Two cents

Arrogance, old fashioned haughtiness, of the full-to-the-eyeballs-with-hubris variety, prominently displayed itself this past week, screaming loudly to anybody who would listen, and many did, that it, too, should be regarded as one of the conspicuous symptoms of horse racing’s poor health.

The first example was supplied by Michael Iavarone, the co-president of IEAH Stables. In a television interview, he said Big Brown’s loss, or surrender, in the Belmont Stakes cost his group somewhere between $50 million and $60 million. As a Triple Crown winner, Big Brown, he said, would have commanded a stud fee of $300,000.

That set off the old flapdoodle alert. Is Iavarone ignorant not just of the breeding industry but also of the economic downturn of the last six months? Or is he just so arrogant, so feverish with hubris, that he actually believes such flapdoodle? Or does he just want others to believe it? In this market, A.P. Indy doesn’t stand for $300,000.

The Breeders’ Cup supplied the second example when it announced it wouldn’t continue its program of supplementing stakes purses around the country. Never mind that the Breeders’ Cup later reversed itself; the damage was done. And it suggested that the Breeders’ Cup board members would find it easier to empathize with Babar, King of the Elephants, than with the average horseman. And what was the Breeders’ Cup doing putting its money in common stock anyway?

And then there was the Kentucky task force on horse racing that recommended increasing the takeout. The recommendation sounded a little like “Let them eat cake.” The worst thing anybody could do for horse racing right now would be to increase prices, and that includes takeout.

Anyway, most of horse racing's problems can be traced to the sport's inability, or refusal, to answer correctly the essential question: Why do horses race? They don't race just for you, Michael, or just for you board members or task force folks. 

No, horses race for the lords and ladies of the grandstand who push their money through the wickets and who express their full-throated support with each turbulent race to the wire.

 

Comments

[Skronk]

The internet and blogs specifically will change this game the same way that blogs changed politics over the last 6 years. Racing will get right in the next decade in large part to platforms like this one.

I will disagree with the idea that it was somehow foolish for the BC to put money into "common" stock. I can't really tell what that was supposed to imply. Preferred stock? Mattress? what?

[nickie]

could not agree with you more Mr.West on your take on Iavarrone. He wanted Desormeaux, he got him. I think Kent's stats speak for themselves, but if a trainer thinks a certain jock fits a certain horse, I think the owner should step aside. What would Frankel have said, how about Lukas or Jerkens. As an aside I would also like to comment on the 2 racing channel's use of their announcers. It was pretty obvious a couple of these guys had "incentive" to boost Big Browns'quality[which I am not trying to deminish]...but in their capacity as "unbiased" observers seemed a bit short. If they choose to be a "member" of the team, their need for transparency should be at the fore front when they put their "analysis" hat on!

[suebroux]

>>The worst thing anybody could do for horse racing right now would be to increase prices

I find it ironic that Lone Star Park, under a veil of "streamlining" admission, eliminated parking fees while increasing admission fees by the same amount. Admittedly, a one-fan/one-car scenario is a wash, however should the members of Iota Gamma Chi - the Gen Y that horse racing is longing to attract - decide to spend an afternoon at the track (assuming that they pile into a single car because that's what frat guys do), the track pockets a tidy sum just for admission.

I could've sworn that only recently you touted this type of economy could benefit racing because "every Thursday could be dollar day," or something to that effect. I certainly agree. And now is not the time to increase admission prices when the chatter consists of courting new racing fans and bettors and adding to handle and increasing purses and so forth.

[Terry Finley]

Hey Gary, this is Terry Finley. Always enjoy your columns. I think you need more information on the Breeder's Cup matter. I am on the BC Board and am fully versed on details.

Shoot me an email (terry@westpointtb.com) and we'll coordinate getting in touch.

Have a good holiday.

Terry

[rd]

How to you describe being a life-long horseracing fan? Arrrrrghhhh.