jerry bailey letter to editor

[ELA]

Originally Posted by MisterB

What's funny, these people come to him for his name. Fortunately, or unfortunately, he is a good businessman. He has no bills, and pays cash for everything, even his new house in Saratoga. So you, or we may not like his team, but he has been very successful, and continues loading the money truck.

I believe different people have very different standards and definitions of success. Personally, the size of one's estate or the digits to the left of the decimal point on one's balance sheet, to me, is a small slice in the pie of measuring success. On the other hand, who should be sitting in judgement of success anyway? And, on that note, what does successs have to do with this? In my mind, very little.

Sure, a no asset, no name, unsuccessful company could not come in and be awarded the franchise. That is not really the issue.

People may or may not like Jerry Bailey as a person, spokesman, business, or otherwise. He may or may not be qualified for said positions and roles. However, what is indisputable is that Jerry Bailey will go down as one of the greatest jockeys this sport has ever seen. However, that too has nothing to do with this issue.

Personally, I don't see why being a great jockey equates to knowing the business side of the racing and racetrack industry, nor do I see how it equates to knowing what the backside issues and needs are. I don't think Bailey's experience as a jockey -- and being a great jockey -- connects with him being a great businessman. Obviously many people here feel the same way.

BTW, just as an FYI, Jerry Bailey is one of the few big name, successful jockeys I do not personally know, he is not a friend or client, or anything of the like. I've never been a fan of his, and that doesn't mean I have any dislike for him. However, strictly as a jockey, I don't think anything really needs to be said.

Eric