tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post568181006933253683..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Horse Racing - Still ClassicAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-87082502618369991272013-01-02T19:25:58.000-05:002013-01-02T19:25:58.000-05:00Thanks for an entertaining read, even if I never h...Thanks for an entertaining read, even if I never heard and probably never will hear any of those bands (my loss I am certain) I commend you for being cutting edge.<br /> <br />As for racing, I believe that clearly Thoroughbred Racing is a sport.<br /> <br />The Graded Stakes are analogous to Major League Baseball, the day to day racing the minor leagues, the boutique meets equivalent to Yankee Stadium (the old one) or Wrigley Field.<br /> <br />Completely different games, but the same sport, but one that is supported by wagering, something it should proclaim with pride.<br /> <br />"Competition" and "Sportsmanship" are often cited as the essence of all sports, but dig a little deeper into the creation of those sports and wagering often played, and in most cases still plays, a prominent roll.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-71977028009269491042013-01-02T09:21:26.874-05:002013-01-02T09:21:26.874-05:00To me, there have always been several different ci...To me, there have always been several different circles of horse racing: Grade 1/2 races, boutique meets (Saratoga, Keeneland, Del Mar, maybe Monmouth), day-to-day racing at major tracks, day-to-day racing at 2d level tracks, and day-to-day racing at minor tracks around America. They mostly operate on different planes and the Venn Diagrams of the 5 do not show a ton of overlap (it's mostly the boutique meets with the first and third groups). Everyone can enjoy them in different ways, but they're almost fundamentally 5 different enterprises, and only the first one would I consider a "sport" per se.<br /><br />Great post Alan.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-58091124808150851702013-01-02T08:34:35.331-05:002013-01-02T08:34:35.331-05:00I consider it a sport. If asked the greatest spor...I consider it a sport. If asked the greatest sports achievement ever, I would say Secretariat's Belmont Stakes. Anyone old enough to have seen this will never forget it (or how it made them feel.<br /><br />Sometime read about Citation's three year old season. More recently, what about the Rachel Alexandra/Zenyatta controversy which was prominent right on this blog? That had nothing at all to do with gambling<br /><br />Some people care about who's the best horse. Other people don't.<br /><br />Some people care about hockey. I say that because I know you do. To me, the only interesting hockey story I ever heard was how and why the Rangers got their name.<br /><br />Seriously, didn't you ever wonder why a team from New York would be called the Rangers? If you don't know, Google it.ballyfagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946523913002020541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-40087734702668354792012-12-31T22:15:29.630-05:002012-12-31T22:15:29.630-05:00I really appreciate that essay.
I agree with the ...I really appreciate that essay.<br /><br />I agree with the overall comments about classical music and the scene that goes with it (and the jazz scene has its issues too). But I think you also have to allow for the time lag between the cutting edge in certain arts and our ability to understand/enjoy it.<br /><br />Thelonius Monk's music scared a lot of people to death when he was alive. Now it sounds like folk music. Stravinsky, at least his tonal stuff, is pretty accessible now. That said, there's no excuse for a scene that pushes people away.<br /><br />Speaking of which, they have messed the BC up fairly royally, but it still is my favorite day (the Saturday) of racing. Only the BC and a few other big stakes days have those big contentious fields of good horses, with some great play-against reputation horses.<br /><br />And while most years, the ladies with the hats are more psyched about the Derby than I am, I have seen a number of Belmonts with the Triple Crown on the line, and that was high drama you can't get without the Derby first.<br /><br />But trying to parse the contenders in the last race at AQ in winter (go, Terminus, go!) is fun on a regular basis. You're right - it's a game, not a sport and I love it just the same. <br /><br />Happy new year, and thanks for your writing.steve in nchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04061356872686618093noreply@blogger.com