Pretty Horsey Pictures
 

They have several.
http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43750

Nice pic of Saratoga Russell
http://www.pedigreequery.com/saratoga+russell

Yet another infomercial.

what derby is that saratoga russell a contender for?

los al?

sunland?

To point out the obvious.....


.....the ridiculous thing about threads like this one is that West Point offers this silliness as an advertisement. That's fine. They are in business to sell themselves. However, why is that advertisement being reprinted here as though it is worthwhile information to be passed along?

Every 3YO nominated to the TC is a theoretical Derby contendor. Only an idiot would offer that list as such.

What else is stunning, is how the constant 'updates' of West Point's horses gets merchandised as news by the trades. This is now the third 'piece' that has regurgetated West Point's press releases in recent weeks, with DRF, Blood-Horse and TTimes all having taken the bait. IEAH is another calling shots from this playbook, passing off the most mundane plans of their horses as 'news'.

It is the responsibility of the publication whether or not to treat it as such. I don't blame any partnership for trying to get free publicity. You aparently don't either.....as you allow them to advertise here.

True.. and I don't. But I don't get passing off simple press release materials as 'news', when there are dozens of stories about any number of "Derby Contenders" that can be filling the pages of the industry papers at this time.

News by defintion is "a report of a recent event; intelligence; information." If West Point is giving you information or a report about their horses, then it is news by definition. Just because one does not view this as news doesn't mean it isn't newsworthy to someone out there. What is considered news by some, may not be news to others. What is and isn't news is purely up the the reader.

I agree. The question, at least to me, is whether or not it is newsworthy.

Is it really newsworthy that there is a snow advisory right now? I can look out my window and see that. At least from this press release I learn something, even if it is essentially useless information.

Someone out there decided to print it and make it newsworthy. Now it is up to the reader to decide if it is news or not. For me this is not news. And if I owned a racehorse publication, I would not publish such a release. However, if West Point bought advertisement in my publication, I might be financially inclined to print such a release.

;)

Obviously there is a difference between an "advertisement" and "news" (newsworthy et al can open up the debate). However, when you are talking about these partnerships, syndicates, etc. -- a very large part of the equation is "exposure" (I'll use a generic term), and the target market for that exposure is the captive audience, potential buyers (of shares)/investors, etc. -- and that's here, the trade/industry journals, etc.

The link to the news story referenced here -- that would be news if it was "Pletcher's Derby contenders" and not West Point. Being that it's West Point, there has to be an element of "advertising" as it's their business model.

Eric

HACKERCRAFT RETURNS TO GALLOPING

details on the 10 pm action news on channel 9

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Can you make sure they refer to him as Dirt Marthon contender Hacker Craft?

West Point Throughbreds. The gold standard of racing partnerships.