What is Your Favorite Sport?

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Bellwether — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:03:37 GMT

BREEDER$ CUP @ CHURCHILL BREAK$ RECORD$ ON & OFF TRACK 2010...T.V. MUST EXPOSE IT & WE BELIEVE THEY WILL..."ROAD TO THE BC"!!!...

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Aluminaut — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:31:09 GMT

Horse Racing is now #9 on the poll.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Marc — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:45:19 GMT

A no brainer to call horse racing my favorite sport, especially on a horse magazine blog.

I am one of "those" that thinks it is dying though. Not dead, but unimportant now as it has been diluted and as it has occurred in the real world propped up and not allowed to downsize by slots.

My favorite or at least former favorite track is an example--Fort Erie--it still has one of the nicest infields in the worlds of horse racing but the grandstand is gone--the playground, picnic tables, and zoo on the end which bought young fans to the racing game. Slots, a mindless no skill game has replaced it. The 5-6000 people that used to appear everyday of racing when it "was an event" are only a sad memory of past glory.

My thought is let the unsuccessful or B product tracks die out. Saratoga, Woodbine, Monmouth, SA, Del Mar, Gulfstream, Oaklawn, Arlington, excreta survive and even become more important and successful and lower the surplus of the breed of thoroughbreds and improve the bloodlines. Yes, it will put people out of work, but how many carbon copy paper manufacturers are missed? Payphones everywhere? Time has come to move on---Am I sad? Yes. I was a clocker, mutual clerk, before that a hotwalker and groom both on track and a breeding farm. Later in life an owner and even a part-time trainer of horses sprinkled in through the years. Now I find myself working and somewhat successful in a completely unrelated field to horseracing. I gave up owning horses 3 years ago-too much risk vs. rewards even though I was showing a small profit.

Sorry for the gloom to some of my opinion but it also the savior of racing in my opinion as well.

I want racing to succeed.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Bellwether — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:16:17 GMT

JASON SHANDLER I$ THE KING OF HORSE RACE N BLOG$ N AMERCIA @ THI$ TIME...CHECK EM OUT ON THE BLOOD-HORSE BABY!!!...

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

christy tate — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:46:23 GMT

my favorite sport is horse racing. First, Last, and always. i grew up watching the Kentucky Derby. i took riding lessons as a kid and dreamed of being a jockey. it's all about the horse for me. plus you dont hear of a horse going to jail.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Ofelia — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:53:10 GMT

The place for Horseracing has moved up to 9th overall.

My favorite sport...horseracing but not the way I see the sport going. Breed less with more quality.

My other favorite...fencing.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Convene — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:23:29 GMT

After my impassioned first post (of which I retract nothing!)I would like to add this: Racing isn't dying; it's being murdered! By the media, who refuse to mention anything about it unless a popular horse breaks down or a jockey (or spectator) is injured or killed; by the distribution of the revenues that provide the highest profits to those factions with the lowest operating costs; the plethora of tracks in some locales and the total absence of even one in others - and in some measure by the various factions of the sport who seem determined to work against each other instead of together. Add to that various government powers who either ignore or seem to actually hate racing and this sport so many people love seems to be under heavy assault. In eastern Canada, we have 2 tracks - Woodbine and Fort Erie (plus a few harness tracks which I don't watch), and both of them are close to Toronto. I live in Kingston area so how in h--l am I supposed to go support racing? Not even Blue Bonnets in Montreal holds a thoroughbred meet any more, if the track still exists at all. When I was a longhaul trucker, I lived in Fort Erie and it was very frustrating on a rare day at home to be so busy getting ready to roll again that all I could do was listen to the race-call from my back yard! I'm not sure what the answer is to that part of the problem, but we sure better figure how to share the revenues so the tracks and horsemen and owners can keep operating. And those fans who do live near the tracks better help excite new fans (bring 'em along to the track) because racing IS under assault and needs its army of supporters now more than ever before. As I said, UP WITH RACING!

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Convene — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:05:32 GMT

Why is racing my favorite sport? Because it combines speed, strength, fitness, beauty, courage and finesse - and because it keeps me in touch with the things that matter, the places we all came from and the values we need to preserve. People who love and work with animals, particularly with horses and dogs, are almost universally compassionate, sensitive, patient, resourceful, enduring and humble. Once upon a time, all of us lived and worked with horses. Now most of us of necessity spend more of our lives surrounded by mechanical things - things that don't care if we take out our bad feelings on them, which makes too many of us forget that living things, including people, need compassion, tact and caring. In this society of, "what I want NOW and kill anyone who denies me!" these horses - and the people who deal with and love them - are the hope of the world. When compassion, tact and caring no longer matter in society, I will take my dogs and my horses and happily depart for a Better Place where they do. UP WITH HORSES AND RACING!

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

jayjay3233 — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:36:13 GMT

horse racing without a doubt. I played every sport available when i was growing up in the 50s and 60s. my family of uncles,older brothers. even mom, would take me to the track with them. the crowd had a different tempo than any other sport i played or watched. comparable only to hockey night in canada on sat nights. there are those who do not gamble, do not drink, do not drive, these people fear disaster. and maybe they should for themselves. but to make a 2 dollar bet and pick it yourself, then watch him race, is a rush that only can come with horse racing. as long as we can keep the game simple, large fields, grade one horses, and a picnic atmosphere such as with saratoga, keeneland, and a few others, this game will last forever, because casinos, racinos, can not give you the fun and control,and friendship you can get at the racetrack.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Bellwether — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 10:35:52 GMT

ALL $PORT$..."BETTER THAN WAR TO SETTLE A SCORE"...BUT...WE LOVE THE HORSE THE BEST...LONG LIVE THE KING!!!...ty...

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Robin from Maryland — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 02:23:23 GMT

I am an avid horse racing fan and have turned my wonderful husband into one as well. I live in a state that at one time produced many a great winner and had equally spectacular horse farms. I'm proud to say that Cigar was foaled in my state, and the mighty Native Dancer once resided here. However, times are a changing. Pimlico and Laurel have cut races and closed stalls. Horsemen are leaving and going to tracks who can offer higher purses. Even the newspaper rarely mentions the sport unless it's horrific news. Jim McKay, who did wonders for our sport would be doing back-flips in his grave if he knew how bad Maryland racing is. If not for HRTV and TVG and my laptop I would be lost. The majority of MD horse people are not your Bob B or Todd P. There the average Joe going out and doing something they love. And yes, racing here will survive because of folks like us who follow it day and night. We celebrate the good times and our hearts break with the sad ones. I can't remember the last time a horse refused to run because of contract disputes. The last couple of years has been great for racing RA vs. Queen Z. But what we need now is a TC winner and quick before all the naysayers convince everyone to change the format. Many of you remember earlier this year of all the blogs concerning this. Keep racing in the forefront by continuing to talk about it to everyone you meet. If we all do this, the non-horsey will wonder what is it all about and start to tune in. For me, horse racing is alive and well and will stay that way for me forever. God Bless our top notch equine athletes, jockeys, and the backside workers.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Dan — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:52:33 GMT

Alex, I agree that horse racing's online following is passionate. So passionate that they appear to have voted early and often. The observation that horse racing has garnered the third most #1 votes in this poll is tantamount to stating that horse racing is the third most popular sport. We know that is not true. This poll is an unscientific, methodological disaster. Really not worthy of your attention, much less the basis for an article.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Dawn in MN — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:57:32 GMT

P.S. Haven't checked the poll this morning, but if you haven't voted yet go to the link and chime in if it isn't too late.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Dawn in MN — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:54:43 GMT

I really enjoyed reading all the comments. I posted some of this on the NTRA site. I was surprised that the comments don't flow over between The Bloodhorse and the NTRA.

"The combination of sports and animals is a potent combination and it will help keep us highly ranked as a sport if we treat our equine athletes right and do all that we can to keep them safe and healthy before, during and after their days at the track."

You said it Mr. Waldrop! This is the truest statement about racing that I have read in a long time, and I hope the industry hears that loud and clear.

From the time I was in the third grade I was fascinated by horse racing. There has never been enough televised coverage, but it seems to me that when I was a kid there was a lot more newspaper coverage. I carried newspapers to support my own horse, and I seem to remember checking the newspaper and finding those nuggets of racing news pretty regularly.

It would help if there were a National Thoroughbred racing commisioner of some sort. The patchwork association from state-to-state, and track-to-track, and the lack of consistency is certainly not helping. I know this may be an ignorant statement... but to make my point the NTRA seems to be a gelding.

We all know that it started with "my horse is faster than yours," and "I'll bet he isn't." Is the sport dead or dying? It will never die. As long as there are horses there will be racing, even if it is just the horses themselves racing without riders.

The internet is the best game in town for keeping up with the sport. There is virtually nothing else available. I go to the local track. I watch the few bones the networks throw to the starving fan. HRTV and TVG are unavailable to me, why don't the cable providers pick them up?

It is so about the horses!

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Judy G Loves Zenyatta and Rachel ~ California — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:52:00 GMT

Horseracing!!

Our two great "girls" Zenyatta and Rachel have done wonderful things for racing! Every chance I get, I talk to people about Zenny (because I've seen her races so many times), and they get excited hearing about it. I share videos of her races, too.

I only met John Henry after he retired; I wish I had "experienced" his charisma at the track back in the 80s. He was the Rock Star of that era :-)

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Lauracrown — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:47:48 GMT

I agree with everything FSF wrote. I am also from a part of Upstate New York where only MSG+ carries regular racing coverage. I have loved horse racing my entire life. When I can afford to, I go to Saratoga. While the Internet has been a blessing in terms of finding horse racing information,forums, and races to watch, I really wish more extensive TV coverage was consistently available. I NEVER watch any other sports on TV or go to any other sporting events, with the exception of supporting my children and their high school teams years ago. My dream trip was to go to the Kentucky Horse Park and see Cigar and John Henry. I got to do that a few years ago fortunately. To me, horse racing will never die. I have taught my children and my grandchildren about our sport's great horses and jockeys. I love the tradition, the beauty and courage of these equine athletes. I love the skill of the jockeys, the dedication and wisdom of the trainers, and I respect the hard work that the breeders, owners, and everyone connected to these magnificent animals put in every day to bring this sport to life. Mostly, I am passionate about horses. I love the race horses of modest talent as much as the top tier runners. I am grateful to be able to watch the NYRA meets at Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct on MSG+, but also wish our Cable company would carry HRTV or TVG. I never miss the Triple Crown or Breeders' Cup coverage on TV and I hope I will never have to because the networks that show them on cable television decide to drop their coverage of horse racing. I believe horse racing is alive and well. It will endure.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Kelso fan — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:35:35 GMT

Thanks, Fran and FSF, from those of us who do not have ready access to horse racing on TV. While it is true that we have dedicated horse racing channels, they are on satellite and many of us have regular cable because of other needs. I am appalled at the lack of regular media coverage of our sport - I saw one race this summer that was on ESPN3 (just who has ESPN3) and has anyone noticed how hard you have to search ESPN now to get to horse racing if you don't have it bookmarked. I am immensely thankful for NTRA streaming races to us (and the NSA for streaming steeplechasing) and for Blood HOrse and others making video almost immediately available. HOwever, it is difficult to attract other people when they don't read about it or see it on TV without knowing exactly where to go. Plus, I know that handicappers don't necessarily care for all the pre-race commentary on a network broadcast (and I could do without the treatment that the Oaks got on Bravo) but I really enjoy listening to commentators like Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, Kenny Rice and Jeanine Edwards. It's like a catch-22; we don't get the coverage because the media is not convinced but we have a hard time getting others interested because it is not on standard media. ANd it's truly a shame since horse racing has something for everyone starting with that most magnificent Thoroughbred .

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Fran Loszynski — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:33:27 GMT

Exactly right on the button FSF and being an Afleet Alex fan it would have been nice if my friends out in westwatchappieland could have watched his son Afleet Express run a breathtaking race like the Travers Stakes on their local T.V. station!

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Nancy — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:16:01 GMT

Alex - The over riding interest in racing is due to the horse and my passion for them and their magnificence on all levels and their tremendous heart. What other athlete gives so much and asks so little?

TV coverage, written media and sponsorship have fallen down a deep hole. I unfortunately now live in a state (NC) that is part of the bible belt so, there is no freedom of will for some of us, HRTV, ESPN rarely televises beyond the Triple Crown, or enough the undercard on those days, or other important races around the country.

I recently viewed a short segment regarding horse racing in Hong Kong on a travel program. Racing is the #1 sport there and mega millions are spent by the fans. Their racing season is also shorter and that probably helps keep it #1, because people are avid about it and hungry for it.

Also, it is non-profit and a considerable amount of the take is spent on charitable works. A far cry from the American model. If a jockey change is necessary for a top ranking horse perhaps it is a time for major change regarding horse racing and all its ramifications in this country. Given the hype in this country about our supposed superiority in breeding and racing we should considerably better than we are.

On many fronts, we as a nation have been slipping down a slippery slope of false facts and wrong headedness and unfortunately for racing it suffers from the same ailments.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

josh — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:11:09 GMT

I just went and voted and it said horse racing was ranked 9th just behind MMA. This is great news considering horse racing was in 11th earlier.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

skipaway2000 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:46:11 GMT

Maybe this poll will wake up the marketing and promotional folks - people LOVE racing! I have to disagree though, about there being less racing on TV - we have 2 dedicated networks for horse racing that could only be a foolish dream 20 years ago. I come from an area where the only racing on TV was the Triple Crown & Breeders' Cup. Today, I have both networks, watch races online and via my phone. Racing is more accessible today that it ever has been, but that message is not getting out to the fans, the people who ranked horse racing #3 in first-place votes.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

slee — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:48:47 GMT

The poll is still up as of midday Friday. Horse racing is #9 overall now, but, interestingly, in terms of votes for the #1 spot, it's #3.

Thanks for letting us know about the poll - I don't go to the ESPN site every day.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Ann in Lexington (aka Pedigree Ann) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:43:51 GMT

If racing is 11th, there must be a lot of sports ranked under it that are still getting more coverage on the networks. But looking at sports pages, they seem to give pages upon pages to the top two or three seasonals (football, baseball, basketball) and sporadic coverage to everything else. Could sports fantasy leagues have anything to do with that? In Britain, there is a similar competition, the 10 to Follow, a season-long (March-Nov) comprehensive pan-Euro 'league' with cash prizes.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

FSF — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:21:13 GMT

Paparazzi, I slightly disagree with you. There are plenty of places in this country where it's a major trip to get to the track, and those of us who live in those places would LOVE to show our passion and support by watching races on TV. To me, that's the "dying" part of this sport, the lack of TV coverage. I happened to be in upstate NY on Travers Day (not at the track though), and while you could watch the Travers on the MSG network, there was no ESPN/ABC coverage for the first time in 10+ years. I found it mindblowing that there was no national TV outlet for a race with the stature of the Travers. Sure, you can watch online. Sure, some people can watch on TVG or HRTV (never been a possibility in any of the cable carriers I've had in 5 different cities over the past 10 years). Getting to the track is a great, magical experience that draws people in. But if you can't expect to watch the big races with someone like a Jim McKay narrating you through what's going on, I do think this has very negative implications for a sport we love.

re: What is Your Favorite Sport?

Fran Loszynski — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:46:10 GMT

I always get upset when I sometimes see a little article somewhere in the newspaper, about five lines about a great horse that just ran his heart out and won a race! Football and baseball get all the coverage. More people would follow and love horseracing if they could read about it too. I often watch the news on T.V. when do you ever hear about a big race, if you do, it's 15 seconds and then on to the weather report. That just steams me. A racehorse and its jockey are poetry in motion and it is a very dangerous sport also, but to watch that precision for two minutes is the most exciting "sport" we have. The speed alone and "will" to make it to the finish line is exhilarating. Not to mention how beautiful the racehorses are and how skillful the jockeys are. Now owners are contributing earnings to many philanthropic causes and once you feel the wind from the mane of a horse crossing the finish line and see the broad smile of a jockey as he crosses the finish line, you just have to go back and bet on another race. But please to the media, follow Bloodhorse's way and Thoroughbred news and give these great animals and their jockeys their due. A column with ten words in it just doesn't do them justice. Only when it is a Kentucky Derby or a horse has fallen do we see any news relating this great "sport".