Ever since, my father and I would have a standing date every other saturday. He would pick me up eary saturday morning, we would sotp by the gas station and pick up a Racing Form and make the 45 or so minute drive from little rock to hot springs.
I placed my first bet (though my father of course) when I was 9. he would give me a 20 dollar allowence for the day every time we went. I could read a PP when I was 10 (and actually undrstand it, for the most part). I won the pick 3 (the chalkiest pick 3 in the history of horse racing, but nevertheless) when I was 11. But more importantly, I love the sport. I loved the atomsphere around the sport. I loved how it was a full day event, the beauty of the horses themselves... how pat day would always end up taking my money on some horse who didn't have a chance in hell otherwise, the voice of terry wallace over the speaker.
What I am getting at is, this is a great game. to me it's the sport of sports, and this coming from someone who played basketball and baseball on a very high level in high school.
What gets me are the people, who don't watch nor have no intention of watching a horse race all year round, they tune in to NBC one day a year, and think they have the answer for all of of the problems of the sport.
I read an article earlier this morning that a guy said "he needed to find a horse that he connected to, a horse he found an emotional bond with" which is why he wanted a triple crown winner.
only in horse racing
Now, some horses are closer to me for whatever the reason than others...An old retired allowence horse named Boozing, Ghostzapper and Vengeance of Rain to name a few, but I don't have an emotional bond with these horses, nor should I. I mean I love horses, but when Ghostzapper won the BC Classic, it's not like I felt like I accomplished anything (besides placing a win bet
)
Wanna get more people interested in the sport of horse racing? Simple.
GO TO THE HORSE TRACK!!!!!
I've yet to take a friend with me to the horse track that didn't want to go again in the future. This is how fans are won, not by a particular horse, who you know nothing about got a good trip on a track he was bred to love... but you wouldn't know that because you aren't a fan.
I won't go all into what I think the sport of horse racing needs to do to clean up it's act. I've been there, you've been there. But I will say that whatever is done, whatever needs to be done, it needs to be centered around bringing the local guy in to his local track. There are more than 3 races a year, and I get up for a 5k claimer just like I can get up for a Grade 1 Derby race (well.. not AS much but you get the point). the best race I have ever seen with my own two eyes was a 10k claimer open condition race at Oaklawn with two horses dueling a la a match race for over a half a mile, neither one wanting to quit. That's what horse racing is about. Not what type of emotional bond you have with a horse... not the story lines the meida and pull from the owners, and then being pissed when there isn't a compelling one.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that horse racing is my passion, I talk it, i live it, i breathe it. If I can do anything before my time here on this great place is up, nothing would make me happier than doing my part to help bring back the glory that the game that has left me with so many memories (at such a young age).
I guess I'm done.. I really can't think of anything else to say here
