I dont think the outcry will be much less. The fact is, if this had happened in the Tropical Park Derby or some pseudo obscure race, this would be less of a story. But, it happened before a LIVE nation wide audience with a huge crown in attendence and it happened to the sports newest golden boy. The story had faded recently because he was doing so well. However, now since his condition has slipped, you can see it bubbling back to the surface. For example, getting dressed this AM, it was mentioned in the same lead on Good Morning America as the Israel-Hezbolla conflict.

The media has its own agenda, and sensational stories get opening/top of the fold coverage. Sadly, this story has it all. Meteoric rise, powerful victory, terrible sadness and now maybe a tragic ending. If this horse cannot make it, it's top or just off the top news for a few days. And that may produce a deluge of bad PR that this sport just cannot deal with.

Regardless, Barbaro...I've cashed some tickets in my day that had some long odds on them. Right now, you are one of them and I hope I get to cash this one too. God bless.

It's " clear"?

Honestly, if Polytrack really is the " answer " for racing, it will be people like you that will prevent it from happening.

there will be zero loss of fan base / wagering $$$ because of barbaro...... the people who will never watch another horse race again are the folks who come outta the woodwork once a year for the derby.



p.s i am not brushing aside the heartbreaking barbaro tragedy...... he was my favorite horse since 1987 and the preakness was a punch in the gut for me.

I appreciate your wise post suffolk...horse racing is moving ahead to synthetics, thank God. there are always obstructionists with vested interests that are afraid of change so horse racing will eventually overcome those as well. in the mean time, these tragedies continue...but let's cash this ticket...well said friend.

I agree 100%.

This article is pretty much what you can expect here on in.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...s/15033159.htm


BY the way, I would like to see additional fan base too. Not just old guys at the OTB everyday. Yes, I realize they aren't going anywhere.

randall, you are late tonight........no summer school for you this year:confused:

Im not even sure you lose the wood work people...the fact is, America loves a winner and if the Derby winner has some kind of compelling story, or dramatic victory, they are immediately ushered in as America's Darling animal for five or six weeks.

Regardless of how Barbaro turns out, next year, 18 or 20 3 year old will launch from the gate at Churchill Downs and become the "next big thing" when they win it. Its just as likely when they win, they become a horse like Funny Cide, Afleet Alex or Smarty Jones. A fun, popular, easy to root for animal. America lives for that stuff and falls in love with that.

I'm not a wood worker, I love the game, every day of the year. But, like Alysheba says, this is just a kick in the gut. One that really hurts.

Is that a shot or a joke? I'm laughing.

No actually I had to go in the last 3 days for curriculum work. No summer school for me, unless you consider studying the ponies work. I need the summer to be ready for September....Saratoga just a few weeks away.

The article eloquently sums up where we are at this stage of the game. A very unacceptable place to be with a whole lot of room for improvement.

tx for posting it.

no, no shot bro...... my uncle has been teaching high school here in so cal forever, so i know when summer school starts plus i thought you live in the east:rolleyes:

I was just kidding sheba. Yeah I'm in Jersey but I don't teach summer school....Maybe at some point in the future, but not yet.

Agree with Alysheba (who shares one of my all-time favorite horses). In fact, I'll go one further. Regardless of what happens to Barbaro from here out, the result will be a net increase in horseracing's fan base. Racing hasn't had this kind of exposure in decades, and much of it has been on the positive aspects of the care and love the stars receive. If Barbaro were to be put down tomorrow, his death would be a 1-2 day story whose impact was much softened by the great effort that went into saving him.

The bottom line is that year-to-year, horseracing is barely on the radar of even avid sportsfans. I doubt if 1% of the people at a World Series game or a Super Bowl would recognize the name Ghostzapper. And fewer still would recognize St Liam. So much for our last two HOY's. Of course, those already in the game DO recognize those names. But those in the game see breakdowns on a regular basis. In the current environment, a story like Barbaro's, where compassion and heart are the main ingredients, will probably have a (small) net positive impact on horseracing.

--Dunbar

Is this dude serious?

Jumping in late.....

Yes, this may be 15 minutes and out. That doesn't mean everything in the long term, though.

Ruffian was 15 minutes and out, too. But not among those who paid attention and cared.

And she's come back in notice, stronger than ever. It just took awhile.

I would suspect most all here are closet animal and horse lovers, whether they would admit it, or not. Even the pure "action" crowd, of which I am occasionally one.

I'm not a card carrying PETA member, but I sure as heck want good treatment of all animals whenever possible.

Thoroughbreds love to run. I've seen them perk up in the paddock when some get the late realization jolt of the job they've got to do....and want to do.

And, I've seen 'em prance and dance after a race with a "look at me" attitude.... looking into the stretch trackside fans after a 6th place finish.

All that said, I still hold the starter and Pimlico and maybe the television network liable for the decision to put Barbaro back in the gate so quickly after he broke through.

I won't let that one die.

you won't let that die? an incident that had nothing to do with his subsequent injury? why is it you won't let it go? i guess it has to do with someone wanting an explanation as to why something occurred, freak accident not being good enough. richardson said the gate had nothing to do with barbaro taking a bad step and breaking down, why isn't that good enough for you?

BINGO BINGO BINGO...

It's the people that INSIST upon breeding to unsound horses (and they pay quite the fee for it too) that are causing these kinds of problems. Thoroughbreds are more fragile than they used to be and IMO it's because they are inbred all to hell with generations of unsound, poorly conformed horses. It's no wonder...

It is an interesting thread, but I wouldn't go putting the horse in the ground yet. This one is a fighter.

Great idea ...

... let's repave and re-ceiling The Big Dig with polytrack ...

... and rename it The Big Sumitas.