Excuse Thread

[Stall Mucker]

OK. I'll be the idiot that asks where all the on-track fans were at Belmont on Saturday? Since there was little TV exposure I figured to see more than 8,500. How many chances do you get to see a number of Grade I horses?
Just to clear the air: I made the trip from Albany area & was there all day.

[sdjcom]

Originally Posted by Stall Mucker

OK. I'll be the idiot that asks where all the on-track fans were at Belmont on Saturday? Since there was little TV exposure I figured to see more than 8,500. How many chances do you get to see a number of Grade I horses?
Just to clear the air: I made the trip from Albany area & was there all day.

Racing has lost the charm and class it used to have. People would dress up and make an affair out of it, now they let them in with tank-tops flipflops and cut-offs, so you have to go to club house to get away from the trash, I can't stand to be around rude,stupid, and drunk people who can't handle a few beers.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by sdjcom

Racing has lost the charm and class it used to have. People would dress up and make an affair out of it, now they let them in with tank-tops flipflops and cut-offs, so you have to go to club house to get away from the trash, I can't stand to be around rude,stupid, and drunk people who can't handle a few beers.

Then what are you doing here?

[philcski]

I was out of town this weekend, went to the KY Cup (which was great), but even if I was in town I'm not sure I was going to attend, just didn't like the card- Math man had it right.

[sdjcom]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Then what are you doing here?

I must like the self-punishment hell I don't know for sure.

[Cannon Shell]

I think that there are two giant things that effect attendance of racing events featuring Curlin that noone ever mentions.
#1. The racing media has told the story of curlin many times and it usually features the negatives of the sport including the owners that are currently in jail for ripping people off for millions of dollars.
#2. The nonstop medication talk in that same media often features the checkered past of Curlins trainer who has in excess of 24 violations.

If I was just a fan of racing and constantly read these things about this horse and racing in general, I would have a hard time rooting for him or even believing that he was not enhanced somehow. Jess Jackson is portrayed as some kind of hero in the racing media but the truth of it is he is a bully lawyer who craves the spotlight. He along with the rest of the connections are simply not very likable. Not to mention the horse was not the premier story last year during the TC run or even in the late summer races and the fact that he has had a strange schedule that has been a mystery most of the time doesnt help either.

[booner]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but maybe the weather scared people off?

You have nothing to fear. You're out on a pretty strong limb.

I will have to say if I lived in the area and didn't have to work, I would have been there.

[Stall Mucker]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but maybe the weather scared people off?

Hoss, I'm tired of the couch poof excuses (fuzzy slippers, honey tea, house moo moos) Saturday was a great day. The weather was what it was. Actually, the weather wasn't that bad. The track was goo & hard but I think the right horses ran the way they shoud have run. Adjust!!! Get over it. It will be interesting to see what on track visuals will look like 20 years from now. I agree the equine betting entertainment is fast becoming living room participation but there's still nothing like being there.

[Linny]

If you were planning on travelling some distance to the track, the doom and gloom weather forecasts could understandably put you off.
What about everyone that was pretty near to Belmont. Once people realize that the day is just not as bad as predicted, why not go out and see some great racing?

What does is say when the participants (yes, horseplayers are participants!) in the sport don't even care to attend it's biggest days?

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Linny

If you were planning on travelling some distance to the track, the doom and gloom weather forecasts could understandably put you off.
What about everyone that was pretty near to Belmont. Once people realize that the day is just not as bad as predicted, why not go out and see some great racing?

What does is say when the participants (yes, horseplayers are participants!) in the sport don't even care to attend it's biggest days?

I think we discussed this in a prior thread. Belmont is in one of those places that if you don't live in the immediate area it is a pain in the ass to get there. You pretty much have to make the day of it.
As far as where were all the horse racing fans that should have been there to see argueably the best dirt horse in the world:
Like it or not weather was a big factor. It eliminates anyone who was going there with family(especially little kids).

College Football, add that to the fact that you can bet from home and it is great day of action from your couch..

The Mets final homestand at Shea in the middle of a playoff push.

As good of a card as it was yesterday, many of those races are terrible handicapping affairs. 2-5 Curlin plus a 4 & 5 horse field in 2 races. It is great to see stars but who wants to bet with or against them at 2-5.

The economy. Let's face it, some people just don't have a extra dollars to go to the track. If they do maybe they are saving their bullets for Breeders Cup Day.

How big of a star is Curlin anyway? For me, I really don't think that there is a horse out there that I would make a special trip to the track for.

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Maybe horseplayers are turned off by a sport that consistently craps on them?

Boy, don't I know that!