Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

slee — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:53:31 GMT

This is one of those good news/bad news things -

the good news is that ESPN is holding an auction today for various sports trips and "day with a celebrity" and one of the trip auctions was to the Breeder's Cup. A very nice package of hotel, winner's circle, meeting horses, etc. All proceeds going to the JimmyV Cancer Fund.

the BAD news is that even though I listen to ESPN radio every day, I didn't know about the auction until today. And until I logged on I didn't know the Breeder's Cup was one of the auctions! Worse, that particular auction was at 6 AM!!!!!!!!!!!!

The winning bid was over $6,000, but what would it have been if the word got out? Did Bloodhorse know about this? Did I miss an article or a blog entry? There's an entry for Zenyatta memorabilia for Jimmy V on the Breeders' Cup site, but not this auction.

It's great that Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs and ESPN got this package together, but publicity, people, we need publicity!

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

TBOwner — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:25:51 GMT

You took my comments the wrong way. My intial comment was directed specifically at this comment by your friend Deacon: "This sport of Kings has lost it's way, succumbing to greed, bad decisions, power hungry owners" That was quite a generalization there and if you were an owner would you be put off by that?

But my understanding is you're saying the sport wouldn't exist without the fans and the owners are secondary?

Okay, that's a stumper for sure.

Will I listen to a fan? Sure. About how much they enjoy the sport or what they don't like about it in general terms. Do I enjoy listening to personal attacks on owners or being told how to run my business by someone with no fiscal responsibility for it? You tell me, would you in your own business? It's not like the grocery store and telling the guy what products you'd like to see on the shelf.

My family has been in the horse business for nearly a hundred years. We had a limited number of fans when we started out and we'll still be doing it in some form if/when all of the fans go away.

Does that mean we don't appreciate the fans? No. However it doesn't mean that we like them consistently telling us we're greedy, we don't know what we're doing, we are power hungry, we only think of ourselves or any number of the things that I've read on these blogs over and over for the last couple of years.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

The Deacon — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:35:56 GMT

Lazmannick:

My first horse race was the 1955 Santa Anita Derby. My dad kept telling me how great a horse Swaps was going to be. I fell in love with the sport that day. I remember a horse named Hillsdale whom I gave my dad $2 to bet on because I liked the way he looked. He won that day, and he became a pretty good horse. He ran against Round Table, Sword Dancer, and T V Lark to name a few.

I also remember Gun Bow and Kelso. Throw in Mongo as well during that time.

Thanks for the kind words, all my respect back to you.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

TBOwner — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 00:00:20 GMT

Lazmannick, how are you as fans going to keep the sport around?

How will you do so if you have no product? This is a serious question. I can't see how you can do so if you have nothing to watch.

Please help me to understand this.

I started out saying what I did because of the way that the Moss' keep getting second guessed about Zenyatta. Horsemen take a lot of hits on these blogs. Everyone knows how to run our business better than we do, according to you all. If this is the way you talk about the primary players in a sport you like, how do you talk about those you don't?

Really think about this for a minute. When fans were just that, fans. When gamblers were just that, gamblers. Our game was extremely successful.

Then track owners, who I agree are the greedy ones but not all who are horse owners who also own tracks are like that, started listening more or less solely to the fan and gambling entities and ignoring the horsemen who would end up having to sue, threaten not to run and so forth to get fair treatment. Now I know that fans and customers are important but are they to be the sole focus at the expense of the ones who provide the product?

The gamblers influenced the way the track was set up to help them handicap, the tracks started focusing more on bands, give aways and falderal and less on keeping the horsemen interested in running at their tracks.

Those are a couple of the reasons the fields are so short, cards are getting cancelled. It has to be attractive to the horsemen or we'll go where it is. Note Saratoga and Monmouth.

Well if you guys want concerts, dances, cheap beer and casinos then that is a sure way to say we don't need horses around to muck up the place. No true fan of the game of horse racing thinks that way, at least I hope not.

I have a question for you. Before the advent of the internet and people talking to each other on it, how was a fan heard? They either went to the track and bet money or they didn't. Funny our attendance and handle was so much better back when people did it for enjoyment and weren't trying to tell us that we don't matter in the final product.

So I guess I can say since you fans are the ones who grow the sport or are the reason it exists, you will take the full blame for the problems? Or is it that you show up and the clouds part and everything is magically resolved, we get money to support these expensive animals?

Funny if a bunch of race track people are saying the same on here, maybe it's true?

I'm just happy that not all fans think they know about our finances, how to operate our OWN business, how the purses should be

structured and when and where we should run our horses.

Remember, most of us in racing are fans first and foremost. WE don't even second guess our colleagues as much as 'fans' do.

I really don't think that you are a representation of the average fan, or at least I hope not or we are doomed.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:43:55 GMT

TBOwner

I sympathize with the problems you are facing and believe me, we appreciate what you as owners go through a lot more than you might think. I’m sure when Deacon made his comments he wasn’t including all owners, just some.

I can understand why, when people invest in a business and lose money and struggle they become concerned. That’s only natural and you might say when it comes to horse racing it is a so-called right for those investors that, as you and a few others on here constantly state……are IN. But if you want to sit back and ridicule and/or complain about and turn a blind eye to us OUT people because we try to make intelligent and/or true comments about why we think the sport (that we love every bit as much and maybe even more than you) has deteriorated then you’ve JUST ANSWERED one of the fundamental problems with horse racing. YOU DON’T LISTEN……OR MAYBE A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE. And if you don’t want to listen to us and we abandon you even more then you’ve already been abandoned you really will end up with nothing because we are the ones who will ultimately make the sport grow or even keep it around, not you.

Deacon:

I enjoy your posts. You are one of the posters on here that I never skim over (always read). I know you have true passion and love of the sport. I don't go back quite as far as you but I go back a ways (Northern Dancer was when I really got involved). I remember Swaps and Native Dancer, and Kelso and Gun Bow, etc., especially when I got a chance to watch them on TV; and the sports sections back then always had columnists dedicated to the sport. I remember the days when even in the middle of the week the crowds always numbered in the high thousands and there always seemed to be at least one star running, even if only in an allowance race. How times have changed. You know, I love the Breeders Cup, but to me the high purses it created was the start of racing's down fall. From that point on owners didn't have to campaign their top horses as much because there was much more money available to them, many more big dollar purses, but unfortunately still not for the little guy. Increased gambling opportunities and the internet have done much to devastate what was once a fairly solid foundation. I believe racing hasn't done enough to take advantage of the internet and this is where owners and associations should do more to work together, but of course there are so many reasons why they don't. Have a good one, you too TBOwner.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

SMTDL — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:45:34 GMT

Definitely a glass more than half full..with Quality Road and Blame's emergence, Zenyatta'a usual consistency,Rachel getting back in the groove,Rail Trip getting it done,Mine that Bird and I Want Revenge looking good to return and the potential from a few of the 3 yo's, this could be one heck of a year end showdown.My biggest disappointment has the "sour grapes" attack on HOTY voting instead of praising all the racing stars ..which is badly needed..Stop the hating,the best campaigns should get rewarded and have been over the years.If no one complained about Azeri and Favorite Trick getting HOTY ,there certainly is no reason to question last year!!

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Runfast159 — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:24:07 GMT

I agree with Tim G. My glass is almost always full because you don't have to look very far to find heros, heartwarming stories and horses to be passionate about in this sport. You just don't.

There are the obvious ones already mentioned, though I believe Bill Mott winning his first classic and Mike Smith winning his first Belmont are noteworthy. Goldikova is every bit as good if not better at what she does than Z and RA are.

How about General Quarters and his one horse barn owner/trainer? And the venerable Cal bred Bold Chieftain winning his first graded stakes? Kinsale King taking on the world?

It's true this sport is the great equalizer though. Eskendereya and Endorsement out before the Derby. Kip Deville losing his fight. Skip Away passing before Carolyn could see him one last time. Alan Seewald passing before he could saddle UTCB in a classic. Summer Bird failing to make it back to the track.....

But overall, this is a sport that can't keep a passionate fan down. Just around the corner it's a Quality Road, a Zen, a Rachel, a Blind Luck, Blame or Tuscan Evening keeping us tuned in. You don't have to look hard to find something to make you thankful for the rich bounty this sport offers.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Fran Loszynski — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:16:22 GMT

The glass is very full overpouring with Afleet Express and Afleet Again brothers in arms winning the Pegasus. I don't think in all of horseracing history have two brothers won side by side! Not to mention the Kentucky Derby field before the race with Dublin and Backtalk walking side by side-I cried at the sight- and running side by side from champion sires Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones. To me, this is forever noteworthy in the annals of horseracing history for 2010. I remember saying to my friends in 2007 "Wouldn't it be awesome if Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones' son ran in the Kentucky Derby together!" There you have it. I'm still in awe of that one.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

The Deacon — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:49:29 GMT

TBOowner:

I go back to the mid 1950's, watching Swaps win the Santa Anita Derby was my first race. My dad took me and I fell in with with the sport the first day. I have seen a lot in this game, the ups and downs and the ins and outs. The changes over the years, some good, but mostly not so good in my mind. I have a couple of buddies still in the business who run their horse at Emerald Downs and Portland Meadows. Not your glamor tracks but they do ok. They happen to feel the same as I, I suppose if the shoe fits then wear it.

I don't know your situation but I do know how expensive this sport can be. My dad dabbled in trying to buy a claiming horse back in the day. He knew a few of the trainers and he wanted so bad to get into the business. Yes it was costly and the horse he claimed broke down in his next race and had to be destroyed.

I am talking about people like Stronach. I am not in favor of casinos taking over race tracks but economically, I suppose its a sign of the times. I miss the purity of horse racing, the way it used to be. Every owner wants a Derby horse, so no expense is spared and 20 horses run with most of them having little chance to win. The purses are much larger now, Dubai wasn't around with these unimaginable purses back in the day. Money is everywhere to be made. It is a gamble to breed, buy, and race horses, I know that but I just don't think we are on the right track (no pun intended) to save this great sport.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing everyday but waking up and expecting a different result. I do however wish you much success in the future.

Lazmannick:

Thanks for the kind words, I am certain who have been around a long time as I have. A true horse racing gentleman.

P.S. The first stakes winner I ever bet on and won was a horse called Hillsdale. I wonder if anyone remembers him. He ran against the likes of Round Table, and Sword Dancer...........

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

LStein — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:55:38 GMT

Between the Queen, the French Diva and the Beast from the East my cup runeth over!!! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

skyfire — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 01:00:35 GMT

afleetalexforever & ever, I agree with you!!

Perhaps I would even put the connections of Zenyatta (not the horse who may be the best race mare ever) as leading the list of Disappointments!!

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

TBOwner — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:09:56 GMT

Lazmannick, I don't know, you explain it to me.

Could it be because the horse population that is making it to the track is smaller? The owners just can't afford to be in the game any longer? There are more lower level horses? There is money out there and they can't fill the cards because the horse population at the track due to costs is so small that they either cancel the card or the guy with a horse that might not quite belong has a chance at a piece of the pie?

Deacon may have been "around" this game for forty years but if he is actually IN the game he knows what we owners face every single day. The economy hasn't been too kind to a lot of us either and many are just trying to keep their heads above water.

I really doubt that one horse owner would call another greedy when it is so costly to own a horse in training. Anyone who has one or a dozen knows that.

You guys may be "starving" to see the stars but the owners are either doing their level best to do what is right for the horse or being "starved" out of the game.

You just have NO idea.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

jimf — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:17:26 GMT

Half empty for sure:

The Monmouth Park experiment as great as it sounds will inevitably fail since on track handle average is much below $100 per capita. Belmont races are cheaper than ever and field size is considerably down. Both venues have enjoyed nothing short of amazing weather but yet can not get it done.

The post 1 in the Kentucky Derby once again eliminated the most probable winner. There was a filly in the race facing males for the first time (asking for trouble) and Sleepy didn’t ride his horse out costing him second and costing many bettors the exacta.

The Belmont weight issue with Uptown Charlie narrowly escaped disaster. The race was made official prior to the jockey weighing out and subsequently being disqualified. Imagine the outrage if the horse finished fourth and they made it official.

Hollywood is canceling cards, Churchill Downs is looking to move to Indiana and the Aqueduct racino lingers on.

The industry continues to complete with each other as graded stakes for fillies and mares were run at Churchill, Belmont and Hollywood on the same weekend.

The unfortunate ending of Migliore's career is a tough one as he was on the verge of signing on with Godolphin to ride as Ascot.

Steve Byk off of the drive home Sirius radio slot replaced by the TVG television feed.

But there is always hope for a better second half of the season!!!

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

TerriV — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:47:07 GMT

John T, Amen to that!!

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

LAZMANNICK — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:10:01 GMT

TBOwner

I can see your point. Maybe you should look at ours. How come even in $500,000 races with horses owned by those so called heigh-end hard done by owners are we lucky to see more than five horses going and usually then only one or two that have a legitimate shot at winning? This doesn't say much for the average fan who is looking, no make that starving to see the stars of racing more than a few times each year. I know for a fact that Deacon has been around this game for more than forty years. I think he makes an excellent point.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

TBOwner — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:39:50 GMT

Deacon,

We'll stop being greedy. We'll stop trying to survive in this game.

Talk is cheap, pony up $90-$100,000 to keep a horse running at upper levels(minimum).

It's us greedy/power hungry owners that give you something to write about and complain about and when the mood strikes you, watch.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

The Deacon — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:54:57 GMT

Without Zenyatta these past 3 years the glass would be empty, let alone half full. She has invigorated the sport once again, and for me brought life to a dying culture. This sport of Kings has lost it's way, succumbing to greed, bad decisions, power hungry owners and race track administrators who cant walk and chew gum at the same time. Horse racing is all about the animal, the grace and beauty of these equine champions. Horse racing has lost it's way, but there are still special moments and Zenyatta provided that.............

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Tim G — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:10:19 GMT

IF the glass is half empty? It's the negative people who HAVE NO connection to racing, continuously running down the connections of the horses.

Hey 'fans' these horses are brought to you BY those SAME connections that you continually second guess.

I cannot believe people that supposedly love a sport and are fans of it, continually find things to complain about regarding what an owner chooses to do with THEIR OWN horse.

Sad that people think promoting their own favorite is accomplished by putting down the owners of another........And we wonder what's wrong with racing? With fans like some (and you know who you are), who needs enemies?

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Slew — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:29:09 GMT

This year has been amazing, and I find my glass 3/4 full. When it's not just the winners who amaze us but also the feats of the horses who almost got there first...I'm enjoying every second of this year. It looks like a year of depth, and the horses are finally staying on the track longer than one season. Wow! I'll think I'll enjoy the second half even more.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Marilyn — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:55:52 GMT

Definitely half empty. Most people are still hating. The whole east/west debacle is still going on. No one can just love and admire the horses, EVERY horse, for the amazing talent that they have, instead of trying to beat them down, in order to make their favorite look better. Sad. Although I'm glad that this is just a very short list of the real fans out there who know how to love and enjoy the sport for what it is, and who is racing in it, and for all the excitement each and everyone brings to it.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Tim G — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:27:21 GMT

With me the glass of racing is always totally full if a little diluted. LOL

Zen at the AB, spectacular. Todd getting his Derby, the best.

The old guard back in the TC races and looking good.

Sensational works by MTB, he looks unbelievable.

The market starting to recover a bit.

The bad, we all know about but life goes on and it's far too easy to focus on the negative aspects. Why bother?

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

afleetalexforever & ever — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:01:35 GMT

Well here is my Midyear list of glass half full.

1. Calvin Borel winning his 3rd of 4 derbys.

2. Goldikova winning her first 2 stars of the season (1 against a Group 1 champion Miler in Paco Boy)

3. Rachel Alexandra seemingly finding her form and winning the Fleur De Les by almost 11 lengths.

4. Devil May Care running well and finishing 10th in the Ky Derby, but coming out of the race very sound.

5. QR & RT & Blame establishing themselves as the top Older Handicap horses in the land.

Here is my list of Half Empty or Disappointments.

1. Summer Bird being retired.

2. Kip Deville losing his fight against laminitis.

3. Looking at Lucky being compromised over and over again by either horrific trips or ride or incredibly bad post positions.

4. The connections of Zenyatta continually running her down to the competition in California instead of allowing her to prove herself against the best horses running.

5. The connections of Zenyatta continually coming up with excuses regarding why either she can't ship or can't run against males in California. (Just be honest and tell the truth, the excuses continue to mount, and it’s becoming ridiculous and quite embarrassing for the connections and her friends and most importantly her legacy.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

John T — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:52:37 GMT

For me the glass is never half full or half empty,the glass is always full because each and every

year there is always a thoroughbred

or thoroughbreds to keep it that way.

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Paula Higgins — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:51:41 GMT

Zenyatta is simply the best; history in the making right before our eyes. Any year she races is a great year.

The rest of the year is also shaping up nicely with some very talenetd horses and one other great one (Rachel). We have Quality Road with bursts of brilliance, Blame and Rail Trip. Overseas Goldikova. I couldn't be happier (except to see Zenny win the BCC this year).

re: Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Robin from Maryland — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:12:10 GMT

No, it wasn't a very good year. Thank God for Queen Z. Without her, the year would suck. By the way - Great video - Thank You Dinky Diva. Hopefully Quality Road will continue to amaze us, no more antics at the gate, at least until after November!! Worse yet, no TC winner. Well, there's always next year.