Dearest Trickski kicks up her heels as she schools in the paddock (Sarah K. Andrew)

If racing teaches us anything, it’s that anything can happen. Last week I was attending to some much overdue Self Appointed Fan Committee business (August and Septembers reports are posted!) when I had the good fortune to cross paths with Peter Rotondo Jr., VP of Media and Entertainment at the Breeders’ Cup.

I emailed him a SAFC submission specific to the BC TV production and was somewhat surprised that literally within 2 minutes of sending the email that not only had he responded, but he was friendly and wanted to follow up with a phone conversation! As the person in charge of the BC broadcast (from the BC perspective) you can imagine that this is a pretty busy time of the year for him, so his prompt and proactive response was extra surprising.

We played phone tag for a few days and finally got to speak over the weekend. I had no idea if he knew my ongoing position on various aspects of the Breeders’ Cup or my active involvement in the petition against the BC so I was curious, to say the least, to see how the conversation would unfold.

He’s a nice guy, very easy to talk to & we hit it off immediately. As it turns out, he’s an avid blog reader, so it was no coincidence that he wanted to talk to me! We talked for almost an hour about everything from the petition, the name change, the 2 day format, reaching out to fans, his dad (who is regular on the OTB channel in NYC and all around fun TV personality), handicapping in general (he grew up at the track and is a life long player), some new stuff they’re doing with the this year’s production (odds will be persistent on HD broadcasts) and getting celebs to the track among many other things.

I found his unbridled enthusiasm for the game endearing and infectious. It’s also always refreshing when one can have a productive and fun conversation with someone who represents what could be construed as “the opposition”. Much of the interviews coming out of the BC as of the last two weeks have made it seem as though they’re not interested in the “existing customers” / the fan’s point of view. He assures me this is not the case.

He listened and considered the points I made about the name Ladies Classic (distinguishing between the “traditionalist” point of the view and the “they’re not Ladies” point of view) and he even laughed when I mentioned that I’m calling all other F&M races ladies races (e.g., The Little Ladies) until the name is changed. He was also well aware of the fact that the NTRA, his former employer, has done a lot of good work to bring fans/players to the table and it’s paying off for them (and all of us as it turns out… funny how that works).

Not only was this initial conversation enjoyable and, in my opinion, a good sign, after the dust settles post-BC, we’ll be having some follow-up face to face conversations chez Breeders’ Cup. Given this radical and unforeseen turn of events, I’m softening my previous zero BC stance to include some watching and very small wagering on Saturday.

As mentioned before, I’m previously committed to not watch and wager on Friday (go Zenyatta!) and have already donated my bankroll (more on that to come!) so what little I do play will be only on my dime, literally!

Posted by dana on Oct 22 2008    
Filed Under: Take Back the Race, Industry, Self Appointed Fan Committee, 2008, Sarah K. Andrew, Breeders' Cup, NTRA, Santa Anita, Racing

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My esteemed colleagues have been doing a bang up job of commenting on the Breeders’ Cup this week.

Honestly, I haven’t been able to muster much interest, in part because I didn’t care about a Curlin/BB match up… I wanted one or both of them to pass so they would both be more likely to come back next year. Alas, it’s not to be. With several interesting horses taking a pass on the fake stuff, there really isn’t much to look forward with the exception of the end of a tumultuous year.

Last Thursday I had a some time to kill before the end of the work day so I took a little spin around the usual haunts. As I perused Bloodhorse, I noticed that the current version of Talkin’ Horses featured Peter Land, Chief Marketing Officer of the Breeders’ Cup. “This ought to be interesting”, I thought to myself.

On the fourth answer, not only did my jaw drop, but I knew in a nano second that I wouldn’t be playing either day of the BC this year, not just Friday that I had already committed to.

Let me address the Friday card first. First and foremost, the move to an all filly and mare schedule on Friday was a racing decision not a marketing decision. We believe that the fillies and mares deserve a Championship day of their own and that fans will enjoy two near equal days of Championship racing.

Then how about having it the following or prior SATURDAY, when people will see it + it won’t feel like a demotion?

We like our new model and think it will stand the test of time. As for the name of the event, that was a marketing decision. We are trying to make the Breeders‚ Cup more accessible and appealing to those inside and outside of our sport.

There comes a point when complaining about a situation yet still taking part in it makes one complicit, and I’ve found that point with the Breeders’ Cup. After all of the various (and loud) public “feedback” on this decision, they STILL aren’t listening to their existing, and rapidly dwindling, customers.

Say what you will about the NTRA, but they’re making a big and honest effort not only to reach out to fans and players, but they’re also starting to take action on what they’re hearing. Regardless of whether you like them, what they stand for or whoever you think represent, that good faith gesture (along with some follow through, that I’ll give you 2-1 on) is what PAYING CUSTOMERS want. Not arrogance, not “we think our new model will stand the test of time” with not one shred of acknowledgment that you’re willing to consider what you’re hearing from your existing customers.

Well, good luck to you Breeders’ Cup, you’ll have to do it without my dime. I’m no Mike Maloney (a girl can dream), but my bank roll last year was in the 4 digits… and believe me when I tell you that I left it all in New Jersey. I had planned on scaling back my bank roll this year, but instead of handing it over to a group that has no interest in their customers, I’m going to donate my BC bank roll to rescue, stay tuned for who and how I donate it. If you feel the same way about the Breeders’ Cup, I invite you to do the same.

Posted by dana on Oct 14 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Take Back the Race, Industry, Big Brown, NTRA, Breeders' Cup, Fans, Curlin, Rescue, Racing

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Ginger Punch winning the last installment of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Charles Pravata)

Moran’s post this morning inspired me to watch all of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff races… he’s right, but here are all 23 reasons.

[WARNING - includes Go For Wand’s upsetting breakdown in the stretch]

Posted by dana on Oct 12 2008    
Filed Under: Farewell, Charles Pravata, Ginger Punch, Asi Siempre, 2008, Tough Tiz's Sis, Take Back the Race, Indian Vale, Unbridled Belle, Hystericalady, Breeders' Cup, Octave, Lear's Princess, YouTube, Race Replay, Racing

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Wanderin’ Boy is a GbG fav and the equivalent of a big foot sighting in racing as a 7yo HORSE. I always wondered about that and now feel enlightened thanks to an excellent post by Steve Haskin over at his Bloodhorse blog.

It’s always refreshing to see big fancy deep pocket owners keep their horses in training, particularly when fate provided so many opportunities for retirement! Wanderin’ Boy really made big bad Curlin work for his win in the JCGC. Go on with your bad Wanderin’ self (and stay sound and healthy while you’re doin’ it)!

Also from the “right on” department, Crist has a fantastic column this week about the BC gender division tom foolery entitled “If you must fix what ain’t broken…”

Proponents of a Filly Friday and a Studly Saturday are difficult to locate outside the Breeders’ Cup offices, and most fans and pundits seem to hate the idea. The most frequent criticisms are that it is inherently sexist (and renaming the Distaff the Ladies’ Classic sure didn’t help) and that it marginalizes half of the racehorse population by relegating it to second-class status and a much smaller television audience. Shouldn’t racing be showcasing the likes of Lady’s Secret, Personal Ensign, and Azeri on its biggest day rather than on a Friday afternoon?

He goes on to propose some viable, and less alienating ways to divvy up the races over two days. Hear, hear.

Posted by dana on Oct 01 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Take Back the Race, Impressive, Steve Haskin, Wanderin' Boy, Breeders' Cup, Injury, You Tell 'em!, Racing

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Fans at the 2004 Belmont (wallyg)

As mentioned before, Jessica and I have been working on a little project called the Self Appointed Fan Committee.

I hope you’ve gotten your list of grievances, ideas, rants and raves together as the Committee is now in session!

See you there…

Posted by dana on Jul 07 2008    
Filed Under: Industry, Self Appointed Fan Committee, Take Back the Race, 2008, You Can Help, :), Fans

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