For all the Big Brown Boneheads

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

The beauty of this whole thing is how Big Brown is perceived by the general public. We can hash this out all day long because many people on here love the game, know the game, and have a great appreciation for its history.

Enter average sports fan. Since the Preakness I've been asked by many of my teaching and umpiring colleagues, friends, students, etc. what I think about Big Brown. It's interesting to see the excitement that this horse has generated among the general public. We can hash this out all we want to, just like baseball enthusiast would compare players from past to present, but it's the people who think that Silver Charm is an anniversary gift that this story is reaching out to and they are grabbing it.


So, where am I going with this? For the first time in quite a while, we have a horse, like him or not who is putting horse racing on the map. It's the first time in 21 years of following this game that I've seen this much interest from the casual fan. Let's run with it!

i get asked about him since people know i'm a fan, but it's not turning any of the questioners into a fan. kind of like when the ncaa tourney rolls around, and i play a bracket, or we talk about it at work. i still don't watch basketball, nor will i.

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i get asked about him since people know i'm a fan, but it's not turning any of the questioners into a fan. kind of like when the ncaa tourney rolls around, and i play a bracket, or we talk about it at work. i still don't watch basketball, nor will i.

Dont' be so sure about that.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i get asked about him since people know i'm a fan, but it's not turning any of the questioners into a fan. kind of like when the ncaa tourney rolls around, and i play a bracket, or we talk about it at work. i still don't watch basketball, nor will i.

Right. It is nice that people are talking about horses right now but whether or not this is creating new fans is debatable. I suppose it's possible, and better than nothing, but this whole notion of a TC winner helping the game has always seemed false to me.

Racing needs more bettors....and situations like NYC-OTB forcing a takeout increase are FAR more detrimental to the game than a TC winner could be helpful. A takeout increase will bleed people dry and force players out of the game.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Right. It is nice that people are talking about horses right now but whether or not this is creating new fans is debatable. I suppose it's possible, and better than nothing, but this whole notion of a TC winner helping the game has always seemed false to me.

Racing needs more bettors....and situations like NYC-OTB forcing a takeout increase are FAR more detrimental to the game than a TC winner could be helpful. A takeout increase will bleed people dry and force players out of the game.

My circle of friends are probably the exact type of people that "the sport" is talking about when they say "new fans": dudes in their late 20s and early 30s who make decent money and can afford to bet on horses and actually like to gamble. However, at best, the sport MIGHT be able to captivate them enough to follow the Triple Crown, and maybe a few of the Derby preps. That's it. The chances that any of them will become regular horse players is zero. Why? Because it is impossible for them to feel that they have an edge over the other bettors. On random trips to the track that we have made over the years, I have heard this or a similar comment more than once: "Even if I understood all this stuff in the program (which I don't), I know there is a lot more to this betting equation than I can read here. So who in their right mind would bet real money, when they are essentially just guessing?"

In other words, my frineds would rather play poker, where they THINK they have an edge, than bet horses, where they know for a fact that if they don't watch 200 replays a week and study for 8 hours a day that they are at a disadvantage to better bettors.

In order to attract new bettors, this sport needs to make more changes than it is willing to or is capable of making. Period.

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by justindew

My circle of friends are probably the exact type of people that "the sport" is talking about when they say "new fans": dudes in their late 20s and early 30s who make decent money and can afford to bet on horses and actually like to gamble. However, at best, the sport MIGHT be able to captivate them enough to follow the Triple Crown, and maybe a few of the Derby preps. That's it. The chances that any of them will become regular horse players is zero. Why? Because it is impossible for them to feel that they have an edge over the other bettors. On random trips to the track that we have made over the years, I have heard this or a similar comment more than once: "Even if I understood all this stuff in the program (which I don't), I know there is a lot more to this betting equation than I can read here. So who in their right mind would bet real money, when they are essentially just guessing?"

In other words, my frineds would rather play poker, where they THINK they have an edge, than bet horses, where they know for a fact that if they don't watch 200 replays a week and study for 8 hours a day that they are at a disadvantage to better bettors.

In order to attract new bettors, this sport needs to make more changes than it is willing to or is capable of making. Period.

That's an EXCELLENT point. I know people who won't touch horse racing just for the mere fact that they don't want to be wrong or don't want to take the time to learn a little bit about the game.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

many people where i live do have intrest this year.. must be the ups tie in..

id rank bb off the top 20 horses sence 89 ' or so lets face it hes an ok horse in a weak year...holy bull ,silver charm,war emblum,ect he would end up looking like scrappy t if it were a normal year..imo

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Right. It is nice that people are talking about horses right now but whether or not this is creating new fans is debatable. I suppose it's possible, and better than nothing, but this whole notion of a TC winner helping the game has always seemed false to me.

Racing needs more bettors....and situations like NYC-OTB forcing a takeout increase are FAR more detrimental to the game than a TC winner could be helpful. A takeout increase will bleed people dry and force players out of the game.

I'm not completely sold that a TC winner will attract more fans either, but at least for the here and now, it is pretty cool to see that there is an increased interest in the game over the past few weeks.

Unrelated...I'm watching GMA and the Counting Crows are on right now. Their lead singer has gotten quite a belly.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by fpsoxfan

I'm not completely sold that a TC winner will attract more fans either, but at least for the here and now, it is pretty cool to see that there is an increased interest in the game over the past few weeks.

Unrelated...I'm watching GMA and the Counting Crows are on right now. Their lead singer has gotten quite a belly.

it's the same level of interest as every other year at this time. but handle being down should be a warning sign to the industry.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Right. It is nice that people are talking about horses right now but whether or not this is creating new fans is debatable. I suppose it's possible, and better than nothing, but this whole notion of a TC winner helping the game has always seemed false to me.

Racing needs more bettors....and situations like NYC-OTB forcing a takeout increase are FAR more detrimental to the game than a TC winner could be helpful. A takeout increase will bleed people dry and force players out of the game.

'fans' this time of year are like people who go to church at easter and christmas.

i think you have a better chance of building fans by taking friends, who show some interest, to the track, show them a little bit about betting, and then hope they hit.
maybe my son will now be a fan, since he went to arlington and got to get a good view of it all thanks to me being involved in dee tee.

[TheSpyder]

Something I've thought about:

If horses retire early and let's say diminish their racing career by two years to go to the shed, is it not correct that in two years those races lost will be replaced by (not sure the number) let's say 10 offspring that will come into the sport. So, over time will we not have more quality runners replacing those two years missed.

Thoughts?

Spyder

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Something I've thought about:

If horses retire early and let's say diminish their racing career by two years to go to the shed, is it not correct that in two years those races lost will be replaced by (not sure the number) let's say 10 offspring that will come into the sport. So, over time will we not have more quality runners replacing those two years missed.

Thoughts?

Spyder

Wow.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by TheSpyder

Something I've thought about:

If horses retire early and let's say diminish their racing career by two years to go to the shed, is it not correct that in two years those races lost will be replaced by (not sure the number) let's say 10 offspring that will come into the sport. So, over time will we not have more quality runners replacing those two years missed.

Thoughts?

Spyder

not necessarily. a good horse on the track doesn't always produce good horses once he's retired. but if he does produce, they're just whisked away immediately as well. horses aren't around long enough to pique the imagination, to develop true interest or a fan base.
look at how many folks visit horse farms to see these former stars...if they were still at the track, and could draw visitors there, then tracks and the industry would benefit. the only ones benefitting right now are the breeders based on the current scheme. but if they don't support the industry they are breeding these horses for-eventually they'll be out of business, as the sport could eventually disappear due to lack of interest. shortsightedness now, and the big money grab now, could cost the industry down the road.