Best Track Gimmick Day
 

Which track gimmick day(s) do you think has worked really well? Do you enjoy gimmick days in general? For those historians of the turf, are there grand days of racing that have fallen to the wayside? What about night racing -- love it? Hate it? Think it is the answer to making racing more popular?

By gimmick day, I mean a day that draws extra attention to a track for that event i.e. Sunshine Millions, Summit of Speed and not the boutique meets of Saratoga, Del Mar and Keeneland or major events like Triple Crown races or the Breeders' Cup. (Though it is certainly arguable that the BC is on its way to being ruined :) )

Sunshine Millions was great for a few years ('05 - '07), but has obviously drastically changed since 2012. I have only been to one Maryland Million day that was extremely enjoyable because it featured some fun horses (Ben's Cat) and it rained so it wasn't crowded (yay!), but it was also a parade of chalk. The Charlestown Classic has repeatedly delivered and has been an enormous success.

I think 4 o'clock Fridays at Del Mar is a blast to attend....

How's the head ?

Zenyatta urine day. The winner (top two Zenyatta dressed) go against each other in a Zenyatta trivia contest.

Winner gets a golden Zenyatta shower with three friends.

Ok it's in the planning stages.

Can I tell you about my $120 "free" umbrella?

Fun idea for a thread, Sighty. I used to really like the Sunshine Millions too and the Grey Ghost was always a fun one to watch.

Loved Lava Man leading out the Gold Cup field. I wish there were more of that kind of thing.


Let me get this straight... you're a grown man, an adult, a capper / player / fan or whatever you want to call yourself and here it is two and a half years later and we're still being hit with Zenyatta jokes?

It's tiresome, it's embarrassing and it's stupid.

I like gimmick days as they bring in new players to learn about our sport - and the handle goes up too, raising some of the odds.

The fact Zenyatta has a facebook page written in first person is stupid, the fact it's 2 and a half years later makes it tiresome and all those idiots who dressed for/like Zenyatta, made I Love You signs and send Zenyatta notes as if she can read provides enough embarrassment for ages.

Just a thought but maybe it's time to go through your closet and throw away the Zenyatta costume.

Okay first of all? Ow. Quite a zinger there. Is this an attempt to be witty / funny / biting? If so you, Sir, are no Cardus.

More like Alabama Stakes-lite.

Second? Ummm no if I had a horsie costume I would prefer Zarkava.

As far as the rest? I find it strange that these Zenyatta fans seem to enrage you so. Being so bitter cause of a bunch of girls who love a horse? Are they here? Do they post here?

You seem so angered by it. I'd find it amusing if it (it being your reaction) weren't so creepy.

(Again, sorry Sighty).

Enraged? Angered? You don't get out much do ya? 'Out' being out the door.

What's creepy is a grown man/woman going to the races wearing aqua blue cowboy hat shaped as a horsehead, matching aqua blue pants and a sign complete with glitter expressing their love for Zenyatta. They brought so much to the game and handle. (At least the show pool) :rolleyes:

I agree, that's disturbing and very creepy but tell me something... if I'm the one who doesn't get out much why are you making these horribly dated (attempts at) jokes and comments? Who cares about these people? Who even thinks of them?

Oh wait. Apparently you do.

Sometimes thing's are just burned into your memory.

4-2-3
1

Creepy



and pathetic

Oh you meant Miss Cat ;)

True.

As far as I'm concerned this guy takes 1st place in the creepy department...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ6naj2IhGU

:D
:tro:

It's not nice to talk about members who are no longer here to defend themselves. :D

The funniest thing I witnessed during the Blame/Zenyatta BC was going out to dinner afterwards and my friend refusing to take his jacket off and exposing his "Blame" t-shirt because there were about 20 women in Zenyatta-gear eating at the same restaurant and he feared being mobbed.

Nothing says love like a tat!

http://sidfernando.files.wordpress.c...4876533_n.jpeg

http://www.horsenation.com/wp-conten...attaTattoo.jpg

:D

Well Said!!

2-1

Any buddy out there? Can we turn this into the next Beulah thread?

Are you suggesting that be the next track gimmick?

said the guy who inserts a post about zenyatta into a thread not about zenyatta after only two posts discussing track gimmicks. who then posts many pictures of the very people he disdains into the same thread.


perfectly sane, rational and logical. keep fighting the good fight against tiresome zenyatta idiots, dell. you're doing a great job so far. why, the rest of the thread readers might never have thought about the horse and her idiot fans if not for you.

:tro::tro:

That was my reaction, too.

--Dunbar

The hoss and her idiot fans ?
What about her bigger idiot haters. All the hoss does is pass every hoss she ever ran against except Blame. (Almost though). Took on all comers,. Broke the spirit of any filly who tried her. Beat the boys, even when Gio Ponti got a huge jump on her. Came to Oaklawn and scared Rachel into retirement. The biggest kick is that none of you jokers ever admitted you were wrong.

I bet that Most of you thought Easy Goer was better than Sunday Silence. Which he wasn't. And the Alydar was better than Affirmed. which he wasn't.

I remember all those Sunday Silence and Affirmed fans dressing like idiots.

Not

Zenyatta was a great horse. Too bad some of her fans thought she was the all-time best. Of course to many they were comparing her to the horse in front of the grocery store you pay a quarter to ride.

Z Fan"$2 to show on Zenyatta"

Teller "what number is she?"

Z fan "what number? I want to bet Zenyatta"

Teller "what number is she in the program?"

Z fan "what's a program?"

sounds more like the "tellers" at saratoga.

i sincerely apologize for my post being misleading....it wasn't an attempt to have a zenyatta discussion. i'll try harder in future to have more clarity when i post.

sightseek, i would suggest another attempt at the thread. this one seems to have veered so far off course i don't know that it can be saved...

Fitting as most track gimmicks are gone as well.

Except clowns and pony rides at Arlington.

I had you tagged for loving the Burka contest on MWA day.;):D

when we had Kool and the Gang at suffolk last year, the place was mobbed.

Military Appreciation Day at Arlington where all surviving Medal of Honor recipients are invited and most show is hard to beat. But not sure it qualifies as a gimmick.

Now that's well said.

ty, rev.


military appreciation day is a good idea. tracks could expand that to other groups as well. police and fire depts, emergency responders, teachers would all be good. arlington (for example) could try to get with the nfl,nba, nhl teams to have fan appreciation days. anything to draw in folks...

I positively hate "Ladies Day" at the track.

Nice post.

The Rachel line aside, this was a nice one too. :tro:

Hate the idea of "ladies day" as well, Sighty.

:tro: