ESPN flashes their racing acumen and affinity..

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Do people in racing gleefully discuss horses being sent to slaughterhouses?

Depends on who you are talking about. The owner of the horse in question has no issues with it. Go to any track and you will hear people talking about glue factories and alpo. The point I was making is that the sport and people in it feel free to rip it and expose dirty laundry (even stuff that isnt really dirty) at the drop of a hat so dont be shocked when those outside the game do the same.

The guy was trying unsucessfully to be clever. It didn't work. I would think that we should be more concerned that a sports reporter (or whatever they are called) who obviously doesnt follow racing would buy so into the sterotype of the game he tried to joke about it. No different than Wilbons anti-racing/horse rants each year. The game does a terrible job of presenting itself. Until that changes nothing else will either.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Depends on who you are talking about. The owner of the horse in question has no issues with it. Go to any track and you will hear people talking about glue factories and alpo. The point I was making is that the sport and people in it feel free to rip it and expose dirty laundry (even stuff that isnt really dirty) at the drop of a hat so dont be shocked when those outside the game do the same.

The guy was trying unsucessfully to be clever. It didn't work. I would think that we should be more concerned that a sports reporter (or whatever they are called) who obviously doesnt follow racing would buy so into the sterotype of the game he tried to joke about it. No different than Wilbons anti-racing/horse rants each year. The game does a terrible job of presenting itself. Until that changes nothing else will either.

Sharp post in a NON Vic way

[blackthroatedwind]

In fairness to King Glorious.....it was a VERY long article.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

In fairness to King Glorious.....it was a VERY long article.

About half as long as most of his posts.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Depends on who you are talking about. The owner of the horse in question has no issues with it. Go to any track and you will hear people talking about glue factories and alpo. The point I was making is that the sport and people in it feel free to rip it and expose dirty laundry (even stuff that isnt really dirty) at the drop of a hat so dont be shocked when those outside the game do the same.

The guy was trying unsucessfully to be clever. It didn't work. I would think that we should be more concerned that a sports reporter (or whatever they are called) who obviously doesnt follow racing would buy so into the sterotype of the game he tried to joke about it. No different than Wilbons anti-racing/horse rants each year. The game does a terrible job of presenting itself. Until that changes nothing else will either.

It was the characterization of "gleefully" that I disagreed with. Have people involved in racing always talked about the "glue factory" and that type of stuff? Sure.

However, do you really think the game presents itself as a slaughter fest where horses who are retired are either sent to stud or killed? That was EXACTLY what Stan Verrett said and it made for what at least audibly seemed like a weird exchange with his co-anchor.

There's no publicity of organizations like Old Friends and/or Remember Me Rescue because people don't give a s.hit in the mainstream media. It's easier to take the position that racing is full of horse killers and heartless bastards who have no regard for the animals that they simply wager on and use.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

It was the characterization of "gleefully" that I disagreed with. Have people involved in racing always talked about the "glue factory" and that type of stuff? Sure.

However, do you really think the game presents itself as a slaughter fest where horses who are retired are either sent to stud or killed? That was EXACTLY what Stan Verrett said and it made for what at least audibly seemed like a weird exchange with his co-anchor.

There's no publicity of organizations like Old Friends and/or Remember Me Rescue because people don't give a s.hit in the mainstream media. It's easier to take the position that racing is full of horse killers and heartless bastards who have no regard for the animals that they simply wager on and use.

As I read your post, for the first time, I happened to notice the 1215 in your user name. I'm guessing you have a birthday thing tomorrow.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

As I read your post, for the first time, I happened to notice the 1215 in your user name. I'm guessing you have a birthday thing tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdX8y...eature=related

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

It was the characterization of "gleefully" that I disagreed with. Have people involved in racing always talked about the "glue factory" and that type of stuff? Sure.

However, do you really think the game presents itself as a slaughter fest where horses who are retired are either sent to stud or killed? That was EXACTLY what Stan Verrett said and it made for what at least audibly seemed like a weird exchange with his co-anchor.

There's no publicity of organizations like Old Friends and/or Remember Me Rescue because people don't give a s.hit in the mainstream media. It's easier to take the position that racing is full of horse killers and heartless bastards who have no regard for the animals that they simply wager on and use.

The game doesnt present itself as anything really. There is no real effort to present horseracing as either a worthwhile sporting event or gambling venture for the most part outside of local efforts that come off pretty much as advertising. You want to blame Stan Verrett? I blame the organization that gives hacks like Joe Drape Eclipse awards for pieces that present opinions as facts and yeah are patently anti-racing/negative. We invite him to our year ends awards not to cover it but to get an award for knocking the game. When the TB club of America awards George Strawbridge for being anti-lasix and his speech makes the game out to be a corrupt, drug infested, horse killing place AND he gets a standing ovation for it, well? When Barry Irwin more or less calls all trainers liars after winning the Derby what is the average Joe supposed to think. And when Congress passes laws that allow horses to be slaughtered (I know it is more complicated but for average Joe it isnt) and the racing industry response is a few bland PR releases don't expect the rest of America to think that horse racing is some great thing to do. They read award winning writers who cut up the sport at every opportunity, the hear the speech of a guy who kills the game being honored, they hear the winning owner of the Derby and they dont hear squat after a law lets horses be rib eyes...I guess I just can't get too worked up over a stupid comment by Stan Verrett

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The game doesnt present itself as anything really. There is no real effort to present horseracing as either a worthwhile sporting event or gambling venture for the most part outside of local efforts that come off pretty much as advertising. You want to blame Stan Verrett? I blame the organization that gives hacks like Joe Drape Eclipse awards for pieces that present opinions as facts and yeah are patently anti-racing/negative. We invite him to our year ends awards not to cover it but to get an award for knocking the game. When the TB club of America awards George Strawbridge for being anti-lasix and his speech makes the game out to be a corrupt, drug infested, horse killing place AND he gets a standing ovation for it, well? When Barry Irwin more or less calls all trainers liars after winning the Derby what is the average Joe supposed to think. And when Congress passes laws that allow horses to be slaughtered (I know it is more complicated but for average Joe it isnt) and the racing industry response is a few bland PR releases don't expect the rest of America to think that horse racing is some great thing to do. They read award winning writers who cut up the sport at every opportunity, the hear the speech of a guy who kills the game being honored, they hear the winning owner of the Derby and they dont hear squat after a law lets horses be rib eyes...I guess I just can't get too worked up over a stupid comment by Stan Verrett

The whole issue of "what the average Joe thinks" is nebulous because they are presented nothing but negatives. An anchor on a network that has paid serious money to cover racing should not take a gratuitous cheap shot. Would he be caught dead calling a college football assistant a child molester? Not a totally fair comparison but a generalization nonetheless.

Racing recycles its trash better than any entity in the world and you bring up all of the worst instances of it. I have no argument with anything you've said, it's 100% the truth. However, Stan Verrett piling on with a stupid remark is worthy of him being called a moron.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

The whole issue of "what the average Joe thinks" is nebulous because they are presented nothing but negatives. An anchor on a network that has paid serious money to cover racing should not take a gratuitous cheap shot. Would he be caught dead calling a college football assistant a child molester? Not a totally fair comparison but a generalization nonetheless.

Racing recycles its trash better than any entity in the world and you bring up all of the worst instances of it. I have no argument with anything you've said, it's 100% the truth. However, Stan Verrett piling on with a stupid remark is worthy of him being called a moron.

Sure he is a moron but we are the root cause. We get no respect because essentially the sport/business of horse racing doesn't respect itself.