My dad was a racing fan his entire life. He’d fondly recall the names of some of the greats; Northern Dancer, In Reality, Nashua. These were just a few of his all-time favorite Gulfstream performers.
It was 1978, the year Alydar won the Florida Derby. I stood at the fence of the old paddock and thought about the great horses my father told me about that became stars under the bright South Florida sun.
Over the next 20 years I was fortunate enough to see Proud Truth start his championship campaign in 1985; Unbridled in 1990; Holy Bull four years later, then Thunder Gulch and Unbridled's Song in the two years following.
Florida Derby day, like big race day at any venue, was special. To witness them first-hand is a memory that lasts a lifetime--just like the two Breeders' Cups in 1989 and again three years later.
In 1992, I celebrated the victory of Prized the Breeder's Cup Turf with my good friend Ed Fountaine of the New York Post. Back in the day, the PR guy was the legendary Joe Tannenbaum.
Hall of Famer Joe Hirsch, the dean of America’s turf writers was a press box fixture, along with Andy Beyer, John Pricci, Bob Roberts and Bill Christine, to name just a few of the great turf writers who made the annual trip to South Florida to cover the Derby.
Along with Bill Finley, I was the young kid in the room but you would never know if from the way the veteran writers treated us. The old Gulfstream press box was a great space.
Over the last decade, my travels to Florida have been limited. I’ve heard many things about the new Gulfstream. It’s fair to say that the reviews were mixed, so I decided it was time to see for myself.
And so I called an old colleague, Dave Joseph, former Sun-Sentinel turf writer and now Gulfstream's Press Director. The media staff is lean but very talented.
Former Boston Herald turf writer Ed Gray seeks out the great back stories, along with veteran publicist Jack Will. The certainly make up in quality what they lack in quantity. It was good to see these two professionals on my first visit to the new press office.
I confess that I miss the camaraderie of the old Gulfstream Press Box but things change as older tracks give way to today's modern racinos. Given a dearth of full time turf writers these days, there’s no need for a traditional press box.
But Gulfstream has made available a very comfortable space in one of the third floor suites. It’s quiet and comes with a wireless modem. Given that, and access to needed racing information, what more could a modern-day writer want or need?
But I do miss the old paddock where I first learned about horses from my dad. The new paddock is more of a walking ring, small, workmanlike and the stadium seating surrounding it is unique to American racetracks.
I'm not a casino player but those casino areas are open and spacious and I was very impressed with the simulcast room, Silks; lots of large screen TV's, along with individual consoles with plenty of betting windows and self-service machines.
I could see myself playing the races there on simulcast afternoons. The amenity I really did like were the ladies walking around taking bets. Several times I was saved a long walk to the windows by these lovely and pleasant tellers.
The new Gulfstream will most likely never host another Breeder's Cup but that's not the goal anymore but with memories of the old days still fresh and everlasting, the new Gulfstream has already begun to write its own history.
Now the names are Barbaro, Big Brown, Quality Road. I'm betting that in the future, fathers will be telling their sons that Kentucky Derby winner Union Rags prepped here. I’m sure if he had a chance, that’s exactly what my father would have done.
06 Apr 2012 at 07:51 am | #
The first time I walked into Aqueduct was in the fall of 1964 (I think the year is right). The talk on the ride there was about Kelso, who seemed to race every other week and be named HOY every year. The stands were packed and cars were still entering the parking lot in the afternoon.
The first time I visited Suffolk Downs, Rockingham Park, Narrangansett Park, Lincoln Down, and Green Mountain in the early sixties, I had to follow a line of cars entering the racetrack and wondered if there would be an unoccupied seat in the stands.
People who wanted to gamble went to the nearest local racetrack. Turf writers worked the typewriter reporting on the local racing; they reported on the local thoroughbred talent, the trainers and the jockeys, and the feature races scheduled.
Then about 1980 three things happened: 1) casinos started to proliferate around the country, 2) stake purses began to increase beyond a mere $100,000, and 3) turf writers began to direct their attention solely to stake races with six figure purses. Only a handful of racetracks were deemed worthy of turf writer scrutiny, thus the pattern was established for the slow decline in racing’s popularity as the public was now being led to believe that only a few racetracks offered
‘quality’ racing; thus modern, recently built or renovated, racetracks around the country were not supported by local patrons.
Yes, the memories exist for me of what Thoroughbred racing around the country was at one time. Today one can read about a few racetracks that exist from casino dole and ADW hubs they operate, a handful of trainers and jockeys, and a few designated stake races throughout the year.
And, racetrack management and turf writers can continue on believing that Thoroughbred racing is a sport and that a Triple Crown winner will revive racing, as thousands of people on a daily basis enter casinos coast-to-coast to sit and watch fruit spin in front of them; and those slot players at racinos totally unaware of the numerous gambling options available just a few yards away.
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I note that Union Rags is, once again, annointed by a turf writer as the coming savior of racing.
06 Apr 2012 at 09:35 am | #
WMC, only forgot the most significant factors: #1. Simulcasting. #2 Simulcasting. #3 Popular Demand.
06 Apr 2012 at 06:18 pm | #
Mr. Pricci: Simulcasting? All simulcasting did was eliminate the need for me to go to the racetrack in person. Didn’t change a damn thing for turf writers, who continue to write and write and write.
Popular Demand? Got me here, as I haven’t a clue what you mean. All I know is that Thoroughbred racing is being kept alive by slot revenue, and nothing has changed, in anyway, to improve racing’s lot with the public, as turf writers wait, with bated breath, for Union Rags to win the Derby; and by a miracle, or devine intervention, the public will all of a sudden prefer wagering on the nags over punching buttons in front of a slot machine.
May someone, above (I guess), continue to look down favorably on Philly, Delaware, Finger Lakes, and Laurel; where the best racing exists for bettors.