racism in horse racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

The Friday Show Presented By Woodbine: Diversity In American Racing

In the wake of the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the topic of racial disparity has been all over mainstream news outlets. Questions about diversity, inclusion, and racism in horse racing have been simmering since the start of Black Lives Matter protests earlier this summer.

This week, the topic took center stage in horse racing news after a bloodstock agent was condemned for making racist posts on social media. Keeneland later announced it was ruling Tom VanMeter and his associated companies off its property while the organization investigates. VanMeter has apologized for his comments.

In this week's edition of The Friday Show, editor-in-chief Natalie Voss sat down with Alicia Wincze-Hughes, career turfwriter and now communications director for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, to get her thoughts on where the sport stands with diversity – and how it can improve. Hughes recently authored a column on the topic for the Thoroughbred Daily News which is available here.

Watch the Friday Show below and share your thoughts.

The post The Friday Show Presented By Woodbine: Diversity In American Racing appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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VanMeter Excluded From Keeneland During ‘Further Review’ Following Racist Social Media Posts

Keeneland released the following statement Wednesday morning after well-known bloodstock agent Tom VanMeter was put on blast for racist social media posts. Those statements were widely condemned by several industry groups, including Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, The Jockey Club, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. VanMeter later apologized and pledged to become a better ally to people of color.

“Effective immediately, Tom VanMeter will be excluded from the Keeneland premises, including participation by VanMeter and VanMeter-Gentry Sales in sales and racing activities, while Keeneland further reviews the circumstances related to the recent reprehensible comments VanMeter made on social media.

“Keeneland takes its role in advancing inclusion and diversity seriously. But we know that we as a company, an industry and a society have much work to do. Only through listening and concrete action can we hope to live up to our values of respect, community and equality.”

The post VanMeter Excluded From Keeneland During ‘Further Review’ Following Racist Social Media Posts appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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VanMeter Extends Apology for Racist Comments

One day after his racist comments on social media were made public, Tom VanMeter sent the Thoroughbred Daily News a statement which he asked be published in the Tuesday night edition.

“Over the weekend, comments I made on a private page of a social media platform surfaced which have since come under scrutiny due to their racist nature. I will not attempt to deny that I wrote the comments, nor will I attempt to justify my actions. Certainly, I am frustrated with the current social situation in our country, however, what I wrote was unjustifiable. I was wrong and am disgusted by my actions. Contrary to what these comments might suggest, in no way do those responses represent my true feelings towards my friends and community members of color. Moving forward I am committed to listening and learning as to how I can be a better ally and advocate in my community and within the racing industry as to how we can better foster inclusivity for all. In the meantime, as a gesture of goodwill, I have made a donation to the NAACP in support of the important work this organization continues to do. I am hopeful all the industry stakeholders and the community at large can forgive me. I can and will do better.”

Monday, in response to a post asking people to retweet if they planned to boycott the NFL after they changed their policy to allow players to peacefully protest racial inequality in America during the national anthem by taking a knee, VanMeter referred to the National Football League, substituting an abbreviation of the “N-word,” a racist slur, for the word National. He also said of protestors, “Put em back in their cage!!!”

VanMeter’s son, Griffin, made his own post on Facebook yesterday, which was critical of his father’s behavior.

Griffin posted the following.

“Today, my Dad wrote racist comments on a racist post on Facebook. Luckily for him he got called out for it as he should have. I’m glad that it was public because his racism is a conversation I wanted to have with him for over 20 years but never had the courage to start. I am sorry to both of us and all of us for that. I care deeply about my dad, and also care deeply about fighting racism.

It hurts my heart for somebody I love to be so misguided. Yet, I understand how he got there. It hurts my heart to think about people reading those bigoted words. It hurts my heart to think of the generations of people who have been denied life and progress because of white supremacy and systematic racism. I hope my Dad can unlearn the racism that was taught to him and that he later taught to me. I hope that he can learn love, acceptance, and promotion of all people. As white people, especially overly privileged white people, we must do our part to change oppressive individuals and systems. Luckily, my Dad will have that opportunity and I will do my part to support him on his anti-racism journey. I’m not looking or need validation for this post. I’m looking for everyone to examine what we can do better to make this world more livable for everyone. Some of that might include deep reflection and reconciliation of our actions. Black Lives Matter.”

The post VanMeter Extends Apology for Racist Comments appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Racially Charged VanMeter Posts Prompt Outrage

Dozens of angry industry members took to social media Monday morning after a racially charged social media post by a prominent Thoroughbred consignor surfaced on Twitter. By the end of the day, The Jockey Club, Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, the Stronach Group and the NTRA had issued statements denouncing the posts.

Tom VanMeter, who owns and operates VanMeter Sales, a leading consignor based in Lexington, Kentucky, posted two comments in response to a question posted on Facebook by farm manager Donnie Snellings, asking people to repost his post if they planned to boycott the NFL season. Some fans pledged to boycott the NFL in 2016 after Colin Kaepernick first sat down, and then kneeled on the sidelines during the playing of the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality in the United States.

The question of the boycott was raised again when the NFL, after the nationwide protests and outrage in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, reversed its policy on allowing players to kneel before the game.

VanMeter’s first reply contained an abbreviation of the “N-word,” when he referred to the NFL as the “n-word football league,” and he later posted, “Put em back in their cage!!!”

Official industry reaction was swift. The Jockey Club posted the following statement on their Twitter feed. “OwnerView, jointly owned by The Jockey Club and TOBA, has suspended the account privileges of Tom VanMeter pending further review, based upon offensive content posted on social media under the same name. There is no place in racing or our society for racially hateful language.”

OwnerView is an owner platform which helps promote racehorse ownership along with industry providers. VanMeter’s profile has been taken down from the site.

Fasig-Tipton also denounced the comments in a statement.

“Fasig-Tipton does not generally comment on social media postings made by third parties, other than to make clear that this comment was not made by an employee or representative of Fasig-Tipton and does not reflect Fasig-Tipton’s values,” the statement read. “We do not condone or support any statements or actions that do not promote a more diverse and inclusive environment for industry participants.”

Keeneland issued similar sentiments.

“Keeneland condemns Tom VanMeter’s post,” the sales and racing company said in an emailed statement. “There is no place for racism in our sport or our society and his words are antithetical to Keeneland’s values of respect, community and equality. Our industry must deal honestly and directly with our lack of diversity and look hard at its underlying causes. It is not only the right thing to do, it is critical for the future of the sport we love.”

“At Keeneland, we have begun the process of reviewing our internal culture, structures and practices to try and build a better, more diverse and equitable Keeneland family. We do not believe there are easy answers to these complex and systemic challenges and everything is on the table as we move forward.”

The NTRA’s Alex Waldrop Tweeted, “The racist remarks and views posted on social media on an account belonging to Tom VanMeter have no place in society, let alone the horse racing industry. The NTRA no longer will accept financial contributions of any kind from him or others who share his views.”

The Stronach Group, which also owns and operates Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, the Maryland Jockey Club and Golden Gate Fields, Tweeted the following: “The Stronach Group and 1/ST are appalled by Tom VanMeter’s comments. This type of hateful speech does not belong in any civilized society. It is repugnant, divisive and just plain wrong. It will not be tolerated at our tracks as it’s contrary to our mission as we believe strongly in human equality. To be clear, we celebrate our diverse employees, horsemen, guests and community that together make our venues and the sport as a whole, truly special.”

People on social media called for others not to support his consignment. “If you buy a horse from Tom VanMeter in September, you are part of the problem. End of story,” Tweeted owner Robert Masiello.

Denali Stud, where Donnie Snellings serves as farm manager, issued a statement of their own on Twitter. “In light of recent events surrounding racist comments made by a third party on an employee’s private social media account, it should be known that Denali doesn’t condone these comments. They don’t reflect our core values and there is no place for them in our industry or society at large.”

In a letter this morning, the TDN informed VanMeter that it would no longer accept advertising from him out of respect to its staff, readers and fellow advertisers.

A phone call to VanMeter’s cell phone was not returned in time for publication of this story.

The post Racially Charged VanMeter Posts Prompt Outrage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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