JC / Railbird

The Sport Archive

Good News/Bad News

Bay Meadows attendance up, handle down (Daily Racing Form). One thing that pops out in this article is the mention of the Memorial Day crowd, which, at more than 11,000 fans, was the largest single-day crowd at Bay Meadows since 1993. Hm … the Belmont Stakes crowd this year was also record breaking, and the attendance at Suffolk for the MassCap was the largest ever at more than 17,000. Is there a trend here? Perhaps racing’s future isn’t as bleak as commonly believed (Boston Globe).

Posted in The Sport on June 23, 2004

Same Old

Just another Monday at Suffolk — small crowd, small pools, quiet in the grandstand. What a change from Saturday, when more than 17,000 fans turned out for the big race, live music played, Japanese journalists wandered the clubhouse, and owners filled the paddock. Of course, it’s not just Suffolk — tracks all over struggle with low and declining attendance (Washington Post), with only a few posting gains (Thoroughbred Times).

Related: Poor Funny Cide (Daily Racing Form). He drew a standing ovation from the grandstand crowd on Saturday and was competitive to the end of the MassCap, but Mike Watchmaker won’t cut him any slack for his recent performances.

Posted in The Sport on June 21, 2004

Yankees Suck!

Here’s an interesting idea (Blood-Horse).

Posted in The Sport on June 19, 2004