Railbird 2004–2019

Archive for 2008

Plonk’s Pipe Dream

Jeremy Plonk lays out a year of racing with staggered meets, staggered post times in his latest ESPN column:

Beautiful, except that the Belmont fall championship meet is missing, and relegating Suffolk Downs to winter racing seems harsh. What about the MassCap?

Posted in The Industry on November 12, 2008

It Bears Repeating

A reminder: “Web 2.0 is a conversation.”
See also: “He was the first politician I dealt with who understood that the technology was a given and that it could be used in new ways.” (There’s a lesson for racing in that understanding.)
Will do: “Look for the NTRA to continue its efforts … with a heavy emphasis on wikinomics.”
Just one small thing: “The age of crowdsourcing your way to success is over.”

Posted in Racing & Technology on November 11, 2008

The Best Surrogates

Writes Vic Zast, in praise of the noble turf scribe:

These writers have access and research capabilities that bloggers and fans don’t…. The NTWA member has been conscientious in serving the sport. It’s the turf writer that takes the lead position on most crucial issues and expresses the opinions of fans in his writing…. They are the best surrogates of the fans, if the fans themselves are not represented …

Funny Zast should post those words today. This morning, turf writer Steve Haskin’s inaugural 2009 Derby Trail column, on the subject of Sheikh Mohammed purchasing promising Kentucky Derby prospects Midshipman and Vineyard Haven, disappeared for several hours after it was initially posted on Blood-Horse, with the only trace of the original text this snippet on Google:

Briefly, the missing column looked like a repeat of a 2006 incident in which a Haskin article on Bernardini’s retirement was pulled, raising questions about whether Blood-Horse had acted in response to advertiser pressure, but according to regular commenter EJXD2, “a well-placed BH insider told me that it had been posted w/out being edited” (via tweet). And Indeed, the column reappeared online, with edits throughout, starting in the first line (the text preserved on Google above):

Everyone knows by now that Sheikh Mohammed wants to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), as evidenced by the amounts of money he’s spending for ready-made Derby horses.

Notice the missing word? It’s one you often hear in reference to the marvelous sums the noted sportsman deploys to procure elite equine talent; it’s one you might expect a conscientious surrogate to use in a column full of observations and insights — not a piece of straight reportage — on the Sheikh’s renewed pursuit of his Dubai-to-Derby dream. And the questions suggested by that adjective — well, you might expect such a respected turf writer to take a lead position on the issues raised by the actions and plans of such a prominent owner and breeder, and you might expect that his editor and publisher would allow him to express that position.

I guess the fans will have to represent themselves.

Posted in Media/TV/Film on November 10, 2008

Readings: Smith

Excerpts from a Red Smith column (“The Melancholy Days are Come,” New York Times, 12/17/1971) that seem apt for this chilly, wet afternoon on which the Aqueduct feature, named for the much admired sports writer, is the final graded turf stakes in New York for the year and apprentice Jackie Davis earned her second career win aboard 9-1 Americanus in the third. Fellow “lady” bug Maylan Studart also picked up a win in the fifth on 6-1 Senor Enrico over the sloppy track.

Now is the winter of their discontent, the melancholy days without a thoroughbred running this side of Philadelphia, the cruel times when New York horseplayers are thrown upon the mercy of Howard J. Samuels and his off-track gambling hells.

Beaming through charcoal-gray darkness, yellow lights on the tote board at Aqueduct gave the time as 4:29 P.M. when the winner reached the finish of the 2,187th race of the season. Moments later the reedy voice of Fred Capossela came over the public address system for the last time…. On laggard feet, 25,380 immortal souls took their leave.

Reluctantly, they would go home. They would note with interest how the children had grown since March. Somehow they would get through 76 dark days squandering their earnings on rent and bed and shoes until the sun would shine again, however bleakly, and the bugle would call the horses to the post….

In the catacombs below stands, a man rapped on the door marked “Lady Jockeys.” “Are your eyes gray or blue?” he asked Robyn Smith. “Green,” she said, “but right now they’re red and green.”

Lady on Horseback

She was wiping away mud kicked into her comely face by Canning and Sip Sip Sip, who had burst out of the fog and rain and gloom in the last few yards to finish one, two in the final race and mete her back to third aboard Advance Warning.

The world’s prettiest jockey had five mounts on Getaway Day. She won smartly with Princely Margin at $50.39 for $2, was third with Advance Warnings and third with Schnappy, an 18-1 shot, finishing sixth and seventh with the others. Princely Margin was her 15th winner of the Aqueduct fall meeting. In 51 days she had 124 mounts and finished third or better with 37. Only nine males had a higher winning percentage.

“You’ve made it in the toughest league in the world,” a visitor told her. “You are one girl who has done what the others talked about.”

She agreed with a matter-of-fact nod….

“Has there been one ride that gave you special satisfaction?”

“The day at Saratoga when I rode Beaukins to a track record for Allen Jerkens….”

Posted in Readings on November 8, 2008

BC to Cut Ticket Prices, Meet With Fans

11/8/08 Update: Inspired by the election outcome, Dana wrote about Self Appointed Fan Committee and the upcoming meeting with the Breeders’ Cup, at which fan issues with the event will be discussed, over on the Blood-Horse. Give the BC feedback: “The door is open and they’re ready to listen but it’s up to you to shove your foot in the door and make your voice heard.” (And thanks to all those who have submitted!)
—
Sports Business Journal reports this week that the Breeders’ Cup is considering ticket price cuts for 2009:

“We have heard from some of our constituents that our pricing was high, so we are going to address it,” Land said (SBJ subscription required).
One requested change that won’t likely come to pass is moving the Distaff/Ladies’ Classic/Filly & Mare Classic to Saturday. The Breeders’ Cup plans to run all the distaff divisions on Friday again next year.
But perhaps the BC can be persuaded to consider alternatives?
On the eve of this year’s event, the Take Back the Race petition was sent to BC officials with 242 signatures, and Land responded with a gracious note, writing, “We certainly like to hear from our fans.” That wasn’t just politesse. A mid-November meeting is being organized by BC VP Peter Rotondo and my SAFC co-collaborator Dana Byerly of Green but Game (who had the pleasure of first chatting with Rotondo last month) at which fans will get a chance to air their concerns with BC officials. Unfortunately, only a small group will be in the room or on the call, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to feel left out. Take a few moments to tell the Breeders’ Cup what’s on your mind: Visit Self Appointed Fan Committee and share your thoughts on anything BC related. Whether about saddle cloths, the race schedule, wagering, camera angles, or Hank Goldberg and his piggy bank, we’ll make sure all submissions are passed along. Fans have the attention of the BC; take advantage of the opportunity.

Posted in Breeders' Cup on November 3, 2008