CRIST: Changes dilute Cup's appeal

[Round Pen]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I understand about the people working but there is lots of advance time and if you are traveling to get there you would not be working on Friday anyway. Plus Saratoga, Keeneland and Del Mar do awfully well on weekdays. I am just disheartend by a supposed championship event being run by people who dont have any clue and ithe fact that they may make changes that make these seem pedestrian

I think Bill Farish has Pretty good Ideal of what is going on in Racing Probably more so than you.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Round Pen

I think Bill Farish has Pretty good Ideal of what is going on in Racing Probably more so than you.

Chuck has a better idea of what is really going on in every facet of the game than anybody on that commitee.

That's no insult to Will Farrish.....it is what it is.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Round Pen

I think Bill Farish has Pretty good Ideal of what is going on in Racing Probably more so than you.

That is ridiclous. I dont have any idea what Bill Farish knows but I do know that the hardcore fans of racing have been alarmingly up in arms about the changes. I do know that "win and your in" is strictly a marketing device (and a weak one at that) Imagine if an NCAA team was guaranteed a spot in the tourney by winning the Maui Classic? I do know that running a Breeders Cup race on Breeders Cup day and not having it televised (the marathon) seems like a bad idea. I do know that renaming the Distaff wont attract one more viewer or gambling dollar. I have run horses in both the Breeders Cup and Hong Kong Invitational and there is no question about where we were treated better both on the backside and frontside. I do know that alienating your most passionate fans in puzzling attempts to create new fans not a good idea.

As opposed to stating why you believe I am incorrect, you post "Bill Farish is smarter than you". I can tell you a few things that I know that Bill Farish cant . I can post the views of a fan with no family connections to the game, I can post the view of a broke college student that needs to cash a bet to have money to eat, I can post a view of a college educated guy living in a tack room while learning the ropes grooming from the ground up, I can post the view of a racing official, I can post the view of a private trainer, I can post the view of a public trainer, I can post the view of a small breeder, I can post the view of an owner. I can post the view of a pinhooker.I have been all of the above. Maybe I am not as smart as the illustrious board members but I know alot more about what people both in and out of the business reallyfeel about what is going on.

[blackthroatedwind]

But other than that Chuck.....have you ever hosted a Tea for the Queen?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But other than that Chuck.....have you ever hosted a Tea for the Queen?

I stay away from all kinds of queens

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I stay away from all kinds of queens

I can really think of something funny to say......but it would make Beth too happy.

[sumitas]

They're not televising the Marathon ? That is just plain wrong.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by sumitas

They're not televising the Marathon ? That is just plain wrong.

They probably only have 4 hours of air time. They don't want to devote 25% to the running of one race.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Round Pen

I think Bill Farish has Pretty good Ideal of what is going on in Racing Probably more so than you.

Have you spoken with people like Farish and others about these issues. I have. Not on this topic specifically, but I have had the chance to speak with some of the members of racing's "elite" about issues and am always dumbfounded by their answers. People like the Farishes and the Phipps' may be steeped in the traditions of the game and may know all about granddads breeding farm but that's about it. Ask them how the trainers feel about certain management decisions. Ask them how horseplayers feel about things. They may walk around at Saratoga and Keeneland and Belmont etc and might even walk between groups of horseplayers, but they are in a bubble. They don't interact with the crowd. They may be "in it" but they are not "of it."
People who run BC exist in the same bubble. They hire marketing firms with no ties to racing and it's traditions or it's participants. I'll take Cannon Shell's statements. He's out there everyday, participating in the game. He certainly knoews more about it than some "Jr. Marketing Analyst" on Madison Ave.