 |
|
|
 |
| Happy 4th of July!!! |
|
|
|
|
Tomorrow on WNST:
Fox Sports All Day...Have A Great 4th of July!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2008
ANGLE INN NEIGHBORHOOD 4TH OF JULY
PARADE AND COOKOUT
5805 O'Donnell Street, Baltimore
410-633-6242
Join Clayton, Tina, Bennie and the rest of The Angle Inn crew as they celebrate the 4th family style. The day starts with a neighborhood parade with a prize for the Best Decorated Car. The cook out features the works: burger, dogs, chops, you name it! Just bring a covered dish and consider yourself part of the family.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2008
WNST ROADIE TO YANKEE STADIUM
Travel with WNST and Miller Chill to see the O's play the Yankees in the last season of Yankee Stadium. Click on the O's-Yankee's promo box above for info.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008
WNST'S 4TH ANNUAL REX RYAN DINNER
Mountain Branch Golf|Grille & Pub
1827 Mountain Rd, Joppa
Join WNST as we celebrate the start of training camp and football season with RAVENS Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan. Click on the Rex Ryan promo box for details or to purchase tickets.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2008
DOGFEST 2008
featuring Paws On Parade, Bark In The Park, and the 5K-9 Fun Run
Shawan Downs
1401 Shawan Road, Cockeysville
To benefit animals in need of care and shelter. Sponsored by the Humane Society of Baltimore County.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2008
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY'S
JOHN STEADMAN MEMORIAL
TOURNAMENT OF HOPE
Hillendale Country Club
13700 Blenheim Rd, Phoenix
For further information or to volunteer contact Mark McElrath at 410-933-5172 or mark.mcelrath@cancer.org.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2008
1ST ANNUAL FIOFEST
CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
Turf Valley Golf Resort
2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City
Enjoy a spectacular day of golf followed by a Jimmy Buffet style dinner reception to benefit The Michael A. Fiorelli Foundation for Esophageal Cancer. For details go to fiofoundation.org or call Cindy Henson at 410-538-4555.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location: Blogs BlogsRex Snider's Blog |
 |
| Posted by: Rex Snider |
5/3/2008 11:02 AM |
 Alright, it’s time to beat-up on the horseracing industry, again. Hey, it’s been a year ….. I’ve got some built-up hostility. Think about it ….. is there a “worse managed” sport in existence ???
Today is the Kentucky Derby – the CROWNED JEWEL of horse racing. Without looking at any reference material, name three horses in the race. Okay, name two ….. or one. If you’re not a die-hard horseracing enthusiast, there’s a good chance you can’t name any horses in this year’s derby.
How about jockeys? You know, the guys piloting these beasts. Who was 2007’s Kentucky Derby winning jockey? How about the 2006 winner? Maybe you know …. but there’s a good chance you don’t.
Let’s look back at the 2007 season ….. “Street Sense” wins the ‘Derby, “Curlin” wins the Preakness and “Rags To Riches” wins Belmont. Where are these horses today?
Hopefully, you get where I’m going with this criticism. The horseracing industry does very little to appeal to the incidental and casual observer. I’m the guy they need to attract. They’re already getting a few bucks from Jubb, Unger, Suchy and a few others. But, it’s the average fan that needs to be lured into their world ….. to buy the product.
I’ll watch the Kentucky Derby this afternoon, and I’ll even give Jubb a few bucks to wager. I’ll also watch the Preakness in a couple weeks, and I’ll bet on that, too. As for Belmont, I’ll selfishly admit the only way I’m watching is if the same horse wins the first two races.
I would consider myself a knowledgeable and devout sports fan. Yet, I’ve never been to a Preakness. Heck, I’ve never been to Pimlico. The folks at Pimlico have never reached out and invited me. ‘Ya know what I mean.
It’s easy to find fans and media who criticize the Orioles for the same thing. Well, the Orioles run circles around whoever manages horseracing in this state, when it comes to promotion and advertising. I’m looking out of my window, and I see a Nick Markakis billboard. Where are the Preakness billboards? Where are the Pimlico billboards? Where is anything that promotes horseracing to the public?
It’s time to refer to my best critic, “Johnny Rocket.” Although, we are usually on differing sides of an issue, he’ll probably agree with me on the following ……
Does NASCAR do a good job of promoting their product? Yes ….. they do an awesome job. Hey, it’s racing ….. just substitute horses with cars. Fifteen years ago, the average fan couldn’t care less about NASCAR. It’s just a bunch of dumb hicks ….. right, Johnny?
Even if you don’t watch NASCAR, you’ve heard of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart. The key is NASCAR hooked “Middle Class America.” This is where the horseracing industry is lacking ….. in my humble opinion.
The same people always go to the Preakness. Every year, it’s the same gamblers, enthusiasts and party animals. Does a new, curious observer ever show up? Just wondering …..
I question whether the horseracing industry will ever get IT. If not, they’re likely to eventually fade away. In fact, they’re probably half-way there ……
Wait a month and we can forget about horseracing blogs for another year. And, that’s the substance of the PROBLEM.
|
|
| Permalink |
Trackback |
Comments (1)
Add Comment
|
Re: Is Horseracing A FAILURE ..... |
By ed on
5/3/2008 1:14 PM |
Curlin won the 2007 Preakness (not Hardspun) in exciting fashion and it was the best race of the three Triple Crown events last year. Curlin also went on to win the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic and won Horse of the Year honors.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|