UPS steps up association with 'Brown'
 

This is an interesting development in that it could start a wider trend that corporations might like... There's a kernal of import to this.

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/45138.htm

What is this, NASCAR?

Take the sponsorship dollars where you can... Who knows? A lucrative sponsorship deal could be the kind of thing that keeps a horse racing an extra season by helping to at least slightly off-set the loss of that season's stallion fees..

It was estimated that Yum Brands received $5MM in awareness value from the Derby broadcast. What would a sponsorship sealed horse produce in value awareness?

I don't disagree with you. I also hadn't noticed that Desormeaux had sported a UPS hat in the winner's circle.

Apparently there was a prop bet on Bodog "will Desormeaux wear UPS gear in the Kentucky Derby", YES was 9/2 AND HE ALREADY HAD SIGNED THE CONTRACT! Too bad I don't have a Bodog account :(

With Dale Jarrett retired, UPS needed to latch on to a winner.....thier NASCAR sponsorship is dwindling in the standings (currently 30th) this year. :rolleyes:

i can see the commercial now. "UPS the offical shipper of Kentucky Derby Champ Big Brown". in the meantime KD and BB are being loaded onto a truck or plane in the background.

Originally it was said that Big Brown was named for Phil Lesh's bass. Now, perhaps that was erroneous information, but I wonder if when the branding possibilities became clearer if the story wasn't changed.

I doubt Lesh was going to make an advertising deal with them. I am, however, hoping to convince NYRA to play Unbroken Chain over the PA should he win the Triple Crown.

Wasn't there a Horse Racing tune on the Touch of Grey album??....The race is on???

They were passing UPS "Go Big Brown" pins at Churchill on Wednesday

You could also get pins for every single other Derby entrant on the track premises, so I wouldn't read too much into that one.

" The Race is On " is an old bluegrass tune that they played acoustically way back and played a handful of times over the years. In 300 some odd shows I think the only time I heard it was at MSG in 1993.

mushrooms or micro?

I can see why the story behind the origin of the name "Big Brown" was switched from Phil Lesh to UPS. Phil Lesh just doesn't have the same...er...marketing prowess.

Unless you're going for the liver transplant angle.

i can envision the post derby trainer interview a few years down the road.

" I'd like to thank Tide, Wendys, Purina, Jiffy Lube and Amazon.com for their great support again this year..."

"Yeah, the IEAH presented by UPS 10 horse was real solid today. I have to thank the guys back in the barn who really made this happen. We were really good in testing earlier this week, so I knew I had the horse to win, but couldn't have done it without UPS. This just shows what Brown really can do for you."

When is Imodium going to sponsor the horse?

they're sponsoring Tomcito

Is there a horse named Cialis yet? I bet there will be soon!!!

Who the hell is Phil Lesh?

I was thinking of naming a horse "Butterfingerblizzard" for obvious reasons.

Is this grounds for banishment?

they sponsored Golden Missile

I wonder if the DT stable will make a agreement with Hallmark cards in association with Sumwonlovesyou ! Could be a hot sell on Valentines day !

Cut me some slack. I was born AFTER man walked on the moon.

And I'm a child of divorce.

I second that emotion......!!

I also don't remember where I was when Kennedy was shot.

Mainly becuase I wasn't alive.

As if we needed any more proof.

Do I get a set of steak knives for making my 500th post here at DT?

There are many Kennedy's.... but ONLY one Phil Lesh !!

Age is no excuse, Dew. You got me by a year and I sure as shootin' know Phil Lesh. I'm fact, I'm going to go throw on the 1976 New Year's Eve version of Scarlet Begonias right now.

I don't know.....do you promise to stab yourself with them?

I laughed. A lot.

Now THAT is CLASS !!!!!!!!! Could you crank it up for me !

that was pretty freaking funny.

I had no idea The Grateful Dead had so many fans. I always thought the same 25,000 people just followed them to every show. And when those 25,000 people started to die, the band ran out of people to play for.

Yeah from the angle of bringing in new faces to the track this is great! I would imagine that the brass at UPS around Pimlico is planning on some nice events on track for the local UPS hard working folks, lots of those UPS employess surely have not been to the track. Any way to bring in new fans to the sport is a great thing, especially with all the negative media attention right now.

In a way I really hope Big Brown wins the Preakness because with that will be a ton of good positive media coverage coupled with the possibility that UPS will REALLY get agressive come The Belmont. UPS is a very large company with lots and lots of employees in this country. If that materializes UPS will no doubt step it up another notch (Emeril quote) come Belmont and even more money will be brought in and more importanly the possibilty of new track fans.

I personally would love to see more corporate involvement with the horses. It should help draw in the "casual fan" like the guy who loads or unloads trailers. How cool would it be to go to Belmont and see hundreds of guys and gals sporting Big Brown shirts and hats from their employer. Even cooler, while watching The Belmont, seeing a couple commercials (which UPS has done a great job of with Dale Jarret in NASCAR) with Big Brown themes.