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Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin
That's a slippery slope to say the least. Where's the journalist integrity when an organization or sponsor can dictate to the media how something should be written/said?
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Money talks. The Derby at Epsom has a far more storied history than our Derby and for years it has been the "Vodaphone Derby" or the "Something Else Derby" because the sponsor is paying for the right to attach it's name to the race.
I do think that there is double standard re: sponsors. If the sponsor is an "upmarket" brand like deBeers or Mercedes Benz (they sponsor alot of equestrian events) or Darley or Shadwell it's fine but when it's a fast food conglomerate with a downmarket name like Yum! is not so hot.
The game needs the infusion of cash from sponsorship. Partnering with food providers 9who sell at the track) or other brands associated with both racing AND the mainstream (John Deere) makes sense. I'm not crazy about the name "KY Derby presented by Yum! Brands but their money is just as green as Rolls Royce or BMW.