Interesting Development In California

[Antitrust32]

maybe I'm blind... but I didn't see the name Michael Wrona once in Vic's letter. Please someone point it out if I am wrong.

I don't see anything wrong with the letter Vic wrote.. except for the grammar. It looked more like a goofy email than a professional letter.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

maybe I'm blind... but I didn't see the name Michael Wrona once in Vic's letter. Please someone point it out if I am wrong.

I don't see anything wrong with the letter Vic wrote.. except for the grammar. It looked more like a goofy email than a professional letter.

Vic is always talking about some announcer brotherhood, or something to that effect. Why does the name have to be in his letter? He is clearly trying to get a job that someone else already has. Good for him, but I just hope it ends some of the other crap he has spouted around the internet.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Vic is always talking about some announcer brotherhood, or something to that effect. Why does the name have to be in his letter? He is clearly trying to get a job that someone else already has. Good for him, but I just hope it ends some of the other crap he has spouted around the internet.

because, to me at least, it just seemed like Vic wrote a passionate and poorly punctuated letter about how much the Fair means to him, and that he really wants to call the races there again. He also pointed out ways he can help the fair.

there was nothing malicious in the letter. not one bad word about Wrona. Obviously, the end result would be Wrona losing the job if Vic was able to convince the racing officials. But I just don't see anything wrong with Vic's letter and him wanting to show the board how he feels.

Now, if Vic had thrown in a few words bashing Wrona, it would change my opinion and I'd have found the letter to be tasteless. But that's not the case.

If Wrona has already been hired to call the races in 2012, then there is no reason for that decision to be changed. Vic's fault as he waited too long to get the job, and seems to have stepped on the toes of some people in 2011, but I still see absolutely no problem with the content of the letter Vic wrote, and maybe in the future it could help him get the announcer job back there.

I know nothing about any announcer codes. I read the Vic threads but don't remember details.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

because, to me at least, it just seemed like Vic wrote a passionate and poorly punctuated letter about how much the Fair means to him, and that he really wants to call the races there again. He also pointed out ways he can help the fair.

there was nothing malicious in the letter. not one bad word about Wrona. Obviously, the end result would be Wrona losing the job if Vic was able to convince the racing officials. But I just don't see anything wrong with Vic's letter and him wanting to show the board how he feels.

Now, if Vic had thrown in a few words bashing Wrona, it would change my opinion and I'd have found the letter to be tasteless. But that's not the case.

If Wrona has already been hired to call the races in 2012, then there is no reason for that decision to be changed. Vic's fault as he waited too long to get the job, and seems to have stepped on the toes of some people in 2011, but I still see absolutely no problem with the content of the letter Vic wrote, and maybe in the future it could help him get the announcer job back there.

I know nothing about any announcer codes. I read the Vic threads but don't remember details.

Let's do the math here. Wrona has the job. Vic is trying to get the job. If Vic were to be successful, it would mean Wrona will have lost the job.

You think that's okay?

Would your opinion be the same if the roles were reversed and Wrona wrote a letter to Hollywood Park trying to get his old job back?

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Let's do the math here. Wrona has the job. Vic is trying to get the job. If Vic were to be successful, it would mean Wrona will have lost the job.

You think that's okay?

Would your opinion be the same if the roles were reversed and Wrona wrote a letter to Hollywood Park trying to get his old job back?

IMHO it is a douchebag thing to do.....

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Let's do the math here. Wrona has the job. Vic is trying to get the job. If Vic were to be successful, it would mean Wrona will have lost the job.

You think that's okay?

Would your opinion be the same if the roles were reversed and Wrona wrote a letter to Hollywood Park trying to get his old job back?

I don't think Wrona should be fired in 2012, the racing board would be doing a disservice to change the announcers at this point, but I have no problem with the letter. Maybe it will help Vic out in the future.

If you really want something, should you not go for it, or at least express your desire? Especially if it's done in a respecful manner like Vic's letter?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I don't think Wrona should be fired in 2012, the racing board would be doing a disservice to change the announcers at this point, but I have no problem with the letter. Maybe it will help Vic out in the future.

If you really want something, should you not go for it, or at least express your desire? Especially if it's done in a respecful manner like Vic's letter?

I think thats up to the people he wrote the letter to. He did hand a copy out to the entire board. Maybe Im a scumbag or whatever some of the above posters have said, but If I feel like I can do something better then someone I would let it be known. Thats basicley how I got my brief handicapping gig, and how I went about trying to get another one. Theres a right way and a wrong way to do it. You dont bash the other person, but you explain why you feel your better. It shows your confident in yourself, without crossing the thin line thats there.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

I dont know Vic, so I dont know. I know in the past the few times I had contact with him he was very nice to me, when he did not have to be.

Let me guess, you sent him one of your classic kiss ass pm's and he responded. Sweet.

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

I think thats up to the people he wrote the letter to. He did hand a copy out to the entire board. Maybe Im a scumbag or whatever some of the above posters have said, but If I feel like I can do something better then someone I would let it be known. Thats basicley how I got my brief handicapping gig, and how I went about trying to get another one. Theres a right way and a wrong way to do it. You dont bash the other person, but you explain why you feel your better. It shows your confident in yourself, without crossing the thin line thats there.

I knew it was only a matter of time before you made this about you. You have no idea what is right or wrong as you have shown in the past over and over again.

[Mawhip]

As much as I hate to agree with Dahoss, how can anyone think what Stauffer did was OK.

Stauffer wanted the job. He knew the job was recently filled by Wrona. Instead of badmouthing Wrona and explaining how stupid the board was to give the job to anybody else, Stauffer uses a surprisingly smart technique by writing some puff piece extolling how much he loves Fair racing and how much he misses it and how it was his family that forced him to leave a job who would have done for free. Did he mention Wrona's name? No but who cares, he didn't have to nor would it have been a smart move to do so. Instead he prays on the soft side of the people on the board and asks them to be the callous assholes that he is by removing Wrona and bringing back himself.

Nice job Vic. You are a real class act.

[Antitrust32]

I should state that I don't really care for racing announcers, so I have no bias for or against Vic. The only guy who's announcing future is of interest to me is my fellow U of A bud (Pete at Hialeah). And Grunder was a class act doing what he did for GPK on Friday.

I prefer Trakus over announcers in 98% of races (sometimes a big race like the Derby or another Grade 1 can inspire a hair raising call) I don't follow Hollywood Park one bit.

I just don't see what the big deal is and I see nothing wrong with the content of Vic's letter. Wrona should be the guy in 2012 and as long as the world doesnt end in December, maybe Vic can get his dream job back next year, as long as he applies in time.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I don't think Wrona should be fired in 2012, the racing board would be doing a disservice to change the announcers at this point, but I have no problem with the letter. Maybe it will help Vic out in the future.

If you really want something, should you not go for it, or at least express your desire? Especially if it's done in a respecful manner like Vic's letter?

The act of writing and handing out the letter at the meeting was disrespectful, especially becuase Vic has brought out the announcer brotherhood stuff in the past. Wrona was already hired, as far as I know. He tried to go above that hiring to take the job "back."

Maybe there is more to the story and I would imagine if anyone knew, it would be Vic. He has most certainly read the thread. Hopefully he'll set the record straight.

Nothing wrong with wanting something. But there is a right way and a wrong way.

[Danzig]

the write up in the minutes says that vic asked them to 'reconsider' their decision...so it seems that everyone knows the job has been filled, which he's trying to change. so yeah, it appears he's asking for someone else to get dumped so he can have a job back.

Originally Posted by Rare Bog

Dear Madam or Sir,

My name is Vic Stovetop. I have worked in the horse racing industry for 35 of my 54 years on the planet Earth and 7 of the other 19 on Mars. I feel so blessed that as a young man I convinced one of the trainers at Hoosier Park to fire a groom and to hire me instead. What a great life it's been.

Here are some of my accomplishments:

• Over 44,000 races called and 42,964 correct orders of finish
• Seven years as an announcer at a track that ending up firing me
• Eleven years as a race caller with 10 years and 8 months of those 11 years yelling ZEEEEEEEEN-YA-TAAAAAAA
• I was an original member of the worst handicapping program on the air
• As a jockey agent, the jockey I represented had a complaint filed against him by the California Horse Racing Board alleging he "did not put forward his best effort riding his horse to the finish line" in the final race at Del Mar on Sept. 6.
• As a horse owner I attempted to approach John Glenney the morning after the race and ask if Cedros, the horse the jockey I represent did not ride to the finish line, was for sale
• In 2011 I was appointed and I still serve as a very important you-know-what for the state of California, wink, wink, know what I mean? Say no more.

I know this appears as very self serving, because it is, but that is not my intention, even though it is, but it would sound silly and self serving to say it is my intention, so it isn't.

Let me explain what happened in 2009 and 2010. I was vain, weak and stupid and I had a life.

Now let me explain what happened in 2011. I was vain, weak and stupid and I had no life.

As with most people with no life, I attempted to get as many jobs with as many conflicts of interest as I could muster. Pretty dumb, huh? But wait, there's more? Even though you already hired a guy, I want his job. Job? Funny... I don't even think of it as a job. I will do it for exactly $1 less than the other guy. If he'll do it for 7 grand, I'll do it for $6,999. If he'll do it for a dollar, I'll do it for free.

Thank you from the bottom of a bottomless pit for reading my words, and if you don't reconsider your decision based on this request you will wake up tomorrow with a horse head in your bed.

Please feel free to call me anytime at (415) UHIRE-ME.

Respectfully,

Victor Lasagna and Meat Sauce

What kind of horrible person would publish a guys personal phone number?

That's going too far!!!

[pointman]

The problem as I see it is the timing of the letter, in reading the minutes it seems pretty clear that Wrona had already been hired for the job about a month earlier. The letter should have been submitted at a time when the committee was considering who to hire, not after they actually awarded the job to someone. I doubt anyone has a problem with someone applying for a job that is taking applications, it is the arrogance of asking the committee to fire a person they just hired which is made more ironic by his own admission that he had previously committed to the fair and screwed them by backing out for his own admitted selfish reasons.

It is odd to me that he talks about his regret of throwing someone under the bus when he backed out previously, yet has no problem throwing the person whose job he is seeking to take under the bus now. Seems desperate and cut-throat to me personally.