tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post4009746694677011640..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Comments on CommentsAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-19668852583829067352008-05-02T09:06:00.000-04:002008-05-02T09:06:00.000-04:00I'm not sure if it's been mentioned on this blog y...I'm not sure if it's been mentioned on this blog yet, but the OTB on 52nd St and 2nd Ave in Manhattan had a panel discussion about the Kentucky Derby last night. The panel was Jody MacDonald of ESPN radio, Dan Illman from DRF, Channing Hill and Gary Contessa. And I just want to say that this is something that should be done more often. It was a great atmosphere and to be able to listen to these men talk and ask them questions is great for the hard core and average fan. They discussed everything from the Oaks to Polytrack to their Derby picks. You got to hear Channing Hill talk about riding on the different tracks surfaces and Gary talk about how the sport needs to be more fan friendly etc... I never knew Gary besides the fact that it feels like he wins 2 races everyday in NY but he was the nicest guy and stayed around after to answer all the fans questions and to just talk horse racing. He said he was putting aside his personal differences with Richard Dutrow and was rooting for Big Brown because the sport needs a big story and he wants to see 110,000 people at Belmont on June 7th cheering Big Brown on to the Triple Crown. I want to thank OTB for doing something right for the fans and to the four men on the panel. It was great to feel like something was being done for the fans for once.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com