Final Turn : opinions

Little Things Still Count - by Jeff Klenner

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:09:00 GMT

It is my belief that today’s racetrack executives are prone to treating patrons as a commodity. They don’t honor the fact that fostered by familiarity and memories of days gone by, most fans have a strong identification with their local tracks. This attitude is not unlike the allegiance that fans often have to their local sports franchise. However, it is a double-edged sword, since the same fans may, at times, be harshly critical and vocal about the problems suffered and mistakes committed by such entities.

Such criticism is not, in itself, a bad thing. Anyone who has studied modern management principles will tell you that customers who complain are your best friends—because research shows that the majority of people do not bother to report their unsatisfactory experiences. Meaning that most patrons instead become ticking time bombs—if you disappoint them, they are more likely to just not come back rather than bother finding someone to whom they should voice their complaints.

The key, then, is to encourage your customer base to provide feedback directly to management. Part and parcel of that is for track executives to be visible and accessible to patrons on a daily basis. Many tracks employ “hosts and hostesses” to greet customers and help acquaint novice horseplayers with some of the intricacies of handicapping and wagering. That is all well and fine, but it is not a substitute for direct management involvement in being both visible to and approachable by customers.

While I thoroughly understand how busy track managers can be on a daily basis, it is still crucial that they spend at least half the race day in the clubhouse, grandstand, track apron, and simulcast area rather than retreat to their offices for the majority of that time. The importance of this cannot be overstated. In addition, it is not sufficient to simply walk around in a suit, looking important but entirely unapproachable (perhaps due to ongoing discussions with other staff members, cell phone conversations, or an otherwise occupied manner or appearance). Instead, the manager should have a large and conspicuous name tag with his or her name and title and be wearing an inviting smile while continuously greeting and speaking with persons young and old, those dressed casually or more formally, and those attending solo or in groups.

The prominent presence of high-level managers is something I fail to see at the vast majority of racetrack facilities I visit and, yet, I view it as a genuinely delinquent shortcoming. Suggestion boxes are not a substitute for sympathetic and understanding faces. If the visible, friendly, approachable manager profile I suggest is employed, the track’s patrons will indeed recognize and appreciate the attention given to customer satisfaction. A secondary benefit, of course, is that track employees also get to witness this sort of interest and involvement on the part of management and they take notice of the example of managers “walking the customer service talk” as well.

One of the things that I, as a track manager, used to do at the end of the race day was to position myself outside the main exit prior to the running of the final race on the card. Then as the crowd filtered out after the race, I would smile to people and thank them for coming—almost as if every one of them were a visiting dignitary who had been sent a personal invitation to attend on that day.

This sort of personal attention can take significant time out of a busy manager’s schedule, but while the benefits might not be readily measurable, they are nevertheless substantial. We operate in an entertainment industry with plenty of competition for the consumer’s dollar. In this sort of competitive environment, any differentiator you can place between you and that other alternative is important. And human nature being what it is, people will always recognize and appreciate warm, friendly, and sincere contact with someone who aptly conveys that the customer’s patronage is very much appreciated.

Jeff Klenner is a former management professor and consultant to Fortune 500 corporations. He has worked in several capacities in the horse racing industry, including a stint as director of operations at The Downs at Albuquerque and The Downs at Santa Fe. Jeff can be contacted at mail@klenner.us

Furious - by Diane McClure

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Through the HBO documentary “Running for Their Lives” I recently became aware of the pipeline of sending horses from the backstretch to the slaughterhouse. We need to establish a core value system with a policy plan whereby we can expose and eliminate these pipeline participants.

Several racetracks have taken the initiative to state that sending racehorses to an auction where a large percentage of them end up at slaughter is unacceptable.

The first week of July, Suffolk Downs’ management told their horsemen that sending horses to slaughter was no longer an alternative and that there would be repercussions, such as loss of stabling, for those making that choice.

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association in conjunction with Philadelphia Park management announced the formation of PTHA’s Turning For Home, a nonprofit horse rescue dedicated to helping local owners and trainers secure safe homes and second careers for their retired racehorses.

Charles Town Races has publicly stated that it has banned the two prominently known kill buyers from its backstretch.

One merely has to visit a public auction and “flip lips” to identify Thoroughbreds via tattoo that are in “the stable to table in seven days” flow. I personally identified 15 Thoroughbreds in the direct kill pens at the Sugarcreek auction in Ohio. Horses had raced as recently as five days before at Thistledown. Horses were also identified as last running at Beulah Park, Mountaineer, and Charles Town. There was even a retired steeplechase horse who last raced in Fair Hill, Md.

Upon a recent visit to the New Holland Auction in Pennsylvania, I discovered a 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding. He was emaciated, scarred from a halter burning his skin, and three-legged lame with a swollen left knee.

I identified him through his tattoo as Falcon Fury. He had made his last three starts at Delaware Park, where he had been claimed from an owner and trainer I currently work for. I called them, and even though they had not owned or trained him for his last two starts, they were shaken by this discovery. Both told me they would financially support whatever I had to do to save him. The trainer’s assistant contacted the racing secretary, the general manager, and the stewards. She confirmed and informed them the horse had last run at Delaware Park July 2, was signed out of the stable gate July 6 by the trainer, and was at the New Holland auction July 21.

Delaware officals have also made it clear they will not tolerate this behavior. They called the last trainer of record into their offices and then sent him to the auction to find the horse. He found us and immediately denied any knowledge of how this horse ended up in this position. However, he admitted he had placed six other horses with the same dealer. He acknowledged he was in a compromised position with the officials at Delaware and they insisted he pay the purchase price and shipping costs. This helped us, but does not provide for a lifetime of care now required for a damaged horse. It was, however, a start.

Delaware’s general manager, John Mooney, assured me the track intends to handle this situation appropriately and is committed to working with the horsemen to help them make the right choice when it comes to retiring and placing horses.

This is another example of a racetrack stepping up and owning responsibility for this situation. Ultimately, we should be able to fix this industry-wide flaw from within. If every owner and trainer would assume responsibility for their own horses, this problem would not exist.

I would venture to say anyone who has watched the documentary would have to acknowledge the pipeline exists. Anyone who looks in the eye of one of these abandoned and abused horses and is not affected by what he or she sees should not be considered a horseperson.

An owner, a trainer, and an assistant trainer proved to me last week that there are enough good horsemen left to make a difference. If all racetracks would adopt a policy to help horsemen handle “unwanted” horses, they would be supporting the kind of horsemen needed to secure the future of our sport. If all tracks would adopt zero-tolerance for shedrow-to-slaughter practices, they would be moving toward eliminating the participants that do not belong in our industry.

Diana McClure is a licensed trainer who with her husband, Michael Cooney, owns and operates DMC Training Center in Berryville, Va.

Long Term Care - by Herb Moelis

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:52:00 GMT

On Derby Day 2008 shock waves traveled through the Thoroughbred world. A talented filly named Eight Belles finished second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) but after the finish, the filly stumbled and was euthanized on the track in front of more than 100,000 fans and millions watching on TV. We knew we had to address a problem that has been with us for quite some time. We examined our tracks, drug policies, breeding concepts, and many other things we took for granted.

When are we going to wake up to another very public problem: What happens to racehorses when they finish their racing careers.

There have been laws passed recently that have reduced the number of horses going to slaughter. Additionally, we are seeing the costs of caring for horses, including feed, transportation, hay, and straw, skyrocket. This has translated to more abandoned horses. According to the United States Department of Agriculture data, there are approximately 100,000 unwanted horses in the U.S. each year, a major problem and potential public relations nightmare. The time is now to address it.

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) supports about 200 of the groups that care for unwanted horses. We have seen the increase in the number of horses these groups must care for and the increasing costs and the lack of funding for them. I’ve heard many stories about horses being turned loose on highways and other horror stories for lack of funding. For the Thoroughbred industry to turn a blind eye to this problem will only result in another jolt, probably much worse from an industry viewpoint, than even the Eight Belles tragedy. How do we avoid this and do the right thing before we have People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and others demonstrating and asserting that we are inhumane and uncaring about our horses? How do we avoid having the government step in to regulate?

The answer is we must make owners responsible for the welfare of their horses, both during their racing careers and also when those careers end. If we agree owner responsibility is needed, the question is, “How do we get owners to be responsible?” Education of new owners is a necessity. When a person decides that he would like to participate in the excitement of racing, he should be educated to the reality that after racing the horse must be provided for.

Yet education alone will still not cure the problem. We must find a way to raise a steady and reliable source of money for the care of horses after their racing careers. Having been a founder and president of TCA and having raised in excess of $16 million over 18 years, I fully understand how difficult it is to raise money voluntarily. To depend on voluntary individual donations would be futile.

There is a very logical and simple way to raise money for this purpose. When owners register their foals The Jockey Club requires a registration form to be filed with payment of $200. Why can’t we add $50 to provide for care of the foal for life? This would be similar to a Social Security program for horses.

There are approximately 40,000 Thoroughbreds registered each year. At $50 each the total amount assessed annually would be $2 million. This would go a long way to providing a decent life for all Thoroughbreds after their racing careers. A Social Security system is the most feasible way to help, and The Jockey Club is the most logical agent for this project.

When I proposed this a number of years ago to The Jockey Club, I was told that it would be a burden on owners and there would be strong resistance. The Jockey Club would not implement the assessment, because, I was told, even if they collected the money they would not have the mechanism to distribute the funds. My answer to this is simple. TCA has a comprehensive file on all rescue organizations and would help in the distribution of funds. If an owner cannot afford $50 when registering a foal, then that person has no business being an owner. For the welfare of our industry and the welfare of our horses, this assessment is necessary and reasonable.

Herb Moelis is the president of Thoroughbred Charities of America

Red, White, and Renew - by Kevin Lay

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:40:00 GMT

For six weeks in late summer, top Thoroughbreds, owners, and trainers assemble in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to put on a one-of-a-kind equine display. Saratoga Race Course is often referred to as “America’s Great Race Place” or simply “The Spa.” My wife and I have made the sojourn each August since 1999 and we admit—we’re hooked!

As we bask in the afterglow of celebrating the birth of our great country, my thoughts can’t help but to wander patriotically to the many benefits available to us here in America. The fruits of my pondering yielded an unmistakable connection between America’s greatest virtues and the embodiment of those virtues that come alive each summer in Saratoga.

For centuries, folks from near and far have followed the irresistible urge to go to Saratoga Springs to renew their health, by drinking in the many mineral springs; their spirit, by basking in the peaceful beauty and serenity of the physical surroundings; and their energy and vitality, by their close interaction with those majestic Thoroughbreds. Horse racing has long been referred to as the Sport of Kings, but an afternoon of people watching amidst the red and white color scheme at Saratoga Race Course reveals that kings, as well as commoners, equally comprise the body of those in attendance.

What is it about a day at the Saratoga races that draws such a wide range of interest from such a broad spectrum of Americans? A day at the Saratoga races contains three key elements that serve as a metaphor for what we find so valuable and enticing about living in America, and serves as the draw for so many.

America is a melting pot of people, many of whom immigrated to this country in search of a better life. What they found when they arrived and what we all enjoy to this day is a beautiful and bountiful landmass. Along with this beauty, we have the freedom to pursue our dreams, which for many includes the hope of a reasonable opportunity for finding prosperity.

Beauty—No matter from what direction one approaches Saratoga Springs, the raw beauty of the countryside takes the breath away. With the Catskill Mountains to the south and the Adirondack Mountains to the north, Saratoga Springs lies nestled, like a 10-carat gem in a solid gold ring. The mountains, lakes, streams, and rolling farmland are amazing. And the trees—they seem to get taller and taller as you approach the track, and upon passing the admission gates, seem to rise into the heavens in an almost surreal way.

Once inside, the place has more of a campground feel than it does a racetrack. The dirt ovals that surround the tall pines in the saddling paddock remind one of how it must have been done a century ago, and the rustic grandstand remains as a traditional reminder of years gone by.

Freedom—I am continually amazed by the opportunities for Saratoga track patrons to get nose-to-nose with multi-million-dollar equine athletes in the stable areas at the track. Sure, there are some security measures in place to protect the horses, but in general, there is an air of laid-back trust that is not found at any other track in the country. This gives the “common guy” the freedom to rub elbows with the inner sanctum of the sport without the risks and costs of actual racehorse ownership.

Prosperity—A day at the races in Saratoga, in close contact with the elite horses, owners, and trainers, gives the fan a sense that prosperity is attainable. As a small-scale Thoroughbred breeder, I often get a sense of the “possible” as I watch the races at Saratoga. It seems somehow as if the opportunity to breed or race a graded stakes horse is not that far a stretch. Prosperity is simply a matter of perspective, and I always leave Saratoga with a renewed sense that we as Americans are indeed amazingly prosperous and blessed.

Indeed, I would concur with former President Reagan’s words. I would also add that seeing that horse in Saratoga Springs makes it an over-the-top experience.

Whether you are involved with racehorse ownership as we are—or whether you are just seeking some new kind of vacation experience—it is a veritable certainty you will enjoy your day at “The Spa.” Come bathe yourself in the red and white—and renew!

KEVIN LAY is a Thoroughbred owner and breeder from Minneapolis, Minn., doing business under the Triple B Stables banner.

It Isn't Dead Yet - by Craig Bandoroff

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:01:00 GMT

If there is anyone who has worried about the health of our industry more than I have the past 20 years, I feel sorry for that person. Always, it seems, there is bad news: declining attendance, declining handle, offshore wagering issues, drug positives, reduced field size, aging fan base, high-profile breakdowns, diminished soundness of the breed.

Have I missed a few issues? I’m guessing I have. Here’s a feel-good story that maybe offers a sign of hope and cause for optimism.

I recently attended and completed the first year of a three-year program at the Harvard Business School. I am a member of OPM 39. Comprised of 160 businessmen and women from around the world, it was an impressive gathering of successful and astute people attending a rigorous and equally impressive program.

Following the first week of classes, some intense studying, and strong bonding with my fellow participants, I was destined to spend Preakness day amid my newfound friends in academia. Since our arrival at Harvard, I was often greeted upon introduction as, “Oh yeah, you’re the guy in the horse business.” Or, “you do what for a living?” And upon learning that a horse I was connected with was running in the second leg of the Triple Crown, my new friends were mistakenly convinced they were with someone special.

So at the conclusion of classes that morning, my seven hall mates from my “living group” (the group of people you spend a great deal of time with) trucked off to the Harvard Club, past performances in hand and my TVG account loaded.

After a few beers to get us into the mood, we did some serious whooping and hollering when we cashed the trifecta and more importantly watched my clients’ horse, Icabad Crane (Gallagher’s Stud the breeder and Earle Mack the owner), run a good third in the Preakness. Amid the excitement and post-race revelries, my clients’ horse quickly became my horse, his horse, and our horse as we exited the club.

That Monday morning, as I entered our meeting to prepare for the day’s classes, I was greeted with the announcement, “We want you to get us in the horse business.” My mates now want to own a racehorse and have some of the fun and excitement for themselves. Despite my attempts to convince them a horse would quickly separate them, the new fools, from their money, they were not to be discouraged. So after some unsuccessful attempts to throw cold water on their scheme, I relented. Word soon spread, and then more new fools wanted to ante up and get in.

In spite of my misgivings, I figured what was there to lose but a few bucks among a group of people who could afford it? If I could expose them to the beauty and pageantry of the sport and the wonders of the horse as an athlete, who knows what would happen.

So now 22 of my new Harvard friends and I have formed OPM39 Racing Venture, where they will learn about the business, maybe catch the bug, and have some fun. Why people from India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Dubai, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada want to join a few of us from the States and own some racehorses that will race in the U.S. I haven’t quite figured out. Certainly it is not the attraction to make money, because it was presented to them that there was no chance of that. Is it the nostalgia, the chance to bond further, the dream of having a good one? I suppose maybe all of the above. My guess is that there is something about the horse and the intrigue of the sport that kindles the flame of their entrepreneurial spirit.

Where will it lead? I have no idea. But in my new role as their racing manager, I’ll teach them something about the horse, the business, and the industry that has done so much for me.

Am I still worried about the industry? You know I am.

Is there hope and a chance it can survive despite a myriad of problems? The eight Harvard guys who bounded out of the Harvard Club on that sunny Preakness day don’t care about its troubles. Their 14 classmates from around the world who joined them in racehorse ownership don’t know and don’t care. They’re in the game.

It isn’t dead yet from what I can tell.

Subsidize or Downsize - by Robert Laurence

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:45:00 GMT

I don’t gamble. Shoot, I don’t even fill out a March Madness bracket. I do follow the games to see how the seedings play out. The win-or-go-home format makes irrelevant that great artifice of the gambler—the point-spread.

I have no high-minded, moral principle against gambling; I just never caught the bug. I recall playing golf in my college days, when someone in the foursome said, “Let’s put something in the pot to make it interesting. ”Make it interesting? How much more interesting than trying to run a 7-iron shot against a crosswind onto a summer-hard, backward sloping green? Any more interesting than that, and I’d collapse under interest-overload.

I don’t bet, but I do like to watch Thoroughbreds race, whether across the south pasture, running for the sake of running, or around an oval for a handsome purse. Has there been a better match than Curlin versus Rags to Riches, head-to-head, eye-to-eye, for the length of the stretch at Belmont? Pick your sport, any sport, and beat that. Maybe, for some, racing is more interesting if the mortgage payment is on War Pass to show, but for me, the running is enough.

I also don’t know much about Kentucky politics. I have no opinion on why Steve Beshear disappointed the horse industry. I have no idea why some Kentuckians want to amend their Constitution and others don’t.

OK, so I don’t gamble and don’t know much about Kentucky. Still, maybe the observations of such an outsider can shed some light on the failure of the Kentucky casino bill. Here goes:

Horse racing used to have a virtual monopoly on legal gambling. It still does in some states, but by and large those days are gone, never to return. For good or ill, we live in a slot-machined country. And the truth is just this plain—for the heart and the buck of the typical gambler, horse races lose out to slot machines. Don’t ask me why, but people would rather drive to Indiana and play the slots than stay in Louisville and play the horses.

Patrons at Oaklawn will sit for hours at slot machines, betting on the outcome of a previously-run horse race, and will hardly bother to walk outside and watch the live races.

And if our game loses the gamblers in a match with slots, can it win the hearts and dollars of the pure sports fan? Sadly, no. Betting aside, most Americans care about just two races in the spring. Three, if the same horse wins those two. A few will tune in to watch a day’s worth of championship racing in the fall, though getting them to watch two days’ worth is problematic.

There are many reasons for this. First, the sport is still packaged first and foremost as gamblers’ entertainment. Second, our heroes and heroines don’t stick around long enough for the fans to know them. Curlin versus “Rags” was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Real Quiet versus Victory Gallop was three times for a generation. Affirmed versus Alydar, three times for a century. It’s as if Magic and Bird had played one game against each other in 1979 and never set foot on the same court again. Or Ali and Frazier had fought once and then retired to open a restaurant together. Connors versus McEnroe, again and again? Forget it.

If I’m right, and we lose to the slots for the gamblers and to NASCAR for the racing fans (God knows why; maybe it’s the hats), then it looks like one of two things is going to happen—either we face a downsizing of the Thoroughbred industry or we need a subsidy.

The gaming industry in today’s market is so darned profitable that they can give the state a cut, subsidize the Thoroughbred industry, and still run out of places to put the money they have left. What do they get? An air of respectability, maybe, and our industry’s fabled influence with legislators. What do we get? A direct conduit from the slot machines to race purses, thence to owners, thence to trainers, jockeys, breeders, and the rest of us hangers-on. There may even be some support for the retirement operations.

So, a subsidy, or we downsize to about five or six tracks, nationwide, and maybe a thousand new foals a year. I have nothing against subsidies. Lots of industries get them, directly or indirectly. But let’s be honest enough to admit that that’s what we’re doing—getting money that, if the market were left free and unregulated, would be going elsewhere. Let’s drop the smugness and sense of entitlement. We aren’t owed a cut of the slot machine take. We’ll turn the clubhouses into casinos, and run races that will barely be noticed by the players. We’ll take some of the money poured into the slots in order to keep our industry going. And we’ll hope that it will be enough.

It would help to say “please” in advance, and “thanks” at the end.

Great Pretenders - by E.S. Lamoreaux III

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:53:00 GMT

No matter what happens in the June 7 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), the 2008 Triple Crown season will always be defined by the triumph and tragedy of the heir apparent crown prince, Big Brown, and the fallen heroine, Eight Belles. And tradition says that this Belmont, factoring in Big Brown’s pre-race hoof injury, will come up as a “hold your breath,” arduous race that’s guaranteed not to be won in a New York minute.

After a diet of mint juleps and crab cakes, there is less pomp and a heavy dose of New York grit when the racing schedule reaches Belmont. You’ll need all your fingers and half your toes to count the TC “can’t miss” favorites that didn’t make it here.

I was a CBS News television producer covering the Triple Crown of 1969 with commentator Heywood Hale “Woodie” Broun. Majestic Prince, like Seattle Slew after him and Smarty Jones after him and, yes, Big Brown, was undefeated heading into the Belmont. But “The Prince” had suffered a leg injury in the Preakness and his trainer, Johnny Longden, wasn’t sure he was sound enough to run.

With the first undefeated Thoroughbred trying to win the Triple Crown, there was enormous pressure on owner Frank McMahon to go for it. Longden and McMahon argued openly about it. Not only had there not been a TC winner since Citation in 1948, but McMahon’s wife, gossip columnist Betty Betts, wanted desperately to get into The Jockey Club, and saw Majestic Prince as her ticket. On the eve of the race, Woodie Broun interviewed McMahon, who was so nervous and perhaps hungover, that he kept referring to the TC as the “Cripple Crown.” Majestic Prince finished second and never raced again.

Fast forward two years, when Canonero II became the next pretender to the “Cripple Crown” and the last before Secretariat. Canonero was unique in that he had done all of his racing in Venezuela and became a hero to the entire Latin American world. Broun, one of America’s great wordsmiths, was on the scene once again, and wrote the following in his sports memoir Tumultuous Merriment: “The thing one notices at the Belmont…is the very New Yorkness of it. Like the old Manchu Empire, it can swallow up all the invaders that come and either absorb them or outnumber them so that they are no longer visible.

“The great exception at Belmont was the June day in 1971 when Canonero II tried for the Triple Crown. He had been bred in Kentucky to an unfashionable English sire, and because he had a gimpy leg had been sold as a yearling for something like $1,600. This modest beginning may have been the essence of his subsequent appeal. This was a price that poor people could understand.”

Broun wrote that huge numbers of Latinos descended on Belmont Park that day, “a great mass of people, many of whom had never been to the races, with nothing in common but their language and a vague sense that today they were going to show the Anglos and have a good time while they did it. Hundreds of them brought musical instruments and long before the first race, bongo drums were echoing in places where nothing was usually heard but the murmur of old horseplayers mumbling inaccurate information to each other.

“In Caracas the president of Venezuela stood ready to make a speech to the whole world about the connection between a 3-year-old horse and his country’s eminence and the drums were rattling all over Belmont Park.

“Oddly and sadly Canonero’s fourth-place finish that day was one of his bravest races. Subsequent examination showed him to have been suffering from some odd but debilitating illness, and it appeared that he ran through agony and exhaustion of such shattering intensity that he was unable to raise his head for weeks after the race. The drums stopped beating, however, and the crowd straggled home, while the president in Caracas called for his limousine and cursed racing luck, not the first head of state to discover that power ends where chance begins.”

My friend Woodie Broun wrote those words nearly 30 years ago. Funny how they resonate today in both Thoroughbred racing and American politics.

E.S. Lamoreaux III is a four-time Eclipse Award winner and the longtime executive producer of CBS News Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt.