It’s rare that anyone in the racing industry does anything online that I think warrants much praise. More often, racing’s approach to the Internet seems to be of the frustrating two steps backward-one step forward variety (see Equibase and its change to PDF-only race chart delivery). But a recent news item deserves glowing mention: Churchill Downs announced last week that they would begin offering podcasts and videocasts on their members-only Twin Spires Club site. Fans can now get barn notes, handicapping talk, interviews with horsemen, etc. so long as they’re signed up for a free Twin Spires membership. Props to Churchill for trying out these emerging media; may other tracks and the NTRA pay attention and perhaps even pick up on the idea. Podcasts, videocasts, and blogs are exactly the kinds of things the sport needs to incorporate into its efforts to keep existing fans engaged and create new ones (particularly among the young and tech-savvy).
Somewhat related: Shortly after Ashado sold at the Keeneland November sale for $9 million to Sheik Mohammed, Maryjean Wall reported in a column that consignor Taylor Made had marketed the mare with a swanky leather-bound album to 45 potential bidders. This is a great example of how well one corner of the racing industry reaches out to a defined, select audience.
What almost nobody seems to do nearly so well is reach out to the masses, which is why this article about owner Rick Porter and his successful RockportHarbor.com web site so delighted me. Porter started the site last year to showcase his then-promising two-year-old colt. When Rockport was sidelined early in his three-year-old campaign with a nagging foot injury, Porter realized he could also use the site to keep fans up-to-date on the rest of his stable. And it’s worked. Porter and his trainer, John Servis, now have a devoted fan base that congregates on the site’s discussion forum, turns out for barn tours, and cheers on all of Fox Hill Farm’s starters. All of which suggests that there are a lot of fans out there who aren’t necessarily hardcore horseplayers, eagerly seeking to connect to the sport in a more casual, fun, and personal way. Porter’s managed to tap that — the question is, when will the rest of the industry figure out how to apply its marketing know-how in a similar way on a larger scale and get more of these people involved before the sport slips into even further irrelevancy?
Posted by JC in Web/Technology on 11/29/2005 @ 9:45 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Every bit of news that comes out about the state of the Jockeys’ Guild post-Wayne Gertmenian points to an organization in a deepening crisis. This week, Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal reports that the Guild owes jockeys $440,000 because its former management used members’ savings accounts to fund operating expenses. Guild attorney Barry Broad, who has accused Gertmenian of leaving the Guild in “financial shambles,” said only $200,000 remains in the organization’s operating account as of last week, which means the Guild is in the red $240,000 just in money owed to riders. (Never mind the unpaid office rent and health insurance premiums or Gary Birzer’s lawsuit.) “The problem now is if everybody wanted their money back at once, the Guild would probably be bankrupt,” said Broad. [Thanks to Robert Colton for the pointer to Mullen’s article.]
Posted by JC in Jockeys' Insurance on 11/29/2005 @ 12:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– New York racing fans know the passage of seasons by the racing calendar — springs comes with Belmont, fall arrives when Saratoga closes, and winter begins when racing moves to Aqueduct’s inner track, as it does on Wednesday. This year, the inner track will remain open two weeks longer than usual, until March 29, owing to the main track’s inability to handle cold weather. Several races will be affected by the lengthened inner track season, including the Gotham Stakes, run in mid-March. Instead of being a one-turn mile on the main track, it will be a two-turn one and a sixteenth on the inner.
– Horses are shipping into Gulfstream Park in advance of opening day on January 4. Afleet Alex arrived on Monday. Trainer Tim Ritchey is considering the Donn Handicap in February for the dual Classic winner. First Samurai, trained by Frank Brothers, shipped in the same day. The two-year-old will begin prepping for a likely Kentucky Derby campaign at the track.
– What’s next for Todd Pletcher, racing’s first $20 million trainer? “With Pletcher, absolutely nothing is impossible.”
– Hong Kong Jockey Club officials said that one North American invitee to the Hong Kong International Races won’t be starting at Sha Tin on December 11 after testing positive for anabolic steroids. Officials wouldn’t name the horse or its connections. A look at the list of runners announced on November 23 though narrows it down to four (and the flight schedule reveals all). The United States is the only country in which equine steroid use isn’t illegal, although it’s not entirely condoned either.
Posted by JC in News on 11/29/2005 @ 11:45 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
