieces of the puzzle together with no directions. To others – think mainstream media, general sports fans, etc. – the puzzle is a disconnected, disjointed maze. And more times than not over the last couple of years, when these types have focused on our game something bad has happened.
Will these people bet a ton? No, at least not at first, but some 10-15 million people do tune into watch the Triple Crown, so there is some interest (including wagering interest) out there beyond our core audience of 7 million players.
I have zero to little interest in NASCAR, but I know what some guy named Johnson just accomplished. It’s not because I understand the points system or follow the races that comprise the Sprint Cup (I’m not even sure that is the name). I just know he did something rare by winning three straight Championships. Likewise, I didn’t watch a single golf tourney that was part of the FedEx Cup, but I know what it is and I know Vijay Singh (the cheater) won it.
Horse racing is a great game that needs greater context.
A agree with you totally Kevin. I went on NTRA, read Alex Waldrop’s write-up and commented on it. If they post it check it out and tell me what you think!! (-:
@Amy – what’s this? Man’s wife agrees him? Surely a sign of the end times. I should probably encourages all sinners to repent!
@Ray – I’m nothing if not a raving psychopath – at least on my good days. Good to see you, Mr. Paulick – always an honor when you stop over.
@Keith – I wholeheartedly agree! Sounds like we’re basically saying the same thing. Call it context, relevance, Take Back Saturday – whatever nomenclature the point is the same.
About the 51,000 races – that’s really why I thought we should focus on our marquee events – namely the prime stakes featured each Saturday at various tracks. I doubt we’ll ever be able to give real meaning and context to a Wednesday bottom-rock claimer at any track – but a Grade 2, Grade 3 – heck, even a listed stakes has top flight runners (or close to them), history, and potential future ramifications depending on the outcome. If we can get folks to better understand the connection between the preps and the Triple Crown – and then the big summer stakes from Saratoga to Del Mar and beyond on the road to the Breeders’ Cup – we can make it work.
Love your points about NASCAR and PGA – I don’t watch ‘em either, but know exactly what you’re talking about. That’s also part of my point. Folks who know as little about the NTRA and horse racing as I do NASCAR and PGA knew that Big Brown was hurt. Now we just need to get them to understand the importance of Curlin, Zenyatta, Pepper’s Pride – you name it.
@Brian – rock on, brother! Thanks for chiming in. If I’ve said it once I’ll say it a thousand times – young folks like you with a passion for horse racing are the FUTURE of this sport. I really appreciate you adding your voice to the discussion.
Kevin, thanks for the welcome to TBA, it’s an honor to be part of a group so passionate about the great sport of Thoroughbred racing. I’ve been enjoying your posts, including this one… very well written. I have known Alex W. as a business associate, and he is certainly dedicated to changing the status quo in racing.
One thing I would like to add about our never-ending challenge to attract new fans to the sport is this: how much has ADW really contributed? Not much from what I have seen. For our sport to survive, we need to get new people out to the tracks (and, alternately, the OTB’s). Horse racing is a social sport and begs to be shared with others. How many old race fans do you think you will find in the future who claim, “I got interested in racing by watching my dad (mom, uncle, friend, whatever) bet online.” Just something to think about…
Laurel Park had a couple of promotions recently with Octoberfest and a Beer and Wine Festival. I got a bunch of people (20 and 30 somethings) to go to these things and we all had a good time drinking, eating, and playing the horses. Several said they were having fun and wanted to go to the races again -that they just never realized how much fun it was. Perhaps it’s the type of people on the infield at Preakness that should be targeted with drinking based promotions and commercials showing hip young people drinking and cheering for the horses. God knows how many stupid events and festivals my friends attend just for cheap beer and none of them are as much fun as going to the track.
Kevin – Thanks for taking the time to stop by NTRA.com and leave such a great post. Your comments are on the mark. Better yet, you have caused many others to add their views on the matter. These are some of the most thoughtful comments that we have seen in awhile. Rest assured, not only do we read and consider ways to implement these comments but so do many others with the ability to affect change in many of the ways referenced in the comments. “Straight Up” may appear to be the vanity project of a CEO who wants to see his words in print but in fact it is the most effect tool we have to hear from real horseracing fans like you and your readers on a host of important issues.
Don’t let my perhaps too politically correct blog confuse you. It is intended to stir new ideas and to provide a platform for those like yourself who want change in this business. But as you have learned the hard way, be prepared that your comments and ideas may not always be presented in indented paragraph form.
Hey Kevin, did you check out Alex Waldrop’s blog? They published my comment finally. If you get a chance let me know what you think about what I wrote. (-:
@Mary – very, very interesting. I had never really thought of it in that light but I see your point now. I’m probably the exception in that my 4-year-old, while he’s been to several tracks (Belmont, Pimlico, Laurel) – mostly experiences horse racing from the couch watching TVG and watching Daddy bet online. But you may indeed be onto something there…definitely something to ponder.
@Jerry – wait, I missed a Jerry drinking engagement at Laurel? What was I doing? How did I miss that? Can’t wait to buy you a beer at the track one day, buddy.
@Alex – it’s an honor to have you stop over, Alex. I know how much you care and that’s why I encourage folks to speak up and make sure you hear. I’m betting that sometimes folks may think I’ve drunk the kool-aid and just become a total NTRA mouthpiece/spokesmen – but I challenge anyone to meet you face to face and not walk away convinced that you are the only guy that can get us back on the right track.
I’m also comforted to know that you can now see I’m not usually mono-paragraphic in my insane ramblings. I do ramble on, sometimes incoherently, but I do usually try to incorporate sentence and paragraph structure.
@Brian – of course I checked you out, buddy! Well done! I”m always proud to be able to say I know you. Ironically, your musing about “existing and desired state” – if I didn’t know better I’d think we work at the same company. I actually work for a certain famous Japanese auto-manufacturer and that kind of problem-solving analysis has been ingrained in our culture for as long as they’ve been around (don’t worry, I’m not a car salesmen, I work in a cubicle in an office supporting processes flows and being involved in improvements/initiatives – tings like that). Basically what I’m saying is – “you a speaka my language!” (now if only I could smile and give you a vegemite sandwich)
….gratuitous “Men at Work” reference…it came from the 80’s!!!!
Haha, thanks Kevin!! I love being able to give my imput when it comes to anything horse racing!! (-: