tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post2303190476557963585..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Harping on ThingsAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-52860784639140733672010-06-28T09:04:48.273-04:002010-06-28T09:04:48.273-04:00Crisis management, been there, done that, not fun....Crisis management, been there, done that, not fun.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-55659049490692853922010-06-27T18:49:43.043-04:002010-06-27T18:49:43.043-04:00It's tough to focus on the long-term when most...It's tough to focus on the long-term when most tracks are putting out daily or weekly fires to stay afloat.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-14093720108357474232010-06-27T01:37:31.683-04:002010-06-27T01:37:31.683-04:00Nevermind. Jockey change in the program is gonna k...Nevermind. Jockey change in the program is gonna kill the price. <br /><br />Dirty.<br /><br />These guys play games like you wouldn't believe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-27595985525816172712010-06-27T01:34:06.712-04:002010-06-27T01:34:06.712-04:00I just grabbed a form and you guys better make som...I just grabbed a form and you guys better make some money in the second from Hollywood Sunday. Same thing IMO.<br /><br />DirtyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1878315401262407312010-06-26T22:43:24.530-04:002010-06-26T22:43:24.530-04:00I'm 52 and was in a bar watching the World Cup...I'm 52 and was in a bar watching the World Cup so there is at least one older than 50. <br /><br />I was surrounded by a bunch of middle aged Irishmen rooting for the USA but inevitably for anyone playing the English.<br /><br />Its not age, it exposure to the sport.<br /><br />Young Americans (all ethnicities) have played the sport and therefore show more interest, but there are plenty of first and second generation immigrants, again of all races and ages, that love it too.<br /><br />As someone pointed out, they dont watch second rate soccer like the MLS for the same reason most of us never bet on minor league racetracks.<br /><br />As for racing, at every venue, on and off track, that I have attended non-whites outnumber the whites, excepting vacation spots like Saratoga and Monmouth.<br /><br />If you took a worldwide poll asking "Do you consider yourself a horse racing fan" and broke the result out by race I suspect Asians would have the highest percentage answering yes, followed by Hispanics, with non Hispanic White and Black pulling up the rear. <br /><br />IF my assumption is accurate, then racing might have a future in this country but they need to think out of the box and not just focus on the day to day bottom line as Alan is suggesting in his comments.<br /><br />This sport seems to market with a short term focus instead of on long term development.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-79585136344055105452010-06-26T19:27:14.071-04:002010-06-26T19:27:14.071-04:00"Other Baffert" wins by 10. The scratch ..."Other Baffert" wins by 10. The scratch of the favorite at post cost me 2k. And probably a lot more on my pick 3's and 4's.<br /><br />DirtyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-85075219592284054262010-06-26T14:35:24.958-04:002010-06-26T14:35:24.958-04:00It's not race, it's age. Go to any downst...It's not race, it's age. Go to any downstate track, and the overwhelming majority of the patrons are in their 50's and up; same for OTB's. Go to any bar showing the World Cup or showing soccer on a weekend, and there's nary a patron over 50.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-86218041041573125502010-06-26T14:30:33.051-04:002010-06-26T14:30:33.051-04:00teresa-I was raised in the Bronx in a racially mix...teresa-I was raised in the Bronx in a racially mixed neighborhood, so of course my local OTB reflected that diversity and now my local track up here reflects the non diversity of the Saratoga community-both regulars and visitors. <br /><br /> My main point was that International soccer is growing in the US.<br /><br />But you do raise an interesting point on the regular daily fan base. Maybe marketing should be more focused in this area, trying to reach the true day in and day out fan base. Thanks again for your feedback.SaratogaSpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181152277681879529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-90592386137525858282010-06-26T13:13:03.251-04:002010-06-26T13:13:03.251-04:00SaratogaSpa, I am speaking of the US, and I can...SaratogaSpa, I am speaking of the US, and I can't offer you stats, any more than you did in your initial comment--you offered anecdotal evidence, based on your observations, which is what I did as well. Go to most racetracks -- not on a big race day. Or an off-track wagering facility. Or a backstretch. In my experience, the faces there are mostly not white.Teresahttp://www.brooklynbackstretch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-53854239698178702412010-06-26T12:50:18.889-04:002010-06-26T12:50:18.889-04:00Alan-point most respectfully taken-Belmont and the...Alan-point most respectfully taken-Belmont and the Big A are much more diverse than the milky white spa.<br /><br />Teresa- you said "I wouldn't think it a stretch to say that racing is more popular with people of color than it is with whites" --are you talking in the US or Worldwide?<br /><br />I would not believe this would be true for the US only-if so, show me some stats-I knew I would get jumped for this so I might as well keep it going a bit :)SaratogaSpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181152277681879529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-73630523355763808782010-06-26T12:33:18.366-04:002010-06-26T12:33:18.366-04:00And in a curious 800-mile mind-meld, Alan and I ha...And in a curious 800-mile mind-meld, Alan and I have, and type, identical thoughts simultaneously.Teresahttp://www.brooklynbackstretch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-59087619059428416622010-06-26T12:30:59.680-04:002010-06-26T12:30:59.680-04:00SaratogaSpa: Go to Belmont or Aqueduct, or any of...SaratogaSpa: Go to Belmont or Aqueduct, or any of a number of other racetracks, and you'll see as diverse a crowd as you'll fine in any soccer-watching bar. Asian, African-American, Caribbean, Latinos from a handful of countries--in New York, it's only Saratoga that attracts a mostly white racing crowd. I wouldn't think it a stretch to say that racing is more popular with people of color than it is with whites.Teresahttp://www.brooklynbackstretch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-8008610626372102612010-06-26T12:30:22.155-04:002010-06-26T12:30:22.155-04:00SSpa - While your point about the cultural diversi...SSpa - While your point about the cultural diversity of soccer's following, I respectfully submit that your observation on racing is based on the crowds at your home track. :-)<br /><br />Plenty of ethnicity at the tracks down here....remember Moran's bad taste comment that Aqueduct reminded him of a third world bus station.alannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-2208023155006545252010-06-26T12:16:43.215-04:002010-06-26T12:16:43.215-04:00I'm not so sure I could get away with saying t...I'm not so sure I could get away with saying that. LOL. <br /><br />Minister's Power and maybe the "other Baffert" for me today.<br /><br />DirtyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-31601425948188536982010-06-26T12:00:23.433-04:002010-06-26T12:00:23.433-04:00I respectfully disagree with your assertion that s...I respectfully disagree with your assertion that soccer is not ingrained in American Culture. I love horse racing, but lets be honest- Horse racing is the king of Sports for WHITE US citizens.<br /><br /> But our great country is made of black, yellow, brown and white people and many of them love soccer, especially the International game that the US is now solidly a part of. Ask any bar owner that shows International soccer games on his Bar TV's how well his business his, including in non World Cup years.SaratogaSpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181152277681879529noreply@blogger.com