Attracting the Fan

re: Attracting the Fan

AR — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:42:25 GMT

Well atthebarn2, first of all I wouldn't quit betting on horseracing; what I do do though, is bet less than I ever did in the past, and I try to stay away from Suspicious trainers who have horses entered in any particular race. You can also bet on this, if I was in a position financially to own horses, you bet your life I would race them medication free on race day.

I agree that the racing industry is concerned, and finally beginning to clean up it's act by banning steroids, and other race day drugs. I also agree with your comment on security, and post race testing.

As far as Larry Jones is concerned, well maybe I was a little harsh. Like I said I do like Larry Jones. It's just that I dislike cheating trainers so much, that sometimes I get carried away with some of my comments, and offend people that I shouldn't. My apologies to Larry Jones.

I dont believe for one minute that all trainers are cheating. I'm concerned that due to the sport being so competetive, with the knowledge that certain trainers are cheating, that some of the honest trainers will begin to take that route themselves just to be equal. Perhaps they already are.

The repeat offenders need to be dealt with harshly. That is the only answer to the cheaters.

I disagree with your comment on the good ole days. The horses were not all broken down claimers running twice a week; of course I dont know how far back you're going with that one LOL, but The good ole days I remember was watching and betting on sound horses that raced every two to three weeks. These horses raced themselves into condition, and it showed up via their past performances, and they were sound horses who could withstand the rigors of racing. Can a horse out there today spot a horse 22 lbs as Dr Fager did against Advocator in the United Nations Handicap. Dr Fager went head and head with Advocator, and won. Now that's just one of many examples of the "good ole days" that I remember.

re: Attracting the Fan

Dreamer's Mom — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:40:52 GMT

Jamie-two years ago we lost our "grandpa horse". He raced through his 12 yr old season and we had vet clearance for his 13yr old season, but his eyesight was going. He was "just this close" to making $100,000 which in our state is a big deal, but we did the right thing and retired him.

The summer after we lost him we sponsored a race in his memory and a woman in the crowd ran down to the Winner's Circle to have her picture taken with all of us. She said to me, with tears, real tears, "I loved that horse. He tried so hard every time."

I completely understand following a horse just because you like him. You may not ever place a bet, but when you see his or her name in the paper or the program something just speaks to you. You have to watch them run. You have to love them and while there is no reason in the world to do that, you just do.

As an owner/breeder/trainer I hope I have a horse that someone loves, Just Because....

re: Attracting the Fan

Attheban2 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:20:39 GMT

Well AR, you have two choices. Stop betting on the horses hang on to your high principles if you really think everybody is a cheat. Or, you could bet like crazy on these guys that you think cheat on every race and get filthy stinking rich, buy your own horses run them drug free and make a real point.

Horse racing is banning steroids, Kentucky etc. More drugs are being banned on race day, horses in pre-race detention barns, security posted at barns or going around checking on things, post-race testing. Truthfully a lot of this stuff upsets the horses and makes them nervous, takes them out of their routines. Barns are beehives of activity in the mornings but it’s the same ole same ole. But all of us are paying for the sins of those who break the rules. Just like everything else in life the sins of the few are visited upon the masses.

Some people say the detention barn was what wore Big Brown out on Belmont day, he definitely pitched a fit and was out of character. Maybe that was RD’s just desserts, not the poor horse’s though.

I’ve complained about the repeat drug offenders, I’ve also been shouted down, or ignored MOSTLY BY the PEOPLE on here.

Where your story loses credibility is comparing a Larry Jones to one of the guys who constantly gets these positives. One drug positive in 25 years, have you never made a mistake or had something bad happen in 25 years at your job.

Yes the trainer is ultimately responsible and that is part of the reason Larry doesn’t’ like having gotten so big, too hard to control every little thing that goes on, no matter how hard you try. The other thing is Larry doesn’t trust anyone , you hire people who have been issued a license you’d think they aren’t criminals. He apparently thought he could trust the person, but 2 horses were turned out of their stalls. That’s any horse owners biggest nightmare.

Just like I don’t think everybody in the world is honest, I also don’t think everybody is a cheat.

Tell me, what do you think about these people who convinced their customers that they had enough money to buy the $500,000 house when they probably were at a stretch with a $150,000 one. Interest only loans, ARM’s you have the crooks that convinced them, then the greed of the homebuyers with visions of grandeur. Then don’t even get me started on the CEO’s or the clerks in the stores who try to shortchange you just because you are old and therefore seen as gullible. See just like I said you have them in every walk, but not every person is like that.

Cull out the bad ones, let the good ones keep going.

Low as racing can get? Heck no, it can be like the old days where the barns were full of broke down claimers, running 2 times a week. Seedy employees that make the guys today look like upstanding citizens (females on the backside, the best thing to happen to the race track workforce because they are so good with the horses.) We are no longer an agrarian society and our work force has become very limited.

As far as Dr. Arthur well yes it’s just his point of view and I even said that myself before. However, he is the medical director for equines for the CHRA and is basically the final say on all things drug related in Cal horse racing.

re: Attracting the Fan

Jim — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:32:07 GMT

Have not had a chance to read people's stuff. YES to more horse stories and the people who actually work with them -- but the horse's are the stars of the show!

There should be a job for a couple of well suited, retired racers at tracks that's just public relations, attracting kids, families, and horse lovers. Sell and educate around the horse and then the game.

I thought Magna was going to do something but all we got here at Portland Meadows are empty machines, which wouldn't mean a thing to mean even if they were filled. I also lost my favorite hot dog bun of all time!!!!!!!!!!

re: Attracting the Fan

AR — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:11:22 GMT

Hi Jamie, I read your article, and I admire your love for these great animals. I have heard many, many times people at the track yelling "come on 4, or 3 or whatever. I dont find anything wrong with that; afterall, they are betting the horse's numbers not their names. Besides, I'm quite sure these people know the names of the horses they're betting on.

As far as not betting on the races, remember, there is no racing without betting. Betting makes the sport what it is. The name of the game is to push money through the mutual machines.

re: Attracting the Fan

AR — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:57:12 GMT

Just as an example, there's a trainer up in New York who has a big stable, and his violations have been frequent. You probably know who I'm referring to. I wont mention names because I just dont think that's right.

As far as Larry Jones is concerned, I do like him; however, he's the one in charge of his stable, he should be screening his help. You say who's to say there isn't tampering, I would say who's to say there is!

Doctor Author's comment on this matter is just his own thought.

I'm just very upset to have watched this once great sport get as low as it can get.

I dont mean to offend anyone, but cheaters in any sport disgust me. Especially in horse racing because there are lots of people putting up their hard earned dollars to support it.

re: Attracting the Fan

Bradgm — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:42:44 GMT

Jamie,

That was a very sweet story, although as a gambler I can disagree on one point, I root for my horses by name, make more choices by heart than head and can tell you about more horses than you might want to hear (I went on and on about Stardom Bound, I've read every book I can get my hands on, but consider myself a handicapper and a fan), maybe I'm not the normal, hardcore gambler. Maybe my buddies and I are the type of happy medium racing needs. But, the gamblers that are out there aren't enough to support racing on their own. It takes the $2 occasional bettor.

My guess is that we don't love the horses any more than the trainers, grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders and most of the owners. Most of the ones on here have written how much they love the horses and trust me you'd have to in order to spend the immense hours these people spend with them. It's much easier for all of us to say, how beautiful and then walk away from the grueling hours, the risks and danger they face. Yes, some people say well they chose that profession but truthfully I think the profession chose a lot of them. Many now have degrees are educated and can do many more things other than train etc. In California we have an attorney who is a trainer and a kinesiologist, many even have advanced degrees. Yet these very same people get bashed by anyone who feels like they have a right to do so. Sign of the times I guess.

It would be ideal if everyone could see racing as you do, unfortunately most aren't as idealistic. I'm just not sure what will cure it. Of course it's not suffering alone. Look at the MLB parks in regular season, they are absolutely empty and the prices are outrageous to see a game. Basketball the same, college basketball now has a surcharge at most schools $25,000 to guarantee a seat in a premium location then pay another 700-2500 for each ticket?

The NTRA and other organizations have made a number of great commercials, the latest about the game touching you sort of says what you are saying. I think it's a sign of the times. There isn't a whole lot of gentleness in the world any longer, nor an appreciation of beauty. Sad but true.

Maybe we should target all these gamblers going to the Casinos in droves, that would pump some revenue into the game and ultimately that is what keeps it going.

re: Attracting the Fan

Jamie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:32:34 GMT

In my opinion, the true trick in enjoying horse racing is enjoying everything but the betting. While I understand bettors bring in needed money, they will always be there. It's the fans the industry needs right now.

I just wrote an article about this in my turf column: www.smilepolitely.com/.../the-trick-is-not-to-bet.php

re: Attracting the Fan

Atthebarn2 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:58:18 GMT

PS MRO, maybe if you bet a little more Beulah could up their purses, that's what generates them after all. Also Randy is a Handicapper first and foremost.

JR, come to my barn and see how in the forefront my athletes are. Better yet go to a bunch of barns, they live better than most folks, are pampered almost too much according to some people. The slaughter houses in the US are closed now.

Whoever talked about Ferdinand, he wasn't slaughtered here and the Ferdinand Fee was created because of his death, most give the fee willingly. Buy back clauses are now the norm for Studs sold overseas.

I think a lot of people are making an honest effort, but that's not sensational enough, not like the terror tactics and ONLY negative slant by the radicals. By the way, how many rescued horses do any of you all have? I have about 6 right now at the farm. Dozens of others in good homes, new lives.

re: Attracting the Fan

Atthebarn2 — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:41:50 GMT

AR, Yes, I agree tougher penalties for multiple drug positives, no transferring the stable to an assistant, therefore the trainer still is making money. But where do you draw the line. Like Larry Jones, one drug positive in 25 years, on the heels of a bunch of hate. Who's to say it's not tampering?

Ban raceday meds? What levels of remnants of a drug will be allowed?

Maybe more like a lot of drugs already, stop within x number of days prior to a race.

Us non vermins would be happy to have a level playing field.

Big stables, kind of have the positives due to sheer size, but some of the biggest have just minor infractions over 30+ years. However Dr. Rick Arthur of the CHRB said he believes most positives are just as trainers say, unintentional, contamination etc.

Actually the bettors of all sizes are the backbone of the industry, without gamblers we can't survive. Unless you want to turn it into a dog and pony show and I don't see too many fans filling the stands and paying the exhorbitant prices to get into the show that it would take to support these expensive animals.

re: Attracting the Fan

Whatamidoing — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:20:42 GMT

Dany, What? You think you can get enough sponsorship to pay to maintain the tracks, pay the huge taxes and have purses worth running at? Or are you just going to have 150 horses running at each other all the time?

That's fine for NASCAR, they run one race at a given track per year. You cut horse racing back to that and you destroy the industry, put tens of thousands of people out of work. Make it more elitist than even the old Blue Bloods did.

Trust me lady, very few are going to come to the races for the pure beauty of it. How many people do you see at horse shows or eventing or Hunter Jumper shows? Even rodeos are struggling and the biggest ones have superstar concerts.

No sponsor wants to play to an empty house, who the heck are you advertising TO?

Legitimate suggestions are worth looking at. Off the cuff, uninformed preaching is a waste of time or just somebody who wants to antagonize and make incendiary comments. I noticed you prefaced your remark with "It's hard to say".

Do You even have any idea how much it costs to run the races, the plant, pay the taxes, pay the purses, breed a horse?

Just how much did UPS make, better yet how much would they have made if there would have been no gambling? Even NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA have gambling.

Do you really think the owners of these horses are going to want a sponsor controlling them, even a fan, when the owner is the one who is going to be responsible if people lose interest? Or will they

want 100 fans telling them what to do? That by the way is what these partnerships are all about. Join one, pay your money and take YOUR chances as an owner.

How demeaning to say 10,000 fans can have a piece of this horse for a 100 bucks each, that would buy one horse, keep it in training for a couple years unless you pay 50,80 or up to 200g's to enter it or supplement it in a big race or two, ship it cross country a few times then it wouldn't be enough to race for more than a year or so. It won't be the fan or the sponsor taking the risk, it'll be the owner and no one else.

None of these corporations have enough money to sponsor horse racing as a whole, they can't even keep themselves afloat right now. Nascar sponsors, have what 150 cars max to sponsor and they're losing sponsors all the time, leaving guys without a ride.

They infight even worse than horse racing, have all kinds of questionable tactics. Right, I can just see the trainers and jockeys jumping off their horse or running out on the track to pull a guy off a horse to punch him out, or tackling the other trainer as they go to pick up their horse because they think they got bumped or blocked. I'll just make sure I don't pick on the really big guys like Asmussen, McPeek, Jones, Craig Dollase or even Lukas (he may be older but he's a heck of a lot bigger than me) I'll go after the smaller guys.

Lastly, before you published that statement, maybe you should have done a little research. THERE IS GAMBLING ON NASCAR..........

www.betus.com/.../nascar-online-wagering-bank-of-america-500.

Vespone, obviously you put some thought into your answer, kudos.

re: Attracting the Fan

AR — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:50:47 GMT

Clean the sport up!!! Start with banning all raceday medications, and dont just slap the trainer in the wrist for med violations. Get rid of the cheating trainers! They are ruining the sport. I believe there are lots of people leaving the sport because of these trainers. Handicapping has become a guessing game. To me horse racing will never be the same until they stop the raceday medications (yes all of them). Stop worrying about attracting new fans who only want to watch the horses run around the track. The industry is losing BETTORS. The two dollar bettor is the backbone of the racing industry.

Vespone, teaching people to handicap horses is a losing proposition, because not only will they have to handicap the races, they will also have to handicap the cheating trainers. I'm sorry, but these vermin trainers are the scum of the earth.

re: Attracting the Fan

Vespone — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:37:37 GMT

I actually think that more would be gained by introducing fans to the joys of handicapping. Many fans are only interested in one particular horse or horses. Teach them how to handicap and they'll be interested in every race.

re: Attracting the Fan

JR — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:45:56 GMT

I believe Racing to be successful has to get back to the athletes themselves... the race horse. With 35,000 or so born each year, and probably one third to slaughter, it permeates to the non racing fan as almost a joke about the glue factory. It is the only sport, that does not put its athlete first at all levels. Non fans aren't stupid, and could understand a breakdown, if the best care were taken. But overall, it is really not. The non-fan gets that it is barbararic at its worse. Racing needs to start from the ground up.

Do that, then work on all the other issues. Eight-Belles was on an example used by the public to lay scouge on the industry, for all its ills...and deservingly so. Go back to basics, and they would be talking less of Eight-Belles and more of Rags to Riches (against Curlin in the Belmont), which to me is the pinnacle of what racing is about...

re: Attracting the Fan

the_wiz — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:22:27 GMT

I am what was described above as a handicapper. I'm a numbers person and I love the challenge of deciphering the race. I am also a racing fan but without the gambling part of the sport it wouldn't interest me. For me they go hand in hand.

This year has been a phenominal year for me just based on the fact that the 3 yr old class is so ordinary or weak. Just betting on the big 3 yr old only races where this class has been trading wins against each other all year has produced huge payoffs. This is good for racing.

Where else could you find such a value? For example, This year we had a horse going for the Triple Crown and in the deciding race he was whipped by an allowance horse and a MAIDEN no less while finishing dead last out of the money!! Then the field from that race goes out and gets beat time and time again at deflated odds while other money value horses fill out big trifecta's and superfecta's.

I'm hoping for another weak class of 3 yr olds like this years or at least a class that is balanced. For a handicapper like myself that is like the holy grail and it sure beats gambling your money in the Stock Market!! 401k's be damned, the value of my Retirement Account went way up this year!!

re: Attracting the Fan

DANYLSON — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:52:00 GMT

IT IS HARD TO SAY IT BUT GAMBLING IS WHAT KEEPS RACING FROM GROWING..WE SHOULD BE LIKE NASCAR AND HAVE SPONSORS FOR THE HORSES WITH THE REGULAR RACING FAN BEING ABLE TO SPONSOR ONE OF THE MANY HORSES OUT THEIR. LOOK HOW PROFITABLE NASCAR IS AND HOW FAMOUS IT HAS GOTTEN. IF YOU GET SUBWAY,MCDONALDS,SPRITE TO SPONSOR CURLIN AND SO FORTH FOR BIG BROWN, POPULARITY WILL RISE. THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE,LOOK AT HOW MUCH MONEY UPS MADE DURING THE TRIPLE CROWN. NO FOR THE REGULAR FAN WITH MORE SPONSORS GENERATING MONEY THE PRICE TO OWN A HORSE WOULD GO DOWN. I THINK LIKE EVERYTHING IN LIFE YOU HAVE TO COPYCAT THE GOOD IDEAS OF OTHER SPORTS AND BE POSITIVE ABOUT IT.

re: Attracting the Fan

txhorsefan — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:51:57 GMT

Thank you very much for guest blogging here on Bloodhorse, Teresa. I consider myself a fan of your blog and always enjoy your historical stories! I consider myself first, a horse fan, one of those little girls who loved horses all her life and never outgrew it. I am not a gambler, but I have enjoyed going to my local track, Lone Star Park, and at least making back what I paid to park, so the gambling aspect isn't completely foreign to me. However, like MRO, I wish the tv personalities would tell more of the background of the horses, show more footage of them other than the race or post parade. Also, it seems that there isn't enough emphasis on the incredible athleticism of the jockeys and some of their stories could hopefully pull some fans in. It's amazing to me that a 100 pound man can have so much strength to control a 1200 pound beast, but their stories are underplayed, except when they get in trouble.

Thanks!

txhorsefan

re: Attracting the Fan

FSF — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:48:40 GMT

I think Alex and Rggc both made excellent points about the lack of information on horse's pedigress; and it wasn't always this way. As a kid, I sat at home watching televised races with my dad, and we wagered my allowance money together on the big races at the local OTB- I won way more than him because I made my picks based on pedigrees, which I followed religiously. I find it positively bizarre that the networks stopped putting up the pedigrees for the BREEDER'S CUP races- emphasis on "breeding." I wrote to ESPN about this a few years ago. No response.

re: Attracting the Fan

giacomo — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:46:52 GMT

churchill downs is trying to get rid of the horse racing fans.my derby tickets are in jeopardy again this year because i dont spend enough on my twin spires card!i guess they rather have addicted gamblers at the derby spending their rent money instead of responsible gambler who love the sport!

re: Attracting the Fan

gordon — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:33:30 GMT

You need to build better racetracks along with the TV coverage and a good product. One of the key differences that people go to Del Mar and Santa Antia and not Pimlico, because Pimlico is a dump.

re: Attracting the Fan

dana — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:06:19 GMT

I think there are more than 2 types of audiences. In my mind gamblers can broken down into action seekers (which is the kind of gambler I think you're probably alluding to) and handicappers, or those attracted to problem solving who are also willing to put their money where their mouth is (I fall into this camp).

As for fans, there are those who are drawn to the horses, the stories and history, there are sports fan who are drawn to competition, rivalries and athletic achievement and then there are day trippers, or folks who looking to try something new and fun.

No doubt there's crossover among all of these groups as we're all probably a little bit of a couple of them. To me, thinking of it this way offers some interesting opportunity in that each of these "micro groups" (if you wanna call them that) can be targeted specifically. Promote handicapping to wall streeters, tech geeks and analytical types in general. Promote "when was the last time you came home from dinner and a movie with more money than than when you left" to day trippers and action seekers. For seasoned gamblers I think take out/taxes have to be dealt with before any real headway could made there because they'll already know what take out is.

You won't hear an argument from me re: racing needing to do a better a job of getting it's stories out there. I'd love to see tv coverage do a better job of laying out the historical significance of races or tying the current entrants to their sires/dams and horses of significance in their pedigree, for example. But I think a more specifically targeted approach to marketing has to happen, not to mention actual marketing!

The track, or anywhere else, would be a boring place with only one type of ANY type of racing fan, not just us gamblers :)

----------------

greenbutgame.org

re: Attracting the Fan

Rggc — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:57:34 GMT

I agree with most all that was said. I consider myself a superfan. I was 10 years old when I picked Proud Clarion to win the Derby and I have loved racing ever since. The thing I love is the bloodlines which are hardly ever mentioned. They should be up there on the screen with the jockey, trainer and owners. I get crazy when I watch a big race on ESPN and they don't even mention the sire line! How are people going to get behind a horse if they don't know the backstory. And the person who falls in love with Curlin or Big Brown is going get invested emotionally with that horses offspring. Year after year they, as do I, will come back and root for the sons and daughters and grandchildren of these great stars. We gotta hook 'em in the heart and keep them coming back.

re: Attracting the Fan

TerriV — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:31:34 GMT

Exactly!! I am a fan! A fan of horses!! Betting is a side issue for most, and particularly for those who have not yet experienced the beauty of this magnificent animal. For TV and news stories, show off what makes racing unique! The horse. I so totally agree with MRO. I love to see footage of previous races, pictures as a yearling or foal, footage of the Dams and Sires, stories and pictures about ancestry and the story of the Thoroughbred itself. Show footage and stories of winners and battles at previous races. There are thousands of stories. And remember, to new fans, complicated betting information is boring and incomprehensible. New fans need to experience the beauty, grace and magnificence of the horse and to feel the excitement of thundering hooves flying toward that finish line.

re: Attracting the Fan

MRO — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:35:37 GMT

I'm a fan, rather than a bettor, although I'll wager just enough to hopefully win back my program and admission to the track. The track closest to me (Beulah Park) leaves a lot to be desired, primarily because of the low purses & all of the "unpleasantness" that comes with underpaid atheletes, underpaid backstretch workers, underpaid jockeys etc. As a result, I'm dependent on TV for most of my racing. I enjoy Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, and Jeanine Edwards, but most of the commentators know little about horse racing and/or are so incoherent that even someone who knows what they're talking about has troubling understanding. I don't mind the betting feature, but there is little discussion of why or how the choices are made. The names of the horses are rarely linked to their betting numbers during that feature & fans like names better than numbers. I'm also disappointed by the little amount of time spent on the horses. If you're lucky, you see the favorite in his/her stall pre-race, but that's it. Fans like horses because they are fast, but also because they are beautiful. Show them! I'm also disappointed that there is usually little talk of pedigree. Randy Moss tries to work in what he can. Show the dam & sire during the post-parade coverage &/or mention it when talking about the horse. People who watch remember horses from years gone by. Many of these are the moms and dads of today's stars. If it is a Seattle Slew grandchild, I want to hear about it. There were a lot of sports I didn't care to watch until I learned more about them. Granted there is more time for education during a day long golf tournament than there is during a thrity minute horse race telecast, but I think golf telecasts often do a pretty good job entertaining & educating.

re: Attracting the Fan

STEVE STONE — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:47:56 GMT

Hi Teresa....When referencing the boutique meetings in the country..in addition to Keeneland..which operates an split..spring and fall of only 14 days or so..truly run for the horseman..along w/their sales...and there was an point in time where they raced sans an announcer calling the races..now thats racing at its zenith..its only been the past few years that someone is calling the races..Saratoga is an resort and is swelled by tourists during the six week meeting and of course you have to factor in Del Mar..also attended by tourists to that area..They are successful due to visitors visiting those regions while vacationing during the summer months and also not over saturating their superb product with endless racing......These maeets are of the highest quality and the purses reflect that...Yes..as you noted....racing is arguably the oldest sport in the country but has never really branded itself w/the type of publicity and promotion and marketing it so deservedly needs..It never embraced TV early on in the late 50's..early 60's....Save for an few major motion pictures over the years..featuring the equine athletes of an earlier era..the deep and vast lore and pagentry and the infinite stories that loom around the backstretches of every track..the personalities and so forth is inexhaustable..The local daily newspapers that have an track in their respective marketplaces perhaps may cover an feature or so during their meeting..However w/plummenting advertising revenues plaguing newspapers and the soft economy..all of the print outlets are rachetting their coverage down whereby racing is almost non-existant to the reader...So what is/are the answers? Everyone on these blogs is weighing in on this critical subject on how to develope new and younger fans...Expand the coverage..Stimulate racing...Haven't seen anything substantiive as of yet?? Thank you always for your kind window..Regards..Steve Stone