In my last article, I pledged to write non-industry newspapers to request regular coverage of horse racing.
Since the article was published on this site, a small group of various racing enthusiasts have started a “Campaign for Coverage.”
This is my first “Letter to the Editor” to support the “Campaign for Coverage.” It was sent to The Chicago Tribune, The Altanta Journal-Constitution and The Denver Post – three major non-industry publications that do not engage in regular coverage of horse racing. To join the “Campaign for Coverage,” please click here.
Dear Editor:
I am writing to ask why your publication does not provide regular coverage of horse racing. Racing is a multi-billion dollar industry with roughly 50 million fans that follow the sport. For many fans, including myself, racing holds an endless array of captivating stories that merit coverage in the media at large.
Behind nearly every horse that sets foot on the race track, there is a human interest story. The beauty of this sport does not lie in simply watching a horse win or lose a race. It is also not a sport where “victory” is defined solely by winning a bet or earning purse money.
This sport is a portrait of the human spirit in its purest form. At the heart of racing, a handful of individuals set out with a dream, a single horse and aspirations to conquer a feat that appears impossible.
For the media at large, this sport is summed up in two minutes with a winning horse on Kentucky Derby day. However, for those involved in the sport, the upcoming Kentucky Derby started with the birth of roughly 32,000 registered foals in 2008.
The dreams surrounding those foals weren’t followed in the media. However, those foals held the dreams of countless breeders, owners, trainers and many other individuals in the industry. In large part, those stories will remain untold in the media since most of those horses aren’t on the Triple Crown trail. Yet, I am certain that there were inspiring stories behind those horses that merited reporting - Thousands of stories that will never be printed.
The story that is guaranteed to be printed is the winner of the Kentucky Derby. The media reports on quantifiable numbers. And, the Kentucky Derby has numbers that quantify its’ popularity, ranking among the fifth highest-rated sports broadcast, behind events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Men’s basketball finals.
Yet, there are a few numbers that the media should focus on right now. Currently, there are 364 horses nominated to the Triple Crown series. In other words, there were 364 horses that inspired their connections to believe that they might have found “the horse” that can win some, or all, of the Triple Crown races. Imagine the dreams and sacrifices that many of those individuals endured in the past three years to arrive at this moment. There are stories that lie within those numbers.
But, the media isn’t covering those stories.
And, currently, there are many prep races being run in various parts of the nation to determine the final twenty horses that can garner enough graded earnings to qualify for a spot in the gate on Kentucky Derby day.
But, the media isn’t covering those qualifying races.
In my mind, the failure to provide media coverage for the Kentucky Derby prep-race season is like ignoring the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament until the championship game. The heart of the coverage would be lost without reporting on the teams that made the “Sweet Sixteen,” “The Elite Eight” and the “Final Four.” Likewise, the failure to write about the Derby prep-race season ignores the excitement of those races, the accomplishments of the equine athletes and the stories on their human connections until Kentucky Derby day itself.
This is an important moment for media coverage in the Triple Crown season. And, I hope that you begin covering the journey of the equine athletes, and their connections, as they compete for a spot among the final twenty horses that are privileged to enter the gates at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.
And, after the winning garland of roses is placed on the Kentucky Derby winner, it is my hope that you continue coverage of racing beyond the remaining Triple Crown season and the Breeders’ Cup races in the fall.
I believe that regular media coverage of this sport is a valuable undertaking, not simply for the beauty of the sport, but also, for your publication. There are 50 million fans that follow horse racing. There are 50 million people who want to hear about this sport. I hope that in the future, your newspaper follows this sport along with those 50 million fans of racing.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wirth
Good luck with the fight! When I approach outlets, they routinely tell me racing isn’t even in their Top 10 for sports they try to cover. CBSSports.com completely dropped their horse racing page. It is tough, but we have to keep up the fight.
Fantastic, Jennifer. You had MORE background information than me to support our cause in this letter, AND it is well documented and argued. Great job!
I’m kind of surprised that the Tribune’s on your list, because Chicago is a major racing venue. Not so much the J-C, since there’s no racing in Georgia, or the Post, as Arapahoe, from all accounts, doesn’t get much attention.
I have been thinking th same thing — ever since the flurry and excitement of Zenyatta, I look everyday in the papers, (yes, still buying the rags), and there is nothin. Yet, exciting upsets are happening at Santa Anity, Gulfstream, the juniors, the contendahs for the racing season are coming to the fore yet nothing appears in print. You would think they woulld at least make use of the cash cow that horses like Zenyatta and Rache Alexandra have brought new fans to the sport would fond continuing coverage in the media — the media papers would profit by paying attention to the sport. As Jennifer says, as with basketball, it’s the stuff that leads up to the finals, not just the last game. That’s true of baseball and football. So it should be with horse racing. There’s a new middle class not kings now who are participating as fans. Get with it. Joe Drape aside, NY Times you’re included.
That was a really good article Jennifer, and I hope that the media in general gets involve in covering horse racing to reach more people that can be the next generation of horse racing fans. I do agree with you that horse racing is not only about winning a race or losing it. There is a lot behind every horse and its connections.
Hi Scott ~ I agree. It is tough, but I think if we start banding together, we might have some greater success in the effort. (I’d love to see racing as a regular sports fixture in the news.)
Hi Sue ~ Thanks for the nice comment. I’m thrilled you started this campaign and I’m happy to help out.
Hi Bob ~ I was surprised the Chicago Tribune was on my list. (I picked those three papers based on looking at the largest circulating papers and whether or not they regularly covered racing.) The Chicago Sun-Times does a little coverage, but I couldn’t find a thing in the Tribune. As for Atlanta - There is apparently some form of legislation/talks in progress to bring racing into the state in 2013. I don’t know much more about it, but I thought coverage would help.
Hi Victoria ~ I think Zenyatta spoiled me with coverage outside the industry. She helped start this idea for me, even though other people have been writing long before I started. (And, Joe Drape is my favorite writer. I was just wishing today that every major paper had a writer like him, but I think he’s one-of-a-kind.)
Thanks, Pablo. I appreciate your comment.
Go Girl! Great Letter. I live in Georgia and the AJC is one of the worst papers around. There’s been a LONG battle here trying to legalize racing. Many, many Thoroughbreds here in GA who have to be hauled out of state to race, therefore GA losing revenue. They (GA government and good ol’boys) don’t seem to care. Did you know that there is a once famous farm here in Cartersville, GA? Old Mill Farm that was owned by trainer Hortaio Luro (Northern Dancer, El Senor, Tap Shoes and many other greats). Still has a great 5/8 mile track with great footing, but now everything is like a ghost town.
Jennifer
I have been trying to get Joe Sullivan, Sports Editor at The Boston Globe to pay more attention for a year or more now. They don’t even publish the entries or the results from Suffolk Downs anymore. Occasional pieces by Marc Blaudschun but little else.
Sullivan seems like a good guy, but ad revenue has fallen off the table and he is squeezed for space every day. He might be a good target. Good luck.
Jennifer -
Go for it! Never give up or give in!!
Very nice article Jennifer. What about targeting the USA Today as the are ‘The nation’s newspaper’, and it is available in hotels across the country for travelers not just a specific geographical area?
Isn’t the newspaper industry dying too? Maybe the on-line outlets for sports news like Yahoo might be where you should ‘take the fight’ for more racing coverage. Even The Thoroughbred Times, our industry’s weekly, is 1/3 as thick as it used to be and takes me 15 minutes to read cover to cover.
Hi Zeb ~ Thanks for giving some background to the legalization of racing in Georgia. I wrote AJC yesterday and today. I rec’d a response today saying they are considering the letter. (It was a general form letter.) I’m hoping that writing the media might help a little bit. Please write with me!
Hi Ned ~ Thanks for letting me know about The Boston Globe. I will add them to the media list for the future once I finish compiling it. (And, It’s very nice to hear that you’ve been asking for coverage. I’m happy to join your efforts!!!)
Hi Irene ~ Thank you for your very kind words. (After hearing how it can’t be done very often, it is nice to hear someone believe it can be done.) I appreciate it.
Hi John ~ Thank you for your comment. I think I looked into USA Today and I can’t remember if they had regular coverage or just some coverage. I will take a second look at it. (I also agree that the campaign needs to broaden eventually to focus on digital publications and other forms of media. We are just getting started and working on the media contact list.) Join us!!!
VICTORY!!!! This evening our “Campaign for Coverage” had its’ first success. A member of the Campaign named Mary P. called the sports editor of The Times Herald in Harrisburg, PA.
Because of Mary’s phone call today, THE TIMES HERALD in Harrisburg, PA has agreed to begin coverage of HORSE RACING.
Great article and sadly so true. When Z won HOTY it was a blip on the 3rd pg in San Diego’s sports section. Even during Del Mar the sport does not get the recognition it deserves!
REEL GOOD STUFF!!!…ty…
Jennifer…thank you for speaking for horse racing’s many fans. Anything about horse racing that appears in our local paper is about 2 lines. Even when Zenyatta became HOY.
Just let me know how I can help.
That’s great the Campaign for Coverage already scored The Times Herald. I’m impressed.
Great letter Jennifer. It’s very professional sounding while at the same time displaying the great passion that you feel as a horse racing enthusiast!
I hope this campaign makes a big difference.
I live in a city that still publishes racing entries and results (for Woodbine) and hopefully they’ll continue to do so. What gets me is that unless it’s a big race, like the Triple Crown races or the Breeder’s Cup races, you won’t read about many other stakes races, or the personalities behind horse racing, and yet, you read about every major and minor golf tournament.