Imagine my surprise when I found this in my inbox late Friday afternoon…

Dana,

I saw your posting on Green But Game. The reason we did not post your comment to my initial blog was because we heeded your advice and added the comments to our Web site for all to see. In hindsight, we should have done both: heeded your advice and posted your comment.

I have requested that it be posted.

Keep in touch.

Alex

Yes, that Alex… as in Alex Waldrop, the CEO of NTRA.

A few days ago I was posting about his blog, Straight Up, and how it now has comments. I was also whining about how my comment suggesting that comments be displayed was not displayed. A few visits to GbG from the NTRA and one email from Alex later and there it is!

Besides a big public thank you to Alex, it’s worth noting that this really is a big step in a much needed right direction (no, not including my comment… having the blog, having the comments and starting the dialog with players).

I definitely am looking forward to sharing my opinions and thoughts over there and you should be too. Here are few more comments of note that saw on his first post:

MR. WALDROP, it is my opinion, that growth and stability for our sport can only be achieved by national unity in all aspects of this sport. state to state and track to track just isn’t getting it done.

Here’s one I’ll be making more noise about (with Curlin as the proof to back it up):

I missed your Horseplayer Magazine story, but I think the bells and whistles that go with today’s technology are great and could help expand the customer base. However, if it is “fans” you want, then you need to convince your rich owners to let their top notch 3 year olds race when they are 4 and 5. Everybody wants to cry the blues about the economics of retiring a star to be a stallion, but until people can follow a favorite horse beyond two or three races, the sport is never going to grow. It wouldn’t hurt if the Churchill and Magna monopolies disappeared too.

And here’s one I love, it may sound frivolous but it makes a HUGE difference to players… I believe I read somewhere that the BC justification was brand identification. I would argue that they could achieve the same results without interfering with a players ability to identify the horses during the race.

Has the NTRA ever considered the mandating of Colored Saddle Clothes in all races (including Breeders’ Cup Races, and stakes races at tracks such as Keeneland and Monmouth?)

Again, get over there and share your thoughts… and Alex, don’t be shy, leave a comment next time you stop by!