A Sad Day For Racing

[Revidere]

You can "Blame" Haynesfield.

Try and keep perspective.

[richard burch]

Originally Posted by Revidere

You can "Blame" Haynesfield.

Try and keep perspective.

i agree. if he wins that race, hard to deny him the prize.

[NTamm1215]

One would have hoped that voters had the wherewithal to conclude that Blame was 2-1 against Haynesfield and defeated him soundly in both the Whitney and Classic. I really don't think this was about the JCGC. It was a crusade by a legion of fans/writers/connections who not only overrated their horse, they overrated her accomplishments, and they overrated her impact on the game.

As Chuck said, I'm eagerly anticipating the tremendous growth in handle and attendance that will stem from all of these new fans being involved in the game.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

One would have hoped that voters had the wherewithal to conclude that Blame was 2-1 against Haynesfield and defeated him soundly in both the Whitney and Classic. I really don't think this was about the JCGC. It was a crusade by a legion of fans/writers/connections who not only overrated their horse, they overrated her accomplishments, and they overrated her impact on the game.

As Chuck said, I'm eagerly anticipating the tremendous growth in handle and attendance that will stem from all of these new fans being involved in the game.

The wrong horse won HoY but who really gives a flying fvck. She was a great animal and did help promote the sport. Her popularity can't hurt long term. It's not like Blame was some all time great. I could have never voted for Zenyatta but her being HoY is hardily a tragedy. The worst part of the whole thing is that between the two they raced a total of 11 times. Neither deserve too much praise.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by freddymo

The wrong horse won HoY but who really gives a flying fvck. She was a great animal and did help promote the sport. Her popularity can't hurt long term. It's not like Blame was some all time great. I could have never voted for Zenyatta but her being HoY is hardily a tragedy. The worst part of the whole thing is that between the two they raced a total of 11 times. Neither deserve too much praise.

Exactly...who cares? So if Blame had won, the sport would take a huge step forward...handle would go up and racing would be so much better today for it...yeah right. Who won HOY has no impact whatsoever on whether or not people are going to wager or how much they're going to wager on the races today...tomorrow or the rest of the year.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

Exactly...who cares? So if Blame had won, the sport would take a huge step forward...handle would go up and racing would be so much better today for it...yeah right. Who won HOY has no impact whatsoever on whether or not people are going to wager or how much they're going to wager on the races today...tomorrow or the rest of the year.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

Exactly...who cares? So if Blame had won, the sport would take a huge step forward...handle would go up and racing would be so much better today for it...yeah right. Who won HOY has no impact whatsoever on whether or not people are going to wager or how much they're going to wager on the races today...tomorrow or the rest of the year.

Really? You don't think who wins HOTY will galvanize a budding fan base, add to attendance and handle and rescue our great sport from its doldrums? Amazing.

The difference is that one camp and her loyal fans said that this was part of the criteria for their horse winning.

[Sightseek]

Those not so important awards sure did become important real fast when the wrong horse wins..

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Those not so important awards sure did become important real fast when the wrong horse wins..

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Those not so important awards sure did become important real fast when the wrong horse wins..

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Those not so important awards sure did become important real fast when the wrong horse wins..

Not exactly. It's not about a "right" or "wrong" horse. When facebook pages mean more than what happens on track, it's a black eye for the sport.

But, since Zenyatta did so much for the sport and brought so many fans to the game, I'm sure we will begin to see the impact. Handle should begin to go up across the board and I'm sure horse racing won't play second fiddle to Little league Baseball now on TV.

After those two things happen I'll be selling bridges to anyone interested.

[OTM Al]

This is a happy day because this silliness is at last over and it's time to move on.

[richard burch]

as it turns out the 2010 breeders classic has turned into a "key" race!

if you won the cup that day, you lost on jan. 17th 2011.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Those not so important awards sure did become important real fast when the wrong horse wins..

Sighty that was poetry !!

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Those not so important awards sure did become important real fast when the wrong horse wins..

Not really. Showing them as a farce has the opposite result.

[DaTruth]

One out of three isn't bad. The 2010 goals of Zenyatta's connections were to retire undefeated, win the BC Classic, and be named HOY.

[VOL JACK]

What a joke.
The eclipse awards should be decided on the track, not on TVG.
Blame won the top two races in terms of field quality all year..(Whitney & the BC Classic)
Zenyatta spent all year racing against restricted company in Cali.
(except for her win at Oaklawn against restricted company.)
Everyone that voted for her should really re-think what this great sport is all about!!!

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

What a joke.
The eclipse awards should be decided on the track, not on TVG.
Blame won the top two races in terms of field quality all year..(Whitney & the BC Classic)
Zenyatta spent all year racing against restricted company in Cali.
(except for her win at Oaklawn against restricted company.)
Everyone that voted for her should really re-think what this great sport is all about!!!

The Zenyatta PR machine was what won it. They received their talking points and hit the internet, ready to savage any writer who stated he or she was voting for Blame.

[my miss storm cat]

I think the award itself just changed... that people who vote will now feel comfortable voting for a career and not just for a year.

I know, I know, don't need a lecture about what it's supposed to be for but I do think it just kinda evolved before our eyes.

It's putting the sport first, in the eyes of the voters. My opinion anyway and I'm good with the outcome as I would have been with Blame winning.

A couple of you though... you surprise the hell out of me.

What a bunch of whiny little drama queens.

Brilliant post, Sightseek and yeah I agree with MaTH this is not sad no matter how you look at it.

This is the new reality... fan-friendly voting... and there's a reason.

The powers that be... I see it as their chance to continue the Zenyatta thing... to cash in on it for lack of better wording.

People who wouldn't normally give a crap might because they know her name.

I think that was the motivation anyway and it was a collective individual thing if that makes sense.

LIke "for the good of the sport" kinda mentality.

Of course I could have my head up my ass...

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Of course I could have my head up my ass...

Yep