JC / Railbird

You realize Lynne Snierson worked for Rockingham Park correct? She always tries to knock the horsemen for closing down Rockinghham.

This from her Bloohorse article:
“..When asked if there will be live racing at Suffolk Downs this year, the board member replied, “I think we will race. This will all get worked out. It always does.

History has proved otherwise. The NEHBPA board became embroiled in a similar contract dispute with the management of Rockingham Park after the 2002 season. After negotiations broke down and an impasse was reached, Rockingham switched to harness racing and the New England Thoroughbred circuit ended.”

Funny she fails to mention Ed Callahan’s famous lie, and put in in the lap of the horsemen. Sloppy journalism, hey the Bloodhorse will hire anyone these days for $20/article. The truth of the matter is the horsemen had a verbal agreement worked out with Ed Callahan who the next day lied and said the agreement never happened. Rockingham’s ownership ran the place into the ground sucking up every dime, pushing out thoroughbreds in favor of trotters who they could give 20,000 a day in purses. The ownership thought they would get slots, reap giant profits and give tiny purses. All the greedy owners died without seeing the pot of gold. They killed racing for nothing.

I enjoy your blog Jessica, but don’t link to every article as gospel. People like Lynne Snierson have an axe to grind and their writing is a passive aggressive attempt to get back at the horsemen.

Posted by Wallace Phipps on February 21, 2011 @ 9:39 am

>> the Bloodhorse will hire anyone these days for $20/article.
________________

I sure hope my pal Mr. LaMarra is making more dough than that.
It comes back to the price of Yuengling (again) LOL

Posted by The_Knight_Sky on February 21, 2011 @ 2:59 pm

The point was if they were hire a talentless person like Snierson, then they aren’t exactly scouring the ivy leagues for talent. Mr. LaMarra is obviously head and shoulders above Snierson.

Posted by Wallace Phipps on February 21, 2011 @ 6:07 pm

Thanks for the comment and the additional context, Wallace. I think what happened at Rockingham is very much in the minds of everyone following the dispute at Suffolk.

What Snierson reported re: the offer under discussion was accurate; her source’s claim that Suffolk threatened to close in March if it doesn’t get the signals back by February 26 less so.

Posted by Jessica on February 21, 2011 @ 7:20 pm

You are welcome Jessica. It is hard to read some of these writers with an axe to grind, I would have thought the bloodhorse would vet out some of these writers before using them. I understand they are freelancers, but that is all the more reason to fact check them even more vigorously.

Posted by Wallace Phipps on February 22, 2011 @ 2:18 pm

Thank you Wallace. I too have been reading all the bs about how Rockingham Park was closed due to the horsemen. Rockingham closed because management flat out lied to the horsemen that they had an agreement. They lied the next day and said they never agreed. Negotiations were ended. They were a greedy bunch and Ed Callahan will go to his grave knowing his lies and deceit ended Rockingham. That his handshake and word mean nothing.

Posted by Jh on February 22, 2011 @ 5:38 pm

I think a deal will be done in the next day or so. I am no longer a board member (the rockingham bs was enough to sour me) but still dialed in. Good luck to the horsemen and the track. Put this behind you, and get expanded gambling once and for all….

Posted by Jh on February 23, 2011 @ 7:02 am