Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

Richard — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:29:42 GMT

My worry for the thoroughbred industry is what happens after Sheik Mohammed( the sport's biggest benefactor) dies.Don't forget his brother died just last year.

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

Old Timer — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:26:43 GMT

I fear we're in the last days of Horse racing in America , very soon ALL the Good Horse flesh and farms will be owned by Sheikh Mohammed and family. America will be left with his culls. It takes BIG Money today to keep race horses and Almost All the rich old sportsman who were In it for the "Fun and Glory" are dead , I know Ive been watching them die off for 50 years now.

Its sad But I can see a time when All that will be left in America are a oouple thousand broken down claimers running at the few tracks that are left in My Day there were over 200 race tracks in North America .Horses Ran 15-25 Times a year even alot of Champs . People actually dressed Up to go to the track . Today its Just a Business , one that's Losing Tons a Money and Fans every year. Horse racing at one time was "The Premier Sport" in America right along side baseball . The Newspapers actually wrote about it in the sport sections everyday , course not many News Papers left in America , Maybe that's the Problem what America needs is a Good TEN CENT Newspaper !

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

zed — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:32:09 GMT

I sincerly doubt the largest illegal gambling operation in the world, the NFL has any problems with the gambling aspect of horse racing. I think it has everything to do with time, the time to manage, to enjoy and to once in a while relax. Darley does a great job of caring for the land and the properties are in no danger of turning into Hamburg Place II, the retail hell of Central Kentucky.

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

Bernie — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:45:12 GMT

Breeding to race is in the best interests of the game. Turning horse racing into an industry has ruined the sport.

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

Squeaky — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:32:16 GMT

Dan

Do you think the NFL put pressure on the McNairs to get out of the horse racing business because of the gambling aspect?

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

Bill — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:11:14 GMT

I think the penultimate paragraph is the message here. Money doesn't guarantee anything. Nor does expertise. It just puts the odds in your favor. Luck is still the intangible element that can be the difference between success and failure. A horse wins or loses a major stake by a nose and the future stud value can be dramatically affected. Lots of times these results are attributable to racing luck and you cannot buy luck.

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

Bellwether — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:22:06 GMT

the two of them have half of all the duckies in the world...a Triple Crown they don't have...Long Live The Dirt!!!

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

STEVE STONE — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:34:19 GMT

Hello Dan...If one can comprehend the jist of your current op-ed piece.....I believe what you are saying is that the McNair Family has an greater passion and interest for their professional football francise which cost them $700mm vis-a-vis their interest in the thoroughbred industry..not only from an racing but an breeding platform...Perhaps one of the reasons for this decision is that on any given Sunday..there are more fans filling his stadium..both home and away than at the racetracks where he is racing...Of course the football season is appreciably shorter than year-round racing..But the games are indeed virtually sold out and the attendance is more consistant. Again..all hypothectical..Its also much easier communicating w/ego driven players and their Jerry McGuire type agents than w/his equine stars and their enigmatic trainers..If healthy..the players will be on the field for years to come...as the equine gladiators are off to the breeding shed after their 3 year old career..if not sooner..No one will ever know the deep and personal reason(s) for their decision..However what has to be done now is to attempt to replace them..the McNairs w/someone whom is equally passioned about the game and is financially structured..Thank you always Dan for the window..Best regards..Steve Stone..East Hanover..New Jersey

re: Pass Play - by Dan Liebman

Mercedes — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:10:38 GMT

This information we have read in the news.

I usually like your column because it brings light into particular issues or you give an opinion from an expert point of view. Or you talk about stories we didn't know about.

In this one I can't make out a clear conclusion.

It makes you wonder what it is exactly about.

A foreigner buying an american enterprise?

A billionaire chooses football over the thoroughbred industry?