Street Sense walking back to the barn after the Classic (o_crunk)

When I arrived home tonight I noticed a box in the “mail area” of the apartment. I sort of assumed it was from my mom given that she’s been sending me xmas presents for at least a week now.

When I looked at the box it it was from Bloodhorse. “Did my mom get me something from Bloodhorse?” “How would she know to get me something from Bloodhorse?” This confusion went on until I saw the ‘Open Immediately – 2008 Stallion Register enclosed’ (like it might go bad).

First of all, I didn’t know they even published such a thing (remember, green) and second of all I didn’t know they would just send one to all subscribers. I also recently got a fancy Coolmore catalog (why, I’m not sure)… marketing at this level of the game gives Haute Couture a run for it’s money (pun intended).

As I was thumbing through it, noting who I thought was cute (all of them), naturally went I looking for some of my favorites. I was hoping Invasor & Hard Spun would have the standard stately pose in front of an idyllic pasture with a perfectly aged fence (Storm Cat), or in front of a souped up Colonial with Georgian columns (Perfect Soul – IRE), but alas they’re newbies, so they have racing pictures.

Invasor’s pic is from the Breeders’ Cup, natch, while Street Sense’s is from the Derby. It sort of looks like the Yum Brand logo is a cartoon speech bubble coming out of Calvin Borel’s mouth as he reaches towards the sky right after crossing the finish.

Sure, it’s fun to analyze it as a marketing tool while simultaneously disturbing to observe it as an effective cog in a well oiled machine. But the real deal can’t be any more clear than it is on the Street Sense page… “Bred to be a Stallion”. Clearly a selling point and clearly problem number 1 in the long list of problems with thoroughbred horse racing as a sport.

This sentiment was also echoed in something that Alan at Left at the Gate pointed out over the weekend. It would be different in the case of the catalog if this sentiment was confined to the breeding industry, but it’s not… it’s clear that it’s the motivating factor for the majority of decisioning, at least for some… and definitely too many.