I love horse racing. On a practical level there are several things about it that keep me honest, and in that regard I like to think of “playing the ponies” as my practice.
Horse racing reminds us that it’s not over until it’s over, in the shadow of the wire when it looks like everything is all wrapped up, things can change drastically. This is something that I find very important to remember on a day to day basis in my “normal life”. Keeping this little lesson in mine gives me hope when I’m down and keeps me grounded when I’m up.
Additionally, I really, really like the practice of putting my money where my mouth is… it forces me to be deliberate and reminds me of the importance of thinking about my choices. Also, as the idiom suggests, it keeps me from just running off at the mouth, which is not something I’m prone to, however it does happen from time to time.
Take the recent Breeders’ Cup format changes, plenty of folks have had plenty to say about it, and rightfully so. Instead of just running off at the mouth, a few of us have decided to put our money where our mouth is and petition the Breeders’ Cup to change the name of the Ladies’ Classic, create a formal feedback mechanism (fan committee) and explore alternate scheduling options. We’re prepared to not wager, watch or attend the Friday card unless our demands are met.
Interestingly I noticed an article entitled A New Way Forward yesterday at NTRA by Alex Waldrop, it’s President and CEO. It discusses some changes that are afoot at NTRA including continuing the Tour, that was created out of gathering feedback from fans, creating a Horseplayer’s coalition to assist in lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to address tax burdens and “engage our most enthusiastic players on a massive scale and foster the collaboration so necessary for real change”.
Ultimately, almost all of racing’s competitive challenges can be traced to one indisputable fact: The fundamental economic engine driving virtually all sectors of the horse racing industry – racino subsidies aside – is pari-mutuel wagering. So, to accomplish positive change within the horse racing industry, it stands to reason that we must engage and connect with those who wager – namely, horseplayers.
Indeed, this is something fans have been saying for awhile and it’s very hopeful to see it acknowledged by the NTRA. The list of things that fans would like to see addressed is long but rarely aligns so well with an opportunity to make an organized point by withholding that “driving engine” in an impactful way.
However, today it IS aligned and it looks as though a spot on the rail has opened up for us to put our money where our mouth is and ask for one of the changes we all have been discussing. Things look hopeful, but just remember, it’s not over until it’s over.
So, my question to you dear readers… are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? If so (and I know you are, you’ve been training so well!), get yourself over to that petition and Take back the Race!
