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To Eddie:
The track condition is often softer up the inside rail, especially after a rain.
Craig
Living in Amerika, I wont turn my back on certain good tracks and good folk I met along the way-
Now to compare the product as apples to apples–In My mind its the UK’s Product that is miles superior.
From Eaze of getting Good info without breaking a Newbies bank- If it rains The day and all the work you put into hanicapping isn’t ruined By40% scratches.
You may not like the Brit racing body-At least you have one–
Concerning Craig–Now I have to wager(punt) a certain amount to get video so I can see his track and punt there-
Yes Your racing has its Negatives–But your Positive
Are more numerous than Amerikas Positives.ps I know How to spell Amerika
Bud:
To correct one thing in your post…
I am very proud to say you do not have to punt any amount to watch Arapahoe Park live. When we race you can visit http://www.mihiracing.com and watch a live feed of the racing – always free of charge – with no sign up. Similarly, you can look up any race run there since 2006 and view it with no charge.
The rather antiquated website will be changing in the spring but I can assure you there will be no charge (or sign up, where you have to give us details) to watch the live racing feed and access previous races.
Craig.
Craig why do Americans have less leisure time?
Colin
Hi Colin:
As Another poster said, two weeks annual leave (often including sick days) is the most vacation people get, including those in middle management in most companies. A higher rate of people are self employed and put in long hours as well.
The day starts early for kids and parents. There is a strong stigma, it seems, if your kid is not involved in organized post school activities that often drift on from 4pm into mid to late evening (especially sports) and in this current climate when people do have free time they are not spending money as many are worried about soon to be increased taxes.
Craig.
Guys, I thought this thread was about American Racing not Americans themselves.
I know a lot of Americans who love to go racing in the UK and watch the races, bet with the bookies and so on.
The culture I was referring too was the fact many Americans have less leisure time than Europeans, that is all.
Craig
Regarding the crowds, it depends where you go and when.
Simply, there is too much pressure from work for most people to go racing midweek (even in the evening) as many clerical/bluecollar jobs here start at 7.30AM or even earlier and kids have far longer lasting after school activities than kids do in the UK. It is a different culture. So midweek racing even at big tracks is quiet.
Weekend racing at the tracks I have worked at has always been popular. True at most tracks attendance is not what it was. But families are coming out more and more because it is inexpensive. However, we need to move them on from just playing $2 show wagers all day!
The point about Commentators is also unfair. Larry Collmus and John G Dooley are every bit as good as anyone in the UK. However, I think the best two announcers here are Australian, Peter Berry and Robert Geller. Not to take anything away from Mark Johnson, (whose skills I greatly admire) but I think any of those four would have been a better pick for CD. There is also some good rising talent who have been exposed to other styles of racecalling coming along.
The problem here is there are so many mediocre and bad commentators and it is difficult to make tracks realize the value of a good racecaller. Some of us are trying to change that (people seem to have liked my calls this year, by and large) but without a central agency like Racetech in the USA, it is difficult to raise the level across the board and kick out the many incompetent, dull and often uninformative racecallers that litter the USA.
Rant over!!!
Craig
Drone:
In general race days are down.
At some places they are the same and at very few they are increasing…
Craig
To try and address some of the points made here:
To Venusian:
Drugs: No arguments from me here. Drugs and race horses should not go together.
Attrition rate: Varies a lot from track to track. This year at Arapahoe Park, in 36 days live racing there were two fatalities. One was shortly after the start and even now I am not sure what happened as it was obscured from the commentary box. The other was a horse who had been eased down but certainly was striding out ok and somehow just tripped over its front legs. Got up…fell back down and sadly stayed down. However, there are tracks who seem to get one every 2-3 days.
Growth: Three main problems here. 1. Many State Governments change too often and so too does their attitude to the sport and they make it tough to make real progress because of appalling bureaucracy solely designed to bilk money out of the industry. 2. Management at many tracks do not have faith in their product, yet are amazed when the public do not. 3. Management know the price of everything and the value of nothing. It’s never worked before and will not work now.I do not think tracks are identikit but that is the way racing has evolved in the USA. Thetide is starting to turn, at least out west, from less sprint races being written to more 1 mile races – there is a definite move towards that from the horseman, at least in Colorado.
To be allowed a boast. Arapahoe Park, a minor track really, think a Pontefract or a Hamilton Park, increased handle and on track attendance in 2009. Purses are to be increased around 50% next year thanks to the tracks management successful lobbying of the State Government to pass a bill that freed up more wagering $ to go to horse racing and we have added three more race days to the schedule.
To Mick:
Honest jockeys and trainers outrank dishonest ones by 99/1 and dishonest ones are very quickly made unwelcome.
To Graeme:
I see and call a lot of races that go down to the wire.
Craig
Can’t comment on Jason Weaver and do not follow Suffolk Downs but I do like American Racing (as I work in it!)
Pools are a problem at some tracks for sure, but there’s lots of clever ways to play the horses here.
What do you find shocking among American Racing in particular?
Craig.
It’s not taking multi-culturalism too far, it is just irrelevant to the issue.
Our work/school calender is historically based around the Christian Holidays (though of course borrowed in their origin.)
I see no need to change that. It will not advance the cause of multi-culturalism.
Craig.
RIP, Mr. Kennedy.
A thought provoking and intelligent man. He will be missed.
Not sure how Jeremy can be a strong supporter of Speed Cameras!!! Not in favor at all of Big Brother looking over my shoulder, thank-you very much.
Craig.
Hi Bud!
Everywhere I go to commentate, I am inevitably asked by someone who interviews me what I think of Mark Johnson.
So, here is my take:
I am a great admirer of Mark Johnson’s work as a commentator. We both share the belief of doing a great deal of prep work. That shows in Mark’s race-calling and I hope one day will show in mine.
The uproar over his appointment at CD was largely fueled by jealous individuals or individuals who dislike race-callers from overseas. That said, I have always been treated well when I have worked in Kentucky.
Mark gave an excellent Derby call. I think it would be an exaggeration to say he has won over the fans, yet. Mark and his predecessor, Luke Kruytbosch, are very different personalities in that regard.
My favorite all time race caller is the late Raleigh Gilbert.
Of the current bunch in the UK I think Richard Hoiles, Darren Owen and Lee McKenzie are the best.
In the USA, Larry Collmus, Peter Berry and Robert Geller.
Craig
