with all the integrety in the world ...

Does tennis try and get motorcross fans? Does Football try and get Nascar fans? The answer to both of these questions is "no". Tennis doesn't care about motocross fans (or want them much less) and football already has the Nascar fans. Horse racing is not football or golf and will never have the mass appeal. I recently contemplated why I care so much about everyone loving horseracing and me not giving a damn about the sustainability of frisbee golf. The answer is because I am selfish. If Horse racing implodes I will be bored.

The problem with Horse Racing is that it has been the star sport within the last 100 years. And just like the way of the huge boxing matches, it has become a niche sport. We know it has the potential to captivate America, but we don't know how to get back out of the hole we dug ourselves into. Here is the real question though, do we even want to?

I know we want their money, but do we want them? Most people engage themselves when it's Kentucky Derby time, but the Breeder's Cup eludes them even though it is on their major Networks. They are probably watching "Flip This House" on a Saturday afternoon instead of race after race of top class and beauty (not to mention incredible money making potential). We need to acknowledge that they don't actually like the horses in the KD, just the stories and the starpower. They have been told the KD is a big deal and their celebrity icons have told them it is a big deal by attending or watching.

Man, I would really love it if I could go to the Kentucky Derby and not have to wait in line behind 20 a**holes trying to figure out how to read a sign, make a bet, and not spill another beer on me. Are these so-called "fans" really adding to the sport? The only thing they do for me is add to the betting pools ... slowly and awkwardly ... so I REALLY want them to do that from home.

So really the angle is simple: get the internet betting community to get more involved with the ponies, and let their own involvement with the sport bring them to the track or not. If they develop the love that I have, I'll be waiting with a welcoming parade trackside. I herald the idea of everyone in America tuning in for the Travers, betting loosely, and adding to my winnings, but I don't look forward to GA tickets for the event to top $80 because NTRA finally learned how to market successfully!

I like my days at the track most every day I go. If I lived in NY I would go much more, because of the quality of horses and fans. I don't want the Dallas Cowboys crowd at my horse track and I don't want to go get thrown up on at a Cowboys game either. Horse Racing is my sport goddamnit ... and anyone else's too ... as long as you agree with me.