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10/27/07 - THE SAD DEMISE OF HORSE RACING COVERAGE AND PROMOTION CULMINATING WITH THE BREEDERS CUP DEBACLE OF 2007

*THE BREEDERS CUP FOOTNOTE FOR 2007*

Instead of making a poignant and impressive closing statement on the year in Horse Racing, we have seen an even more impressive failure of all involved.

The Breeders Cup original mission was to create excitement for the sport and attract new fans. Instead, the day has fragmented into an additional meaningless day and an absolute lack of growth from any new fans. In fact, even the existing fans are discovering that they can get more enjoyment and thrills from playing slot machines or poker.

*DISASTEROUS IDEA OF MULTIPLE DAYS AND ADDITIONAL RACES*

Adding an extra day to the Breeders Cup Championships has only confused and bewildered the new racing fans. In addition, current fans can see no benefit or reason for adding the new divisions.

A Filly and Mare Sprint division ? How many Grade 1 Sprints outside the new B.Cup race for Fillys and Mares are run in the entire US ? Less then 4 ? If there was this illustrous division, then where were the prep races and the year long build up to crowning this divisions winner ? There was nothing, no division, no build up, no drama, just lets put up $1,000,000 and call it the divisional championship. What a waste of $1,000,000.

A Juvenile Turf division ? Ok, even this one had me thinking. Maybe the European champions will opt for this race so they can run on grass ? Maybe some owner and trainer will figure out their horse's career path after 2 or 3 baby races on the sod ? This division had some hope, but after looking at the entries for it and the "contenders", one can easily see this is another phantom division that does not exist. The European's want to race against the best American 2 year olds on dirt, beat them and go home. The best American 2 year olds are always raced on dirt and their hope is to become Triple Crown contenders. Most TURF Champions are older horses who have found themselves later in their careers. It seems impossible to crown a Juvenile Turf Champion, when there is no set string of races that would help define such a candidate. Also, to say well, whomever wins this race is the Juvenile Turf Champion is disingenous, and cannot be considered factual. For the non pencil necked geeks out there, I just said you cant call a Breeders Cup race Winner the Champion of his division, its not true unless the horse has won other dinsitnguished races in that division.

New fans and even old fans are simply confused by this new format, and all it could possibly help to do is get people excited for the REAL Breeders Cup day on Saturday.

*ABYSSMAL COVERAGE AND THIRD RATE PERSONALITIES*

Kenny Mane should be held accountable as the man who sank Horse Racing permanently. His inane, junior high school humor combined with his unpleasant and arrogent manner make it very difficult to keep the volume on when he is on the screen.

However, Mane is not the only third rate persona that Horse Racing has saddled to its #1 broadcast of the year. From the mane to the mundane, every dillitant who expressed the most remote interest in doing any type of sports broadcasting, but was told they should keep their daytime job at the local supermarket, has found a home on the Breeders Cup broadcast. This group of "insiders" are so f-cking great that they know it all. They are the worlds experts on everything, and forget the fact that new fans or people who dont know Horse Racing at all are watching. This illustrious group calls every angle and makes even the most interested viewer cringe as they tell you how to feel when a horse stumbles or what your response should be when a jockey falls off. Its not like watching Horse Racing for Dummies, its like watching Horse Racing for assholes. Thats right assholes. All of the best sports broadcasters are covering sports that large numbers of people actually watch, like Baseball or Football, or Ice Hockey, or Swamp Buggy Racing. But you can BET that as long as Horse Racing's NTRA has its foot up its ass, and the Breeders Cup limited hires the dumbest and slowest in the business, that there will be NO NEW FANS, and NO NEW GROWTH in Horse Racing.

What an insult to everyone who wants to enjoy and watch Horse Racing that we have to put up with the terrible coverage. The only way to watch is to mute the volume for everything except the actual race.

*TVG AND HRTV HOLD THE LINE FOR TRUE FANS*

I dont want to give a big plug for TVG or HRTV, but at least they have announcers who give a shit about Horse Racing and who care about the sport.

Im not the greatest fan of everyone on TVG, but they could do the entire Breeders Cup show better without any of the annoying and unpleasant chatter we have to tolerate on the network show. Also, with limited commericals, the TVG and HRTV broadcasts let us actually keep up our excitement for the upcoming races, rather then a 20 minute commercial block with a 12 minute show block. The commercials kill the show on the network, and they do nothing to keep fans interested in staying on that channel. In fact, most fans simply turn off the Breeders Cup and watch other sporting events, and then simply try to tune back in fo the actual running of the race.

The Breeders Cup personas, The johhny-come-lately's, who are nowhere to be found at any race track in the country all year long show up for one day to tell everyone they know it all. Do us all a favor, go back to your supermarket day jobs, please.

*BAD WEATHER*

While this problem is not the fault of anyone other then mother nature, we can blame the powers that be for pandering to every race track that wants to host the Breeders Cup.

We have already seen this multiple times at Belmont, Churchill, and now Monmouth that during this time of year, BAD WEATHER is common in the Northeast and Midwest. Why would you want to schedule the finest day of Horse Racing during the worst weather months in those states ?

IF YOUR GOING TO RUN THE FUCKING BREEDERS CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LATE OCTOBER/EARLY NOVEMEBER, YOU HAVE TO RUN THEM IN CALIFORNIA OR FLORIDA. HOW FUCKING STUPID DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO SCHEDULE A MAJOR OUTDOOR SPORTING EVENT AT THE END OF FALL WHEN THE WEATHER IS UNSTABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE ? It makes no sense and it is idiotic.

*FINAL WORDS OF SUPPORT FOR HORSE RACING WORKERS AND INDUSTRY*

I have and always shall be an eternal supporter and fan of Horse Racing. The hard working, honest people in the industry from the grooms, to the trainers, to the jockeys, to the owners to the horses themselves deserve a lot better.

The days of this sport being the only game in town for legal gambling are long gone. The industry cannot afford to play the multiple gambling option in hopes that it will save Horse Racing, because it will NOT save Horse Racing. It will save the companies that now maintain Horse Racing, but instead of Racing being their main business, Slot Machines and Poker will be their main business.

Multiple betting options will encourage people to explore the other options. We can see first hand that when Horse Racing, Poker, and Slot Machines co mingle, it is Horse Racing which is the least played and enjoyed.

The proliferation of casino style gaming across the United States will also have unintnetional and far reaching disater for many people. Indian Casinos are popping up in almost every state, and legal vegas slot machines are showing up in every parimutual.

For Horse Racing to survive, it must return to its roots, and prove the promise of its sport. The joy and exhiliration of the equine athlete in unison with is human counterpart in an athletic competition that requires speed, strength, stamina, and strategy to be the best.

No matter whatever happens to me, MC, it is my greatest hope and wish that Horse Racing returns to the prominence and fame it enjoyed when the mighty Secretariat graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, and people were excited to watch a Horse Race. Every Day should be filled with the joy of a Kentucky Derby. Fans should be resposilble with their wagers and kind to each other. Race Tracks should be palaces like Gulfstream Park or Belmont in its prime. Jockeys and Trainers should have the same respect as managers and players in other major league sports. Until that day, I say to you...MC_EXCELSIOR !

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Best Regards and Racing,
MC_Excelsior

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Best Regards and Racing, MC_Excelsior