Recently, a male handicapper and I were engaged in a debate about treating racehorses with respect regardless if they win a race.
My opinion was pretty clear: The horse comes first in horse racing. It is never acceptable to bash any horse because they failed in a race or caused a bettor to lose money. We aren’t racing automobiles. These are living creatures that deserve respect despite any outcome in a given race.
The male handicapper’s opinion differed from my viewpoint. In his opinion, a losing horse can cost a bettor a lot of money. And, as he pointed out, a professional bettor relies on his winnings as income. It can be a cause of frustration when the horse of your choice loses a race since it impacts your earnings.
At the close of our exchange, I believed that we had simply agreed to disagree on the subject of what racing means from our personal vantage points.
Yet, moments after ending our debate, I received a private message from the same male handicapper. And, in three classless words, he made my blood boil with his sexist ignorance about women in racing.
“Female Racing Groupie.”
Those were his words to describe my enthusiasm and participation in horse racing as an owner, blogger, bettor and racegoer.
Admittedly, I have a healthy sense of humor and a thick-skin when it comes to silly remarks. And, although I’ve never been called a “groupie,” it made me laugh to envision myself hanging out in a dress next to horse trailers to try to grab the attention of a (male) member of the industry to let me stare at a racehorse.
I can stare at them anytime I like at the track without a male escort to guide me or babysit me while I am betting.
So, why am I so disgusted with this remark? In my view, it wasn’t simply an attack on myself as a racing fan. It was an attack on females and their role in racing.
In this man’s mind, a guy is a fan if he is at the races. If a lone woman without a “Rockefeller” portfolio or a slew of children is standing at the track, she is a “female racing groupie.” And, the only separation between a respectful title and a denigrating descriptor for the exact same activity is the gender of the racegoer.
Now, I’m not saying that all men share this view. There are plenty of males who embrace both women and men equally at the track and I am thankful to call many of them friends. Yet, I would like to put to rest a couple of sexist ideas that a few bad apples in the batch like to use as bargaining chips in classless commentary.
Women have a role in racing. The female roles are as follows: Owners, Breeders, Jockeys, Trainers, Bettors, Backstretch Workers and Fans. And, when we are being fans, we aren’t being “groupies” or cheerleaders to handicappers or the men in the industry. We are fans in our own right. Fans of horse racing.
As fans of horse racing, women have every right to get excited or emotional about a horse, just like their male counterparts. I imagine that plenty of men, along with women, cried in many exhilarating moments of racing. Jack Nicklaus admits that he cried as he watched Secretariat win the Belmont by 31 lengths. And, he wasn’t the only spectator without a dry eye at that moment from most accounts.
And, women had every right to get excited when Zenyatta won the Breeder’s Cup in 2009 and when she made her campaign for Horse of the Year in 2010. During that period, I read more than a few comments about how women were “just being emotional” about Zenyatta. I am at loss for words on why we weren’t supposed to be emotional while staring at a horse that is arguably among the greatest mares of all time.
It does this sport no justice if average female fans and participants are trivialized as being “groupies” or if we are considered to be irrationally “emotional” when we get excited about our equine athletes and the welfare of the horses.
Yes, Zenyatta, as well as other horses, have brought new fans into this sport in recent years. Many of the new fans are female. And, the new female racing fans won’t stay if they aren’t allowed to hold the same ranks as men in this sport.
Yet, I have been a female fan of this sport before, during and after Zenyatta appeared on the track. And, in being a female fan, I won’t stand for the new generation of women at our tracks to be relegated to “groupies” or spoken to like children.
This sport is not restricted to men. And, being a fan of it is not a title bestowed upon men alone. Being a fan of this sport is equal opportunity and the word “groupie” should hold no place in our dialogue on what it means to be involved as a female participant at any level of this sport.
There are always going to be different perspectives on an event, stories always have two sides. Our greatest challenge is to get more women involved in the sport of horse racing and our gain will be a better overall racing product. How do we get more women involved? Invite them to the races. Ask your girlfriends to join you and teach them how to make a bet. Enjoy your day in a way that can’t be done in any other sport in the world. Form a female partnership and run a horse under your own silks. Join a syndicate and see what ownership is all about. West Point Thoroughbreds currently has a two-year-old filly available for purchase where 2.5% of her earnings will be dedicated to breast cancer awareness and WPT will match that 2.5%. This concept was initiated by the women in the company.
Hi Shannon ~ I agree with you completely. When I take one of my female friends to the track for their first time, I always show them the paddock and then grab brunch with them so that they watch the horses and ask questions. I always tell them, “Just pick any horse that you like to win.” It does work to get them interested in the sport.
As far as the West Point filly, that is wonderful. I have always had the highest respect for West Point and that is a fabulous idea.
When I was at the Wood this year for Uncle Mo I was disgusted by some of the comments betters were yelling at him as he came back from finishing third so I have to say I completely agree with you in the debate you were having with this man.
I also completely agree with what you wrote about emotion in the sport. Emotion is key to not just horse racing but any other sport, it’s what gives us so much passion. I create emotional attachments with horses every single year, some stronger than others but each one is special and unique and gives me a deeper understanding and appreciation for the sport. Well said.
Hi Brian~
As always, we agree. I think it is wonderful when people get emotional about this sport and the athletes. (I can’t find anything more exciting than a racehorse in this world, win or lose.)
Hope all is well with you. I love reading your articles. Keep up the great work!!!
Jennifer
I’m a guy. So it is with certainty that I conclude he sent that text to piss you off and “prove” that you’re overly emotional. You played into his hands by admitting he made your blood boil. I guarantee you that he’s getting a kick out of it.
Next time a guy acts that way, just fire one back that says something like “that all you got, chrome dome?”. Of course substitute ‘chrome dome’ with an appropriate reverse-sexist insult that fits him personally.
I apologize if my post seems neanderthal but that’s how to deal with neanderthals like the doofus who sent you the sexist insult. Fight fire with fire.
Thanks, Vic. I appreciate the comment. I agree…
Thank you for sharing ur thoughts! I’ve always loved horseracing. And in the last 3 years have had the privilege to go from fan to owner. I’ve been taken aback by some of my experiences of being a woman trying to be part of this glorious sport. I could go on & on about that. My contribution to the solution….I did start a partnership “Just Chicks, LLC”! We are fledgling yet, but enjoying the mission of great sportsmanship along with care of our athletes! Come on over & help us make our stiletto print on the track!
Trish ~ I love your enthusiasm! “Come on over and help us make our stiletto print on the track.” I’d love to hear more about your site. Do you have a link?
I too agree with you Jennifer on both issues! Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to “fix” people that ignorant. I definitely see Vic’s point but I wonder if that would even be effective. And HORAY for Trish - great story and idea!
Hi Cynthia ~ Thanks for the wonderful comment. (I don’t think my follow-up commentary with this guy changed his view on women racing fans. I tried. Lol.)
YAY Jennifer!!! All of Zenyatta’s female fans were denigrated similarly - “Zenite” and “Feminazi” - were directed quite frequently at me. I hate to admit it, but after the Queen won 2010 HOTY, I went back out to the boards where the worst of the Neanderthals lurked, just to see how they took the news that they were really, really wrong. You can imagine the rants. I couldn’t help myself - I left a one word response - “Crybabies”.
On second thought, I don’t hate admitting it. They deserved it, after their condescending attitudes to me and other female fans.
As always - love your blogs!
- Donna
Hi Donna ~ I always enjoy hearing from you!
I think a lot of Zenyatta fans definitely received negative commentary from some while they admired her on the track. I completely sympathize and I’m happy to hear that you stood your ground. It’s great to hear other women refusing to deal with these stupid sexist statements.
Thanks for reading!!!
Jennifer
I’m so sorry that you had to experience first hand this kind of prejudice that has long run rampant in the industry, Jennifer. I felt the sting once more just reading your words. What this person said was unnecesary and mean spirited. He represents the epitome of the “Old Boys Club” that does nothing but drive new people away and is a detriment to the sport. Gambling is a large part of horse racing because it keeps race tracks open, provides purse money, and attracts fans. But without the heart, beauty, and desire to run of the thoroughbred there is no sport. They are the ones that most deserve respect along with the jockeys, trainers, and others who work with them.
Robin,
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Remarks like his could drive newcomers, especially women, away from the sport. I am happy there are many female racing fans out there that refuse to deal with sexist remarks or commentary about our participation in the sport.
Hope you have a great night,
Jennifer
JUST ANOTHER DUMB A$$ FROM A LONG LINE OF THEM ON THE PLANET!!!…PERIOD….PLEASE KEEP UP YOUR WONDERFUL WORK MS WIRTH…”THE GAME” NEEDS A LOT MORE LIKE U…ty…
Thanks, Bellwether. It’s always nice to hear from you.
Hi Jennifer,
Tiffany Meredith told me some time back what a good writer you were, and so I was delighted to see one of my other girlfriends post the link to this article as her Facebook status. I am so glad you tackled this frustrating subject in such a delicate voice. I will never understand the mentality that racing is meant for only one type of fan- the cigar-smoking, shifty-eyed, pick-six gambler. These are the same people who roll their eyes when you tell them you placed a $2 win bet on Zenyatta that you never plan on cashing because it has her name on it and you will frame it. Screw ‘em. There is nothing wrong with being an enthusiastic, emotional race-fan who focuses on the well-being of the horse. We are the ones who actually engage in hour long debates with ill-informed- yet very concerned- animal rights activists who protest the sport and would like to see it end. When does the hard-nosed gambler have time for that? Maybe he contributes more to the handle but who is contributing to the image of racing? We are. As a fellow female race-goer, I salute you.
Hi Janell ~ I agree with you completely. Thanks for the wonderful comment.
I agree with you guys, gender shouldn’t be an issue on whatever type of sport or activity that is dominated by men. we can usually find a lot of better female in the sport than men.
There are class-challenged asses in all parts of society, not just horse racing. It bothers me to see a friend as knowledgeable as you get insulted. I’m a male handicapper and I couldn’t agree more regarding the horse always comes first, but in some of the cirlces I previously kept, that wasn’t the sentiment. That’s not the sentiment at the OTB parlor and most simulcasting centers during non graded stakes mid week action. One of the most attractive things about horse racing to me is the sense of civility and culture that the sport offers. It’s most likely those same “out of step with main stream culture” ideals that makes horse racing such a tough thing to market. I’m glad you have thick skin because the next ass is right around the corner. You’re a great writer and I’m glad for women like you and many others I call friends who thier keen insights. Rock on!
Thanks, Turk. (The horses, along with people like YOU, make it such a beautiful sport.) Hope all is well with you!