Tuesday, December 16, 2008

In Appreciation of Readers - Always Heed Mom’s Advice

If it isn’t obvious that you the readers are more important than we the writers to HorseRaceInsider.com, pause to think of what it would be like to represent that voice in the forest which nobody can hear.

“Just listen to how you sound,” my mother would scold me when I said something stupid growing up.

Oh, if she was alive today to join you in the participation of the Web site.

“Just see what they are saying,” her advice might have been if she were reading your comments today.

Agreement has never been the goal in a forum like this. But response has.

Over and again, you have given generously with your time, read through our pages, challenged our thoughts and gotten back to us with yours. You, not us, set the high standards to which we strive.

In a sport still divided by purpose, don’t expect any authority to acknowledge that he was moved to action because a fan wrote a comment to a column. Don’t conclude that we know better or more than the people we write about.
But do know that without you we are mute.

Thanks for reading and writing. Happy Holidays!


These are a few of my favorite reader comments of 2008:

In a column titled “Barbaro Upside Down” that ran on February 4, I wrote that people were exploiting Barbaro beyond the point of acceptable taste, specifically writing about a proposed Central Park sculpture of a horse traumatized.

Laura wrote, “Vic Zast needs crest white strips.”

On March 3, I predicted that controversy would come from the Breeders’ Cup announcement of a Ladies Day. I wrote, “We haven’t heard the beginning of how women will respond to it. Obviously, this is an issue with legs.”

Carol wrote, “I am a bit stunned by (your) lack of insight and misogynist comments. The Web was flooded by responses and most haven’t been positive.”

When I suggested that fans be included in the Eclipse Awards electorate in a column posted on November 10, I received this supportive, although mathematically flawed, response.

ScarletandGrayPumpernal wrote, “Perhaps we could take a look at a system like they have for the Cartier Awards in Europe. 40% racing officials, 40% media, 10% fans, I believe.”

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