The Route des Etalons will be held in Normandy from Jan. 20-21, 2024. Featuring many of the best French stud farms, La Route des Etalons will allow breeders and racing fans to view some of the best stallions in France. For more information, please visit the La Route des Etalons website.
The post French Stallion Trail Dates Set For January appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Dear TDN Editor:
Some may argue that Thoroughbred racing is a contact sport. Twelve-hundred-pound athletes running at 40 mph around an oval and navigating through holes as tight as the eye of a needle might support that reasoning. Our racing stewards are there to guard against the worst from happening and protecting the integrity and safety of the sport of Thoroughbred racing. With the eyes of a hawk, they are doing their job well from their perch atop the clubhouse. All are accredited with experience and must be commended for what they do. For example, in just 18 days of the 2023 Saratoga meeting, five jockeys have been censured for careless riding. All but one, Tyler Gaffalione, was suspended. Gaffalione appealed and had his suspension stayed.
It becomes less effective when their on-track decision making fails to be communicated to fans and players. In each of the incidents above, stewards were silent to racing constituents about why they made their decision. The reports on the New York Gaming Commission site refer to careless riding. Without the details, damage occurs. With the lack of information, the rumor germinates in social media. Thousands of fans conveniently grow their own explanations without facts and embellish the rumor. Soon the stream flows to enemies of racing and we are under attack. The last thing racing needs is the unnecessary promotion of more racing haters. Like brushfires, lies about racing and the unethical that run it and the cruel that participate in it will saturate social media. Not necessary; there are solutions.
First, each track that runs a Thoroughbred racing meet could host a symposium, virtual or live, before a meet begins where the track's stewards explain the rules that apply and how they might adjudicate an inquiry. Vignettes, real or fictional, could be used to underscore the points made. Fans and players could interact and raise questions. Such a forum would be educational. When an inquiry sign appears fans and players would better understand the stewards' thought processes as they evaluate the incident. The emotions of the pending decision would be less fueled by the loss of a wager or placement of a horse.
Second, when an inquiry is decided the stewards might immediately appear on the tote board and video feed explaining how and why in this specific case they arrived at their decision. The current approach of a flashing inquiry or objection sign followed by minutes of silence and selected replays and then the public address officer announcing, there would be “no change in the finish position” doesn't serve racing well. This model frustrates fans and players and fosters conspiracy theories and fictional explanations by anyone dissatisfied with the outcome. If there is a legitimate reason to withhold an explanation it could be offered by the stewards or their spokesperson. Fans understand the litigiousness in gambling and would accept the explanation without blame.
Finally, racing would do well to recognize the value of the millions of racing fans and players across the country. Inviting them to participate on committees or workgroups that advise racing/gaming commissions or for that matter HISA would be an initiative-taking move. In this time where transparency is a buzz word for ethical behavior more would be gained than lost by such a move.
The call to action from fans of Thoroughbred racing is “keep us in the loop.” Many of us come to this sport from professions that would benefit racing if included. Fans, if their voice is recognized and matured, could be racing's best cheerleaders.
Michael Amo
ThoroFan
Editor's Note: The Stewards' Corner section of the NYRA website has now been updated with explanations of recent decisions at Saratoga Race Course, including last Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S.
The post Letter to the Editor: ‘Fans Could be Racing’s Best Cheerleaders’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Jack Harlow, one of the most popular up-and-coming rappers in America, was in the spotlight at Churchill Downs when the 24-year-old delivered the 'Riders Up' call for this year's Kentucky Derby. The Louisville native made his visit to the races an all-day event by filming a music video for his new song entitled 'Churchill Downs.'
Named a top new artist at last year's Billboard Music Awards, Harlow's popularity has skyrocketed this year after the release of his album Come Home The Kids Miss You, which includes his No. 1 hit 'First Class.'
The 'Churchill Downs' music video was released on June 1 and instantly became a viral sensation. Performing from a glass enclosure in the infield, Harlow is joined by fellow rapper and pop culture figure Drake, who is featured in the song.
Racing fans will recognize several key moments from Derby Day throughout the video: the turn into the stretch in the GI La Troienne S. with Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) flying on the outside, Jack Christopher (Munnings) taking the lead in the GII Pat Day Mile S., and of course Rich Strike (Keen Ice) squeezing past horses in the GI Kentucky Derby.
Now less than two weeks after its release, the video has over 10.5 million views and is currently one of the top 10 trending music videos on YouTube.
Samantha Bussanich is the co-founder of Nexus Racing Club, a current Godolphin Flying Start trainee, and a big Jack Harlow fan. She has been anticipating the release of this music video since Harlow hinted at its filming during his interview with NBC Sports at the Kentucky Derby.
“In our generation, Jack Harlow is really the next big thing,” she said. “Especially with him being from Kentucky, it's a really big deal to have a superstar like that. All my friends that I went to school with were asking how they can go to the races and maybe see Jack Harlow.”
Bussanich took to social media to share her excitement, but received a surprising stream of backlash from many who disagreed with her belief that a social influencer like Jack Harlow can be positive marketing for racing.
One common argument was that people in their early to mid-20's should not be racing's target market because young people don't have the time and, more importantly, the money to contribute to the industry in a meaningful way.
Busssanich, who recently spent a stint in Australia during her Godolphin Flying Start training, explained that the Australian racing industry is an example of effective marketing that targets an array of race-goer demographics.
“If you're involved in racing at any level, you know that Australian racing is doing it the best,” she said. “Owners, bettors and young people all have a good time. A lot of people get defensive about who is racing's target market. I think that there are multiple target markets and everyone is vital to the success of the industry.”
She pointed out a club in New Zealand called Boy's Get Paid, which was founded 10 years ago by a dozen young men in their mid-20's. According to their website, they were founded as “a group of lads who loved to back a winner.” Their numbers grew over time and today, Boy's Get Paid has over 18,500 members. At the 2020 Karaka Million, their group of 450 people bet $250,000.
“People on social media talk about how the college kid betting $15 or $20 isn't that important, but if you multiply that by 50 or 100, they become vital for the game,” Bussanich explained. “With Jack Harlow's video, even though it might not seem like the biggest deal, it's still getting exposure for the racing industry. If you connect it with something like the Boy's Get Paid club, maybe young people here in the U.S. could become interested in racing and form a club. Those 10 kids could turn into 100 and maybe someday they could buy a horse. It's really about long-term gain.”
Another argument Bussanich encountered was that Harlow's time at Churchill Downs is not the first instance of a famous person stopping by the track. What makes Harlow's Kentucky Derby visit any different?
Bussanich explained that while racing can easily get high-profile names on big race days, the industry often falls short in taking the next step.
“We can't just have a music video and expect people to fall in love with the sport,” she admitted. “We need racetracks and the industry to educate people. The next part of that is about how we grasp people and educate them further from beyond thinking that the track is a fun place to get a drink.”
Again, Bussanich referenced Australian racing as a model worth following.
“In Australia, every trainer has a way for people to get involved,” she said. “If you look on [Hall of Fame Australian trainer] Chris Waller's website, it shows different ways to own horses. There's education there.”
So, can Jack Harlow's music video, and future headlines of pop culture figures at the racetrack, help attract fans who will stick around after the social influencers have come and gone? According to Bussanich, it all depends on how the industry responds.
“Not every day is Kentucky Derby Day, but there are some really awesome events at tracks across the U.S. where young people are bound to have a good time,” she said. “If we can get them to the track and grasp their attention, we need to figure out where to go from there. The education part needs a lot of work. What do we do after we get them to the races? This music video is really great exposure for horse racing and it looks at the highs of the sport in video concept, but now it's about taking that video and seeing what can come from it.”
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I was saddened to read the heartfelt Letter to the Editor: Why I Am Leaving The Sport I Loved for 50 Years that appeared on the Paulick Report website on Jan. 20. As an Australian turf fanatic and now small-time owner who has been living in New York for a decade, I have a perspective on this.
Like the author, I relate deeply to that experience of the first time at the track and getting “hooked.” As a sports fanatic kid growing up in Melbourne in the 1980s and 1990s, I was ambiently aware of racing, but it wasn't until I experienced the roar of the crowd at the 1999 Caulfield Guineas and an epic battle between the champion colts Redoute's Choice and Testa Rossa that I was transformed forever. Or as the author puts it, “spiritually fed.”
Sadly, nothing about the author's recent experiences and decision to get out of the game entirely surprised me.
A few observations:
Racetrack Experience – American racetracks, even the bigger ones, are generally decrepit. While there may be little motivation to invest given the sport is played for TV and online wagering, it's a stark contrast to the magnificence of a Flemington or Royal Randwick on a clear day. Not to mention the hundreds of picturesque racecourses that make up Provincial/Country fixtures. Where my father lives in Kyneton, about an hour's drive from Melbourne hosts a brilliant “Country Cup” day each year with entertainment and great food options. In other words, a way to get people who aren't necessarily racing fans to enjoy a day out and perhaps also place a few wagers.
Wagering Experience/Bet Types – The user interfaces for American parimutuel betting are, in my view, very poor and don't reflect what younger generations would regard as a good user experience. While wagering types are mostly common between North America and Australia, the existence of “Flexi” betting options whereby a bettor can invest wagers of their choosing in return for a calculated % of the dividend are far more enticing than the rigid unit options available here. Additionally, many young people don't grasp parimutuel totalizator concepts. The option for “Fixed Odds” betting in Australia attracts a different type of player.
Integrity & National Regulations – I am not suggesting that Australia doesn't have its own issues with integrity, animal welfare, and scandals. To suggest otherwise would be untrue. But as recent examples show, public outrage against exposed corruption and animal cruelty has led to swift and decisive action by regulators. The bad guys do get disqualified for extended periods. While there may be minor state differences, on the whole, there are national rules of racing for medication and horse ratings/classification systems that promote certainty for participants and the wagering public.
Mainstream Interest / Media Platforms – Finally, while racing remains niche in Australia, engagement in some form is much more common there, particularly amongst younger generations. While only a handful of my friends follow racing daily, a large cohort will get together with their mates for the occasional “weekend quaddie” (a Pick 4 equivalent) as a social activity at pubs and sports venues across the country. A lot of this has to do with the prevalence of excellent media and digital platforms like Racing.com.
— David Salter
Owner, fan, and horseplayer
Want to sound off about something you've seen in the Paulick Report? Send us a letter at info at paulickreport.com. Please include your contact info so our editorial staff can reach you if they have questions.
The post Letter To The Editor: An Aussie Perspective On Being An American Racing Fan appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
