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Originally Posted by randallscott35
It's easy to say a love of horse racing, but I think there is more to it than that. This could be an interesting thread for the group to comment on. Some of these you may agree with and some you surely won't.
Let me generalize about the people on this board for a moment, again these are generalizations. Here are 8 items to consider:
Now, how far off am I? Randall
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Hadn't had the chance to respond to this fun, funny, interesting topic..
1. I'd agree that the vast majority of our membership is 'white', but that doesn't necessarily translate as 'anglo'..
2. College educated question.. I'd agree as well as racing's fan base is overwhelmingly a well-schooled lot..
3. Exposed early (Grandfather), interested in 20's, serious fan in 30's as disatisfaction with team sports grew, devoted to it in 40's..
4. While I'm from the Northeast, I can say pretty definitively that DTers are spread across the country proportionately. Probably 60% from urban centers (NY-Boston, Philly-Balt-DC, Chicago, LA-SD); 40% from regional outlying areas..
5. Logical conclusion.. Racing's portrayal as strictly for an aged fan base is a total falsehood. While the game does have an 'older' fan, it has always been a sport that grew on hobbyists as they got older. Speaks to leisure time for handicapping and development of 'opinion' with maturity..
6. Began posting at PaceAdvantage and ESPN in winter of '02.. Derby Trail began as Yahoo Group on February 15, 2003 doubling in size annually from 50 to nearly 400 last year.. Launched as free-standing URL version last year after Preakness.. While the ESPN board provided the early base of membership, non-ESPN posting Y! DT members equalled that base as early sign-ons as well.. ATRAB listeners have been a big addition obviously, and a large number of people found DT via writing/story links to the site on Equidaily and Racing Dispatch; 50-60 added when this was the first internet site to confirm the passing of Lost in the Fog and we were linked from elsewhere, and similarly just this week almost 100 visitors via the Azeri foal photos craze.. Mentions of DT on Capital OTB-TV 12 (thanks to Seth Merrow, Jeanne Wood, Tom Amello and Nick Kling) has brought about another 50-60 members, and friends bringing friends here has filled out the numbers.. The fact that we have 1,250 members (1,100+ active within the last 30 days) in 9 months is amazing..
7. I believe we have a perfect balance of serious horseplayers and casual fans here.. I'd agree that those here that bet, bet more often and greater amounts than most..
8. Single, 47, never married.. Every girlfriend I've had since 1984 has enjoyed the track. Now for most of them it featured Saratoga, Preakness or Belmont Stakes visits, which provide a rather nice atmosphere (except for Old Hilltop), but even runs to blah Hippodrome Bluebonnets in Montreal for simulcast tabs was an eye-opening new experience for gal pals. The racetrack is one of the greatest date locales there is...