I can only speak on my personal experience and say numerous people I know who were completely indifferent to horse racing tuned in and became fans albeit, not sure whether permanent, all because of AP and the Triple Crown. More than a few plan to visit Arlington this year, which can't be bad for the sport. My entire collection of racing/handicapping books are out on loan and I've taught about a dozen on how to read a racing form, leading into the Belmont. A few have even signed up for Derbywars and some are now tuning into ATRAB daily.
Point is if other's have had a similar experience to what I have, AP winning the triple crown was undoubtedly good for the sport and may have slowed the decline just a bit.
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“To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” Thomas Jefferson
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