Nevertheless, officials of the New York Racing Association, as customary, announced they were pleased with the paltry turnout. And while some may say that their upbeat remarks at the end of the day were like putting a smile on a golf ball, this time around, they’ve got reason to hold their heads high. With the questionable exception of substituting Jay-Z’s hip-hop tune “Empire State of Mind” for the Frank Sinatra standard “New York, New York” and signing a tone-deaf teenager to moan her way through the dreary ballad, the promotional efforts by Neema Ghazi and NYRA’s marketing department to make the race popular were flawless.
From taking Sam the bugler and trainer Alexis Barba to the top of the Empire State Building to simulcasting the Epson Derby card from the UK throughout Belmont Park, NYRA displayed uncommon creativity and noteworthy enterprise. Not an hour passed by in the three weeks leading up to the race in which something of interest didn’t come over the Internet from Dan Silver’s communications department. As a result, never before has the public wanted a horse race to be more successful than this year’s Belmont. What they got instead was disappointing.
Little can explain the sexy Jeannine Edwards’ lack of fashion sense, the rapier-tongued Kenny Mayne’s over-use of sarcasm and Hank “The Hammer” Goldberg’s resemblance to an un-smiling, beardless Santa Cross with a bag full of nonsense. But why go there? In contrast, turf writer Jay Privman continues to represent himself, his profession and the Daily Racing Form admirably. Newcomers Steve Cyphers and Tom Rinaldi did nothing to suggest that they won’t become popular cast members. That said, there’s a subtle contrast in the impression manufactured from stepping in to assist an 88-year-old Penny Chenery in locating her memory and the impression that results from other acts of “quietus interuptus” such as when Maurice Cheeks, coach of the Portland Blazers, helped 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert remember the lyrics of the National Anthem.
In the overall din, it was hard to keep straight of who said what. But whichever member of the anchor team began the grand finale by promoting the sport’s endearing diversity – whether it was Joe Tessitore, Randy Moss (always level-headed) or Jerry Bailey (for once, relatively subdued) – gave the ending of the telecast class. The same can’t be said for Sarah Palin, who arrived in the Turf Club wearing a tee-shirt, Capri pants and a ball cap. How did her entourage get in, by the way, wearing jeans and without neck ties?
For the record, the longest stretch that the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont have gone without a Triple Crown champion isn’t the 32 years that have passed since Affirmed. It’s the first 50 years of the races’ existence before Sir Barton swept the three races in 1919 – a period in which three-horse fields weren’t unusual. The show’s writers had to deal with the future of the hallowed series, of course, but a specific point of view – that the Triple Crown is easier to win than ever before because of mass defections of the best runners – wasn’t acknowledged. On the other hand, Bailey noted that smaller Derby fields wouldn’t have caused interferences that denied at least three Preakness/Belmont winners from sweeping. Other segments, the ones accompanied by poetry, gauzy shots and violin music, seemed maudlin and depressing.
Ironically, NYRA contributed to ABC-TV’s best audible. Track maintenance staff sealed the track on Friday evening in anticipation of thunderstorms and the track became exceptionally deep from the siroccos the swept into the area on Saturday. Alertly, Caton Brader, on horseback, called attention to the attenuating circumstances of that action. Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done to deny Governor Exit his moment in the sun. May he burn in, well...
Was Drosselmeyer a deserving winner? His final time of 2:31.57 was the slowest since Thunder Gulch’s in 1995. The WinStar Farm runner, a son of Distorted Humor, beat only two previous Grade 1 Stakes winners. The big chestnut brought on cheers for his Big Apple connections. NYRA wanted the Belmont to be viewed as a regional treasure and saw its intentions met. Hall of Famer Mike Smith, a 15-time Belmont jockey champion, rode. Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who has operated his stable on the circuit for what seems like forever, trained.
The day after, Elliott Walden, racing manager for WinStar, said that Drosselmeyer will be headed to Saratoga with the Travers in mind. The Belmont winner’s presence will bolster a colony of horses of considerable public interest, including Quality Road, Rachel Alexandra, Mine That Bird, Super Saver and perhaps Lookin at Lucky.
Having equine stars to promote, Ghazi, Silver et al - NYRA's smart second lieutenants - might have something more to work with than skyscrapers. With the country's number one horse racing franchise having had its respect, reputation and admiration diminished considerably in recent months, the crowds at Saratoga, where the hurt was felt most, won't grow larger automatically.
“COMMENT OF THE WEEK”
Many readers of Vic Zast’s TrackWords read the column and not the comments. It’s a shame because some of the best ideas and writing are found in readers’ responses to the topic presented.
So beginning today, one comment made by readers to each of Vic Zast’s TrackWords columns will be designated as the “Comment of the Week.”
Beginning next Monday, the name of the author of the best comment, a short synopsis of his comment and the reason for why the comment was selected as the best of those submitted will appear as the first comment following the column. A complete reprint of the selected comment will appear in “Vic Zast’s FastWords.”
Criteria for selection will be how you expand the topic, originality of thought, clarity of presentation and entertainment value. Comments that are in agreement or disagreement with my column or other readers’ opinions will all be considered. If an insufficient number of comments are written to make the competition worth winning in any week, no selection will be made.
If this idea plays out well (only time will tell), we’ll have some fun with it by adding prizes (no boats or automobiles, but tee-shirts and books – stuff like that) to bi-monthly winners. If the idea doesn’t play out well, we’ll drop it. Write on!
Vic Zast
07 Jun 2010 at 03:23 am | #
free comments from Zast are about as lucid as a terrorist at a picnic! if would have pried his big belly away from the free food long enough to hear a comment beyond his own he would have realized that the driver for the Palin entourage got lost and had no time to change. But nothing lost, Zast is in a game that he doesn’t have to put his brain in gear. Kissing the cheeks of NYRA’s new marketing brain trust while they tried a little gangsta rap for the Belmont anthem will keep him from starving while the game dies of starvation!
There is no other sport that could/would tolerate these adulterous contributions to such a marvelous sport!
07 Jun 2010 at 04:45 am | #
I loved the racing I saw but I have to say that Belmont Park is VERY BADLY RUN.
1. We arrived very late due to TERRIBLE traffic on two bridges - the parking attendant at the entrance to my lot claimed it was full and directed us to back out, go across the road and park in some cow pasture whose location he wasn’t sure of. I said “the hell with that - I have a pass for this lot” and drove onto the lot anyway. Turned out there were TONS of empty spaces. What a jerk that guy was. And in general, as we tried to find our lot, the parking people were too busy talking to each other to bother with an incoming patron. I had to get out of the car and interrupt a group of them at one point. At Pimlico on Preakness day, parking was handled efficiently, with knowledgeable, alert and helpful attendants.
2. After all the driving/parking frustration, neither programs nor racing forms were on sale. The vendors had all left early. How are you supposed to bet without a program or a form ????? (A very nice man heard us talking about it - he gave us his program and shared with his son.)
3. There were not enough bars - we had to hike a mile to get a drink. Again, at Pimlico on Preakness day, not only are there LOTS of bars, but vendors come through the stands ALL DAY selling water, Black Eyed Susans and beer.
4. There were no “Belmont Breezes”. We were told the fixings were long gone.
5. Almost without exception, everyone of whom we asked a question (like “Where’s the gift shop?” - “Where’s the bathroom?” - “Where’s my seat?” - “Where’s the nearest bar?") answered: “I don’t know - I’m just here for the day.”
Belmont Park doesn’t know how to throw a party. Pimlico may be in bankruptcy, but this year’s Preakness was a blast and very user-friendly.
Finally, the new song was AWFUL - even my friend, a public defender who loves gangsta rap, agreed it was awful, completely inappropriate to an event that deserves an anthem. Like “New York, New York”, for instance.
07 Jun 2010 at 05:06 am | #
Lest we forget, ABC failed to televise the Grade I Manhattan, which was run 37 minutes after ABC signed on. The race “only” featured one of the world’s greatest turf runners. Meanwhile, ABC and NYRA’s deal blacked out the race on every other medium in the country, including HRTV, TVG and internet sites like TwinSpires.com.
Result: the entire country, except for those at the track, was denied the opportunity to watch the Manhattan live. Sheer genius.
07 Jun 2010 at 05:25 am | #
Are you kidding me...who’s Kool-Aid were you drinking?
The New York media barely touched the race. The national media avoided it like a disease and the crowd on a great weather day was paltry at best.
07 Jun 2010 at 05:50 am | #
The endless stream of press releases, photo opps and social media gimmicks coming from Ghazi, Silver and the rest of the NYRA media types may impress you, Vic, but it isn’t working. Business is down and not just on the Belmont Stakes. I commend them for trying new things, but this overkill with the meaningless messages is such that one stops paying attention to all of them. Media coverage of the race was nearly non-existant in many markets, and attendance and wagering numbers were anemic. Surely someone will look at the bottom line since this group came on board and realize that another strategy needs to be employed.
07 Jun 2010 at 05:55 am | #
Good post, Noelle D. I’m sorry to learn that your Belmont experience was troublesome and not enjoyable. Give NYRA a chance again. Come to Saratoga. And let people at NYRA know what happened. You deserve at least a “We’re sorry” note. Send your complaint to and begin your email by telling NYRA exactly what you want.
In other words, start off by writing, “I would like an apology for the way NYRA treated me at the Belmont Stakes. Or write, “I believe that I am entitled to a full refund of my ticket price.”
Or maybe, “I’ll give NYRA another chance, but I don’t want to pay for it. Please give me six clubhouse admission passes to the Travers Stakes. Here’s why I believe that I deserve them...”
Once you receive a reply, let readers here at HRI know what happened. It might prompt others to speak up when they feel wronged. Or, it might teach us all that NYRA doesn’t really care about customers.
07 Jun 2010 at 05:58 am | #
There are some changes that need to be addressed by NYRA before the next Triple Crown Series / Belmont Stakes is upon us:
# 1- Eliminate the Detention Barn.
Trainer Nick Zito stated after the race;
“He (Ice Box) was ready to go the last couple of days. But I guess he left his race somewhere”.
Mr. Zito is to politically astute to risk retribution from NYRA in placing blame on the prop they have in place, (the Detention Barn). He also has the class to not offer up excuses after
a race. His meaning though is obvious. The truth of the issue is that Ice Box was not the only horse on this day that left his race in the Detention Barn, affected adversely by this singular institution invented by NYRA.
The Detention Barn does nothing but harm to the horse. It does serve as a SOP to the uninformed that NYRA is proactive in controlling prerace drug abuse and/or prohibited actions by stable personnel. It does not work, post race Testing Barn Yes, Detention Barn No.
It is a very lucrative deal for the track vet. Only the track vet administers Lasix, (.85 cents worth of drug, at $20.00 a pop). You will never have the track vet complain about the extreme heat & humidity, the dusty bedding, the constant confusion and noise in strange surroundings, the repeated use of stalls by different horses every day, etc. All this and more is endured by the horse for six or more hours prior to race.
Much has been made of the fact that Drosselmyer and Fly Down had a race over the track which benefited both horses. I do not dispute that it was a help, even though the Big Sandy was a different track on these race days. The real advantage given to the horses was that both had to suffer the detention barn previously, and therefore were familiar with all it’s absurdity.
# 2- NYRA must join with Pimlico and Churchill in finding a sponsor for the Triple Crown Series. A monetary reward based on participation and placement in each of these races must be offered as an enticement for horses to compete in all three races. This is a Series. There might not be a Triple Crown Winner each year, but there can be a Series Win, Place, Show, Participation, reward.
# 3- Again NYRA, Pimlico, and Churchill must find one broadcast distribution outlet for the series. Continuity is important. They each have there race, but without the other, that is all they have, a race. Together is the series, and that is what gives it the importance. My suggestion is to just each split 33% apiece each race day, or 50% for the Race Day Track and 25% for the other two. (33% is the fairer deal to all).
# 4- NYRA needs to find a Theme Song that relates to the Belmont Stakes Day Experience. The publicity department must go to work on this now. They experimented, it didn’t work, fine. At least there was effort shown. Now go back to the drawing board, the idea was right, the result was wrong. Do not give up the idea, just find a solution that does work. There is a song out there.
Suggestion: A contest on original submissions might work. (It would draw attention both inside and outside the racing world). A music committee
could pick the top three to five songs which would then be placed on the NYRA website. Then
let the people vote. (Have some of the American Idol Winners Record and Sing the demonstration songs). Talk about generating some positive publicity. Hey, all of this could even help expand the fan base, it will not detract.
Well, there is my two cents for the moment, as always, enjoy your writing, thank you for enduring my own.
07 Jun 2010 at 08:50 am | #
I love NY and Belmont Stakes day is the best day of racing there is if you enjoy the day at the track, wagering on the races, etc. I agree w/one of the above comments about the parking attendants...there wasn’t a one that seemed to know what they were doing and they were giving bad info...very frustrating. It took us a half hour once we arrived at the park, to get parked, and we had preferred parking passes!! But once we get inside, we really enjoy the day....Belmont Park, especially on Belmont Stakes Day, is second only to enjoying a day at Keeneland in the spring or fall. We love Belmont Park and each year we bring a larger and larger group of friends...we have great seats, thanks to our loyalty of showing up each year with a large group of friends, and the gals on the phone that we deal with in regard to tickets for Belmont Stakes day, are ALWAYS very polite, helpful, and user-friendly....much better than dealing w/Churchill Downs, for sure. The folks at Belmont treat the fans well, and I think NYRA gets it right more often than not....the obvious “not” this year was definitely getting rid of NYNY by Frank Sinatra....and replacing it w/that aweful music....NYRA needs to learn that if it’s not broke, don’t try fixing it. NYNY is a GREAT upbeat tune...that everyone can and does join in on...it’s a class act...what they did in omitting NYNY was a travesty, but I’ll forgive them if they bring it back and stop trying to fix something that isn’t broken. They would be better served in spending time and $$$ in marketing their racing program better...and they need to get the backing of the Gov and other politicians to support NY racing...to get billboards out there promoting racing...to have it one of NY’s “landmark” events....from Belmont Park’s Belmont Stakes, the oldest race in the triple crown, to Saratoga....the oldest track in the country...it’s all about racing, the sport of kings and one steeped in tradition. They need to go back to basics. As for the horrible coverage on ABC, PLEASE get together w/the other two entities and join forces...a united front is much stronger and you’d be in a better bargaining position...it’s a no-brainer. Just be sure that whichever stations cover the races, that TVG and/or HRTV be allowed to cover them as well...they are the only true Thoroughbred racing stations that know how to cover the sport...all the other stations are lacking....they may have a Jerry Bailey, who is great, but they are horrendous to watch and listen to. They cover everything but what’s most important in racing, the HORSE!
07 Jun 2010 at 09:39 am | #
I didn’t know they carried the Epson Derby until I got there. I found out they didn’t post that on their website until like 5 o’clock on Friday. Give me a break Vic. Pull yourself away from the buffet line to get the facts straight
07 Jun 2010 at 10:49 am | #
Some of the above commentators seemed to have had a troubled day on Belmont Stakes day. I wonder how many of them go to the racetrack more than two or three times a year.
Belmont day was just another day at the races. The races and the ‘action’ was no different than a Wednesday at Philadelphia Park, Delware Park, of Finger Lakes. Not one of the people in attendance on Belmont day, if they were honest, could note any difference whatsoever between the race card offered Saturday (Belmont Stakes day) and any other racetrack in the country. All races are precisely the same. You bet, you win, you lose, the horses comes down the stretch, and you cheer on your horse if it is in contention.
But, nothing is going to change as racing heads south as the industry is not promoted for what it actually is: a gambling option to casino gambling!!!
Just what is the winner of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont going to do for racing? other than line the pockets of the owner, trainer, and jockey with money.
Wake up, first you turf writers, then you gullible people who go to the track thinking that you are seeing something special.
In the meantime, Pletcher, Asmussen, Zito, Mott, Dutrow, and Baffert laugh all the way to the bank - thanks to turf writers commentary promoting their horses.
If only the slot players, blackjack players, and crap players knew what $1 could do for them wagering on a horse race; but how will they ever know?
07 Jun 2010 at 11:19 am | #
WMCorrow,
At risk of sounding foolish, are you kidding me??
The races at Finger Lakes, Philly and Delaware were no different than those contested at Belmont on Saturday.
You watch the races at those tracks Wendell??
I have--many times. The races at Finger Lakes are BORING. Cheap horses who rarely sustain their moves, fields that are often spread at the end of a race. Can you cash a bet? Sure,I can cash a bet on what time the sun sets tonight too.
Stop whining Wendell. The answer to solving the problems facing this game isn’t promoting the racing at low level racetracks, most of which would be out of business if not for slots.
It’s promoting events like the Triple Crown, getting people to try the sport, hoping they’ll have a good time and revisit. It’s also being more aggressive in teaching people how to handicap, cause it ain’t easy. When’s the last time NYRA offered a handicapping seminar for newcomers?? Maybe if people had a better understanding of the sport, they might more inclined to wager.
07 Jun 2010 at 11:44 am | #
Right on, Austin! I’ve gotten quite a few of the younger folks I work with to attend racing w/us, and guess what?? They loved it, but didn’t know enough about handicapping, so we’ve offered some quick handicapping lessons to some of our interested friends and now they are much more into it. The sport of racing is the best of them all.....more exciting than watching hockey players bash each other in the head, or some of the thugs on the football field, or even the brawls that are carried out on some basketball courts and baseball fields. Horse racing has none of that and it’s truly about the horse...the most deserving athelete in the world...second to none! Besides all that, you can make some very good $$$ handicapping if you stay focused, read up on bloodlines, jockeys, trainers, tracks, etc. and of course, the DRF is the one indispensible tool. It’s a very intellectual sport and takes some brain work to figure out...it’s challenging, lucrative (when the racing gods are w/you) and a whole lot of fun.
07 Jun 2010 at 11:54 am | #
You forgot to note Tom Durkin vomiting during his call of the Belmont Stakes inside the eighth pole. Or did you not mention it because it is now his signature move in nationally televised races?
“I’m vomiting! I’m calling the wrong horse! I missed the winner’s run! I can’t hold Trevor Denman or Peter Berry’s binoculars! Ohhhhhh! Ohhhhhhhhh! Aughhhhhh! There’s a ferret in my pants! Here’s the wire! Aughhhh! Aughhhh!! AAAAAAaaaahhhughhhh!”
07 Jun 2010 at 12:19 pm | #
Austin Childress: Lets get to some truths: 1) Gulfstream, Fair Grounds, Caldor, Monmouth, Oaklawn and a host of other so-called ‘better’ racetracks are being kept ‘alive’ from slot machine revenue or casino dole, so don’t whack the smaller racetrack; 2) you have no better chance of cashing a ticket at a top tier racetrack than you have at Finger Lakes or Penn. National; 3) all races are basically the same, and you can’t determine how fast the race is going with you eye, you must rely on a timer to inform you; 4) you can’t determine a stake horse from a claimer if they stood side by side; 5) so, reading bloodlines, jockeys, trainers, and the past performances will give you an edge wagering on top tier racetrack races, right? Well, check out the bloodlines of the cheap claimers, is there any difference? They all came from stallions with a past history of racing at so-called prominent racetracks.
Thoroughbred racing is only going to reverse its decline if and when turf writers start informing their readers to go to the racetrack nearest them, gamble, and enjoy the excitement; that all races at all racetracks are precisely the same!!
The Triple Crown races are sucker bets, involving unproven throughbreds who have barely raced. I bet with real money, and I prefer races where the entrants have races numerous times, where the past performances tell me just what they have done in the past over a dozen or more races (sometime forty to sixty races).
The vast majority of the people who wager on the Triple Crown races lose - a fact Alice! In the meantime, like I said before, Pletcher, Asmussen, and the other handful of trainers laugh as they collect the purse money.
If promoting the Triple Crown races, the Travers, and the Breeders’ Cup races are such a success in convincing people to gamble on the horses, then why is racing across the country on life support, being kept alive by slot machine revenue and casino dole?
When people are told that all racing everywhere is basically the same, and that gambling on the horses anywhere is superior to sitting in front of a slot machine in a comatose state, or sitting bored at a blackjack table, or standing at a crap table then they will take more interest.
07 Jun 2010 at 01:16 pm | #
Sarah Palin looked like a fish out of water surrounded by women wearing their finest jewelry, dresses, high heels and fancy hats. Now I know why they bought her an entire wardrobe when she ran for Vice President!
07 Jun 2010 at 01:22 pm | #
Henson is right. Durkin did not have “Drosselmeyer” out of his mouth until after it was clear he was going to win.
Incidentally, “drossel” means “to choke” in German.
07 Jun 2010 at 02:07 pm | #
Noelle D,
Don’t waste your energy writing to NYRA public relations. For all I know it doesn’t exist!
As I had stated last week my wife and I were headed down to Monmouth instead of Belmont but I really didn’t mention the true reasons why we choose not to attend the Belmont Stakes.
My wife and I did attend the Belmont Stakes last year and the racing was exceptional,and it should have been,with tickets at one hundred dollars a pop. Unfortunately there were two major incidents brought to the attention of NYRA through e mail, which were never answered.
The first problem was the observation of outback riders using cell phones during the post parade, which I suggested could be construed as a means of relaying valuable information to a select group of bettors.
The second problem, and the one which solidified our choice of never going to Belmont again, happened in the parking lot after the races.
While heading to our car we encountered a beehive of drunk and disorderly youths of at least one hundred in number who had taken over a section of the parking lot. There had to be hundreds of empty beer cans on the ground not to mention the ones being thrown at each other, often bouncing off cars as they missed their targets.The debauchery we saw was unbelievable! Now get this! All of this was being done in full view of Suffolk County police who watched the destruction on horse back.
Luckily our car was not in this area but the sheer insanity was overwhelming.
NYRA’s response to my email? Nadda.
My response to NYRA and their product? Kiss my ass!!!
07 Jun 2010 at 02:23 pm | #
Tim:
1- I have no idea who you sent your email to but I can tell you from first hand experience that both Charlie Hayward and Hal Handel personally return phone calls/emails. They are very accessable to the racing fan.
2-NYRA banned fans from bringing coolers into the track on Belmont Stakes day several years ago to discourage rowdy behavior from people more interested in drinking than betting. If the incident in the parking lot was in full view of the police, how is it NYRA’s fault that they chose not to act?
07 Jun 2010 at 02:33 pm | #
RE:Hairy Henson-(post 13)
Pete Berry/Mountaineer Park??
Pete Berry must love life in Chester W VA, because he’s of the best track announcers in the country.
07 Jun 2010 at 03:10 pm | #
Vic, you are either drinking your own bathwater or your seats at Saratoga must be really good. If you think that the guys at NYRA should be commended for the stellar job at marketing the Belmont Stakes you need to pay attention. What is it that you consider marketing? The fact that the Empire State is lit up in green and white? No one knows the rhyme or reason to that. Give me a break. I live in NYC and pay very close attention to racing and if I didn’t, I would never have known that the Belmont was going on. Seriously, you need to start paying attention. A couple of email blasts because you are on the mailing list doesn’t cut it as marketing. This is New York City, and you can only draw 45,000 people? Yeah, real good job....
07 Jun 2010 at 05:29 pm | #
Let’s not confuse doing a good job with producing a good result. Here’s what NYRA faced in terms of promoting the Belmont Stakes:
(1) a horse racing industry in deep decline, trending down double digits for over two years,(2) six months of polluted public relations caused by near bankruptcy and nasty politics,(3) no Triple Crown at issue, a condition which historically has cut attendance in half (4) the weakest Belmont field in years, featuring only two horses to have won Grade 1 Stakes with no Derby or Preakness winner included,(5) no money available in the budget to create a meaningful advertising campaign.
Did you go to Belmont Park on Saturday or bet on the Belmont Stakes card? If you did, it doesn’t matter if you saw, heard or were affected by any of the publicity or promotion. If you didn’t, what could NYRA have done that would have convinced you to participate?
07 Jun 2010 at 07:19 pm | #
You and Jay Hovday are my favorite racing writers. One of the pleasures reading your writing included reading the few comments left by your usually thoughtful and informed readers.
Am I now going to have to plow through twisted and torchered prose because you are giving away books and tee shirts?
Best wishes.
07 Jun 2010 at 09:31 pm | #
Vic I know you think it was flawless and so did the NYRA.
They were down about 40% in viewers and about $17,000,000 in handle.
Your view of flawless is ludicrous. The people running NYRA are a bunch of ignorant thieves along with the media that covers the sport.
Take down Frank and put up ZA.
I am one of the old people that racing has run off but this is a fact. I started going to Churchill Downs in 1957 and threw all these years about 95% of the people on track are OLD. It has always been a old man’s game and the powers that be has decided to run them off and cater to the young.
They did run the old people off and the LOST THEIR BUSINESS. They don’t have a clue.
Buddy Hogan
08 Jun 2010 at 12:20 am | #
#21 what a crock of crap Vic! you obviously haven’t been around long enough to see really good racing! NYRA is so sick that it thinks that carding mdn races and beaten ny bred claiming races on belmont day is “world class” as dunker put it. keep drinking that cool aid and it’ll kill you for sure. remember jonestown!
08 Jun 2010 at 04:34 am | #
My husband and I thought we were heading to the County Fair or a dog fight. All these people dressed up for a horse race, now that’s just silly! No one ever dresses up for a sporting event, not even the Iditarod.
Our peeps came up with the “lost in NY “ story but I didn’t think we needed to. It’s a horse race afterall. People always want to make it more than it is. It’s horse racing. Nothing more nothing less.
Sarahtoga. First a horse named after Todd and now a town named after me. These horse folks just love us.
08 Jun 2010 at 10:45 am | #
Mr. Zast,
Please remove # 25’s comments. The intent of masquerade reveals a deep seated immaturity within the writer. The self pleasuring message is an affront to your own attempt at bringing forth serious discussion on thoroughbred/racing issues.
If the individual’s attempt was to find humor, it is a poor reach that has failed.
In short, I find the cloaking of the writer in a smoke and mirror act to appear as another to be
offensive. Then to purposefully denigrate the individual under the assumed identity with misspellings, errors in grammar, etc, is a repugnant act.
There is one thing, had # 25 been at Belmont Race Track on Saturday I know he or she would have kissed a-- were they granted an opportunity to meet with Mr. & Mrs. Palin. People who hide behind the name of another are never true to themselves, their own beliefs, or even respectful of their own person.
Again, please just remove message # 25, it is an affront to both you and your readers. I am mortified for this person, in their isolation of life they must feel very uncomfortable. The content and presentation is an embarrassment for this unknown writer and you removing it would be doing them an undeserved favor, but a favor nevertheless that they should be thankful for.
09 Jun 2010 at 09:09 am | #
Sarah Palin’s t-shirt was FILLED admirably… and that is how she achieved entry into the elite Turf Club.
09 Jun 2010 at 11:56 am | #
wcmorrow, don’t get your point...you play the game, but you whine about it. Why not try the slots or bingo to challenge your thoughts. Your remarks on tracks and wagering is foolish. It’s all subjective and there are is no correct system.We all bet vs one another[that’s after all what pari mutual means...after all if you convinced all that your way is the “holy grail” thee would be no wafering on the ponies, cuz we’d all be on your runner. Fact...triple crown,or the lesser venues and their offerings...10% win, 90% lose...it’s that simple.
09 Jun 2010 at 03:12 pm | #
Kevin A. Burke, I’m sure you didn’t “get” Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal either. It’s called satire and what you are calling for is censorship. Not cool.
09 Jun 2010 at 06:23 pm | #
Irish Bred,
I have an appreciation for true cleverness, humor,
sarcasm and wit. You sir or madam, to equate Mr. Swift’s masterpiece on the plight of the Irish under English rule with the comments of # 25 confuses me.
I do not know how you can not recognize the difference between sardonic words and a true satire. When one is cruel for the sake of cruelty, harsh without cause or reason, with words of false misinterpretation, that sir or madam is not satire.
At best and for worse, # 25’s comment is a juvenile attempt to elevate their own self esteem with unwarranted malice towards another. Satire it is not.
FYI: I use my real name because my words represent my person, my being, my belief, and represent my thoughts. Try it, it keeps one from those soylent green words and thoughts.
ie: For you to think a Irishman would not know of and have read “A Modest Proposal” has me doubt the Irish in your Bred.
09 Jun 2010 at 06:42 pm | #
VZ,
So far your new marketing promotion intended to upgrade the responses to your blog seems to be having the reverse effect. Although I’m always entertained by humor at the expense of she whose effect is a contradiction of sight and sound, it was your gratuitous reference to the fruitful ex-governor of the state nearest Russia that inspired (if not invited), many of the fruitless reactions to your latest offering.
I can’t resist the opportunity to expand this Jerry Springer-esque thread with a few observations: 1) #22’s lesser concern for tortured spelling than for what he calls “torchered prose” forces us to “plow through” his intended accolade for Mr. Hovdy, and 2) #26 doubled-up to deny #25 the same privileged opportunity for expression that he had already enjoyed.
As usual, only a turf writer gets to cast a ballot, but if you ever decide to poll the peanut gallery, #7 is the one to beat so far this week. In it, Mr. Burke suggests, “let the people vote,” despite indicating inner conflict regarding freedom of choice in his subsequent post.
12 Jun 2010 at 04:36 am | #
I didnt like TVG’s coverage of the Belmont Stakes. I liked HRTV’s though. But ESPN/ABC is history. I wasn’t impressed with TVG because they had one commentator their. But they had two the day before which was Todd Schrupp and Christina Olivares. But Christina went to Monmouth Park for Belmont Stakes day which is her daily assignment until Del Mar opens I do believe. But they kept Todd Schrupp their though. Then for HRTV did a great job with their coverage. Having Becky Witzman serve as their paddock reporter for the two days is perfect. I wasnt very impressed with ESPN/ABC’s horse racing reporter/analyst Jeannine Edwards because she mentioned to rick dutrow after his win in the woody stepehens if he thought about what happend a few years back with big brown. She should should be ashamed of herself to ask that question. She rarely does that. Over the year I have been impressed with her reporting and analysis but this time am not. Of course as always Caton Bredar does a good job at what she does serving as it’s horse-back riding reporter.
15 Jun 2010 at 04:33 am | #
Vic, I sent customer service a note the same day, as you suggested. so far, no reply…
15 Jun 2010 at 04:51 am | #
I did send an e-mail to customer service and a gal from their marketing dept replied w/a very rude, abrupt response...basically stating “we know you are unhappy w/the new song...we got the point.” Couldn’t find an e-mail address for Mr. Hayward, but responded to the reply and asked it be forwarded on to him.........doubt he’ll get it, but someone at NYRA needs to “get with it”.