Numerology - by Robert Laurence

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Fritzel — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:14:03 GMT

I don't bet either but love the horses. Newspaper coverage has essentially disappeared. The Illinois Derby had a 1/2 inch paragraph mention in the Chicago paper.

I waited a long time for a picture of Rags to Riches and her new filly who looks just like her and finlly it appeared in BloodHorse. Why wasn't it in the mainstream newspapers? It's a shame.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Bob — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:31:53 GMT

Reminds me of the old joke:

Two veteran horseplayers were sitting in a bar arguing. A third one comes along, and one of the pair says "Hey Ed. Do you remember who won the '77 Kentucky Derby?" And Ed says "Sure. It was the 5 horse."

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

John R. Murrell — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:56:51 GMT

Robert Laurence's column (Final Turn) in the March 28th issue is exactly right. Racing desperately needs to improve its image and sensitivity particularly with regard to horses no longer able to compete. Look at www.hillsidefoundation.org.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

marci — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:19:14 GMT

Well said, Pat! There is nothing more thrilling and beautiful than a running horse. I am an avid fan and have never bet a cent.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Pat — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:32:34 GMT

Just yesterday on NBC's coverage of the golf tournament at Bayhill there was a promo for the Kentucky Derby. After which one of the announcers asked golf analyst and former pro Johnny Miller if he'd been to a Kentucky Derby. His answer; "No, I don't bet."

A sporting event to rival any and the perception is if you don't bet you don't go.

Like Michael Phelps? No, I don't swim.....

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

wowhorse — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:38:26 GMT

Robert, I'm completely in your camp. In fact, I wrote an article in this exact vein last year. You can read it here: www.smilepolitely.com/.../the_trick_is_not_to_bet

If there was more coverage on the horses, and more publicity on the fandom and individuality of the horses, I think our sport would gain fans. I hate how the Derby coverage has slowly been swallowed up by celebrity-spotting and tales about who's wearing what. I don't care about that, and I think it's sad anyone is devoting a half hour of airtime to fashion at a horse race. Bits and pieces, sure, but that shouldn't be the focus. I love the old, long coverage of ABC (I'm 26, so that and CBS's coverage is "old" to me!) where Jim McCay would go into long verses about the big contenders, and they'd have montages of training and previous races, and you'd get to actually KNOW the horses--not just their human connections. If I could get a hold of a camera on Derby week, the coverage would be a lot different. Hey, that's not such a bad idea! Someone call NBC...

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

YourHost — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:20:42 GMT

I have a number of problems with your article. Why wouldn't you ask for the Racing Secretary's Office for results? Your comment that 'one race that 80% of Americans care about...' makes no sense - what is your source for 80%? That figure is way too high - we're not talking about the Super Bowl here. The players at Oaklawn who'...pull a lever to bet on a race....' have improved the fortunes of that track (a very fan friendly venue as well and certainly not deserving of your article based on one phone call). Finally, you state that '...horse racing needs fans like me, too.' Why? You are not on-line and you do not bet. Also, anytime you need to get a bet down on a Curling match, please give me a call.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

needler in Virginia — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 03:54:40 GMT

I think we must be related, Mr Laurence; we, too, care for retired horses in our "golden years" HA! That means picking stalls twice a day instead of once after work......

My father used to bet everything EXCEPT horses... those are my mother's particular poison.... but I was raised hearing about the Texas horse, Assault, who won the Derby the year I was born in Dallas, about the Black Gold miracle, about Nashua and Native Dancer and Swaps, etc, etc, etc. Both my parents knew these horses like they were old friends; both knew sires and dams (called them "moms" and "dads" ....little pictures, you know???), both cared greatly for the outcome of races, and all we had was ONE TV (black & white), two channels, and got to see only ONE race a year ...guess which one. My point is that racing fans become fans when they see, for the first time, the horses making the clubhouse turn. Fans become fans BECAUSE of the horses; otherwise they would be fans of goldfish racing or gerbil synchronized swimming. People don't become fans to sit in front of a TV monitor and listen to talking heads, and there are a hell of a lot of easier ways of gambling than betting horses! People become fans to see the races on the grass, the silks, the sheen of a chestnut coat, the hats, the post parade, horses getting baths, morning works in the fog, happy owners and trainers kissing a sweaty neck, jockeys and flying dismounts, blankets of flowers, and to hope that THIS YEAR we may have another Triple Crown winner .....MAYBE this is the year... MAYBE......

While we are immersed in the crap that surrounds racing now, we need to remember why we love the sport so much and figure out how to get those kids to pick up our torches. With all its' problems, racing STILL holds me. People really ARE trying to make things better, and inch by inch, maybe it can be done. It has taken years to get to this sad state and it won't get better overnight, but it can be done; I really believe this. The brains are out there...... somewhere; the solutions are out there..... somewhere. We must listen to the oddballs and the cockeyed optimists, the fruitcakes and the weirdos, because maybe out of the nonsense will emerge an idea. At this point, I'm willing to listen to anything that offers hope for the sport I love so much......

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

MRO — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:47:14 GMT

Well said! They have taken the horses out of horse racing & then wonder why they can't develop a fan base.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Bellwether — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:38:15 GMT

Amen brother Ben...Expose...Promote...Educate...& PLEASE REINTRODUCE THE SPORT OF HORSE RACING TO THE AMERCIAN PEOPLE...have u not seen a HORSE RACE on HD...WOW WEE McGee!!!...LONG LIVE THE KING!!!...

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Dreamer's Mom — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:43:16 GMT

EMD-I know what you mean about giving a name instead of a number-the deer in the headlights look!

Here's one for you-we have a horse that goes by the nickname Number One. You can imagine the looks I get when I'm yelling "go Number One" and the "one" is not the horse on the lead!

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Rggc — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:37:38 GMT

I think (and hope) there are more people like us; who want a horses name not his number. I just think that we aren't as vocal- and that is sad. Let's raise our voices, for the sake of these wonderful animals! When we root our horses home, let everyone hear their names. Go Ham Sandwich! Go Rock Lobster! Go Old Fashion! Go Curlin! Go and be remembered.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Driftin Sage — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:30:08 GMT

Mr. Laurence, I agree with you. At least you were able to talk to someone with a pulse and heartbeat. Most places you call these days, have you punch buttons until you are so irritated you want to hang up and just walk there. Karen in Indiana, you are so right. More interest stories would interest more people (with a heart beat). Knowing all about the horse...history, personality, relatives, etc. along with the connections (as they say) would be so interesting to me and I think to many who don't normally follow the horse world. Computers are killing us, and I do have one, and they are slowing the whole world down which was not the original plan. The more they do, the longer it takes to get anything done. They work with numbers and any human looking up the info Mr. Laurence wanted saw only numbers. I don't like it, either!

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

LittleGuyBreeder — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:51:40 GMT

Another thing I don't think that helps the image is the constant emphasis on betting, and the odds and overlays and whatever else gamblers care about, when betting (on anything) when I'm watching racing on TV, like this last weekend on ESPN. Hank's a great guy, but I don't give a rat's patoot why a horse with virtually no shot of winning is a better bet than a horse with a chance to add black-type to the family tree. But I'm a breeder, not a horseplayer.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Bruce Greene — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:16:03 GMT

Old Fashioned... hmmm, not just the horse, maybe the values. I sense a movement to take back the sport. It's slowly building and I have more to say that will hopefully appear in these pages soon. I'm always amazed how some folks never even listen to the call of a race. After a close finish when someone asks me, "who won it," I often respond with the name and then, "didn't you listen to the call. Most track announcers will give you everything you need with remarkable accuracy.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

EMD — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:09:27 GMT

I always get this look from your basic handicapper at the track when they ask me who I like in a race, and I give them the horse's name -- it completely throws them. The poor animals are just numbers and odds to them!

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Karen in Indiana — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:45:46 GMT

You are right on the money - pun intended. It's just been since last year that I've been able to remember my interest as a youth with horse racing. What is different now is what an emphasis gambling and betting has on the sport. There are 2 main horse racing channels. I watch the one that talks about the horses and the people involved with them and shows the horses names and numbers while they're racing and don't watch the channel that only shows the numbers during the races. Gambling on the races has always been a part of it, but there was also more of a personal interest - you had to go to the track, see the horse, watch the race. You knew who the trainers were as people, not just obscenely high numbers of horses raced and win percentages. You knew who the jockeys were. And you knew the horses pedigrees because you had seen the parents and grandparents run, up close and personal. There has been much said and written about the need for more fans. I think you're right - if the future of horse racing depends on catering to gamblers who may or may not have an interest in the horses, it will cease being a sport that will be attractive to anyone, let alone a new fan who just loves horses. There does need to be more interest stories and publicity of the races leading up to the Derby, much like there is for playoffs in other sports. And it needs to be packaged in a way that someone with no knowledge of the sport can understand and have their curiosity piqued.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

LittleGuyBreeder — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:23:30 GMT

In total agreement! I hate it when I ask who won and I get a response such as, "The three horse win it." The horse's name! What is the horse's name?

And we wonder what is wrong with our sport??? I can't fall in love with a number, but I can fall in love with a personified horse like Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Curlin, Smarty Jones, Eight Belles, Indian Blessing, Barbaro, etc.

Thank you, Mr. Laurence.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Barbara — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:08:16 GMT

That name should be reserved - Fivethreesixseven.

re: Numerology - by Robert Laurence

Shawn Johnson — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:49:48 GMT

Nice observation, RL. As a fan of the sport and its traditions, I am hopeful it will not go the way of curling.