Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Jeanna — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:35:28 GMT

I have to be admit I was disappointed when I tuned in to the Belmont Stakes and saw the horses and jockeys looking like NASCAR wannabes. Granted, I haven't been watching been watching the sport as religiously as I used to, so I haven't seen any kind of progression in big-business advertising. I remember when the Triple Crown was presented by Visa and now "Yum Brands"?? I'd like to be able to watch at least ONE sport where I am not bombarded by advertising. (And fast food chains to boot? At least other sports had sense to see obese people don't participate in their sports.)

I hate to see "The sport of kings" lower itself to a mass-media, big-business advertising circus. I much preferred the days of horse racing for bragging rights not endorsement deals.

I love the idea of a mom-n-pop breeding facility focused on the quality and care of their horses who race for the love of racing. I hate to see "The Man" all over my racing with wall st. and big-business investors and all their syndicates trampling the little guys.

Is NOTHING sacred?

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

carol busching — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:22:00 GMT

Excellent article but like many before it nothing will be done due to the disconnected race tracks fighting among themselves and a Jockey Club still operating in the 19th century.What we need is a united owners organization with a racing czar or racing commissioner.

Racing has too many small-time thinkers and not enough cohesive entrepreneurs.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Robin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:56:50 GMT

Nice article Gary. As an owner I want to see this game continue and the industry needs to do something to bring more revenue to the great sport. I don't understand why tracks cant be named like stadiums are and use corporate sponsorships. You made some very good points and racing does need to get into the 21st century if it wants to continue. We don't need to get tacky and stupid about it but definitely something needs to be done to help the progression of the sport.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

STEVE STONE — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:48:34 GMT

Hi Gary...You cannot be that non-plussed as to why the racing industry has not adopted as you referenced what other sports have initiated over they years in order to generate new fan interest since racing is the poster children for inaction and profound conservatism and not ever being proactive...Look around..why did it take the Eight Belles tragedy to now sound the battle cry and finally adopt safety reform..New racing surfaces...space out the Triple Crown races...and so forth and so forth...If you want to place the onus on someone..turn the clock back over six decades w.the advent of television..The sport never had any interest in embracing this new form of entertainment technology..as other sports did..If they did..we wouldn't be sinking deeper and deeper in the abyss....At last years Belmont Stakes..under perfect and ideal weather conditions..history was being made also..however only less than 47,000 fans were there to witness..Can you tell me why? I am sure there were more in the stands that same day @ the two local ball parks where major league baseball is being played.....You say we are doing something right regarding over 100 Kentucky Derbies being contested. Racing is more than The Derby and the Triple Crown and The Breeders' Cup....Its the day in and day out..running claiming races for $3000 somehwere in the country....There is more to racing than the boutque meets of Saratoga..Del Mar and Keeneland...Everyone is certainly hoping for an Big Brown victory in The Belmont Stakes..However..following that..whether or not he does indeed run in the two remaining races that his connections have earmarked for him is an moot point...The sport has to be able to pick up on this and hopefully perpetuate his accomplishments and market it the way it should...However based on its past performances..I do not see it happening anytime soon....if at all...By the way..when will the industry see an national drug program? After all..how long does it take??? Thanx....Steve Stone

East Hanover..New Jersey

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Ken Woodall — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:53:26 GMT

3 examples- The Green Monkey, n amed after the owners' golf course, point up lack of longevety in horses; and Threeewit Noble and Pat Day sre perfect examples of long-time class acts whose potential followings could have boosted racing. Lack of competent PR types in racing along with its dog-eat-dog nature are 2 big stumbling blocks.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Bellwether — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:14:40 GMT

no change of name after Horses first race i think...

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Patrick — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:09:34 GMT

Although the idea sounds interesting, would a commercial entity be interested in attaching its name to something that could break down on the track and need to be euthanized? Bill's point also raises the issue of whether an owner can change a horse's name.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Pizzaman — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:05:34 GMT

Over on the Courier-Journal's website they are bashing Churchill Downs Inc for going all corporate and forgetting about the $2 bettors. Here we have an article promoting corporate influx.

I'm not being judgemental but it goes to show how the horse racing industry is being pulled in opposite directions.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Bellwether — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:40:40 GMT

Keep talking as the game needs all the EXPOSURE it can get...Carousel of Legends(trademark)/Bellwether Productions will help bring Horse Racing back to the top of the sports world where it rightfully belongs,so stay tuned...Long Live The King!!!

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Harrison — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:31:19 GMT

I read somewhere that UPS had abandoned the trademark on the name "Big Brown" which was why Pompa was allowed to use it. I'd say Rule V.6 has more to do with copyright infringement problems (aka lawsuits) than commercial issues.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Bob — Wed, 28 May 2008 00:35:49 GMT

I agree with what you are saying but there are some problems with it.

Every NASCAR team needs a sponsor to continue running, that is not that case with horse racing. There are many more small time owners than big ones and to reward the big time horses with more financial windfalls they will already receive in the long run is not fair.

A better idea would be is to have some sort of revenue sharing such as the one the NFL has with sponsors. That, in the long run, would provide incentives to all owners and just not to a chosen few who get lucky with a Big Brown type horse or in your case a Singletary.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Don G. Asmus — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:50:37 GMT

A few minutes spent on our Thoroughbred Naming Specialists website (adding a dot.com will take you there) should make it clear that we are not big fans of The Jockey Club's naming rules.

In the case of the name "Big Brown," however, I must agree that The Jockey Club was correct in approving the name for registration. Those who feel that this name violates Rule #11 are forgetting that UPS has only attempted to associate the word "Brown" with its corporate identity; not "Big Brown."

The commercials which attempt to establish this new identity for UPS say, "What has brown done for you lately?" No mention is ever made of "Big Brown."

Although Mr. Pompa has made it clear that he named his horse in honor of UPS, the name itself does not clearly establish any commercial connection.

Sorry that I had to side with The Jockey Club on this one Gary (and it will probably never happen again), but I think the naming committee made the correct call with Big Brown.

Now if Mr. Pompa had named him "Lost in Shipment," it would be another matter entirely.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Jean — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:13:26 GMT

Great idea. Horse racing needs a boost. Our local newspaper hardly ever has anything on horse racing and I live about 10 miles from Colonial Downs. I would like to see horse racing get the attention or half of the attention that auto racing gets.

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Bill — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:56:03 GMT

Nice idea, but there is no guarantee that a horse with a commercially significant name will make it to the elite levels of racing and be on television for all to see. If they are not on television, then what is the point?

re: Rule V.6. - by Gary Fenton

Tammy — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:26:16 GMT

I agree!

Why not utilize their advertising budget? And knowledge!

Racing needs all it can get.