When Zenyatta clinched her groundbreaking win in the Breeder’s Cup Classic, she was the only subject on my mind. At the moment she crossed the finish line, I was skipping a wedding to watch her performance. After the race ended, I packed up my enthusiasm and set out to the reception with visions of her electrifying victory swirling in my head.
I simply couldn’t wait to talk about it with anyone who would listen.
Let’s just say, there was not a soul at that Chicago cocktail party that knew an ounce about horses. “Zenyatta” was a word that registered somewhere along the lines of failed sci-fi movie or an exotic foreign country that had just been discovered.
It certainly did not help that many people had not heard of the Breeder’s Cup. In retrospect, my social audience must have thought I was referring to a device used at fertility clinics – “Did you see the ‘Breeder’s Cup’ today?” …“Finally, a female took on the boys and made history.” I just want to cover my face in embarrassment over what ideas they perceived I was presenting to them at this elegant affair.
When I returned home, I searched all over the Internet for news about the race. I had to believe that someone shared the same enthusiasm about this historical moment. While reading the news stories on Bloodhorse, the NTRA website, and The Daily Racing Form, I discovered a brand new world – Horse Racing Blogs.
I don’t think blogging can replace traditional media outlets, nor can the medium ever match the experience of unexpectedly meeting another horse racing enthusiast in a social setting. However, blogs are a beautiful thing. The blogging community gives many different perspectives and provides stories that may have not been covered by regular news outlets. It also gives enthusiasts a place to share their enthusiasm, and hopefully, create more enthusiasm for this magnificent sport. Blogging about horse racing goes beyond a virtual “horse diary” – It draws the community together and creates a common cultural meeting place.
After tracking blogs all over the internet, here are some wonderful sites that I found. If you are a blogger or reader, feel free to add blogs that I missed in the comments section.
And keep writing – I don’t just blog. I read your blogs and enjoy hearing the varying perspectives. I enjoy knowing someone else appreciates the beauty and energy of this magnificent sport. I enjoy the idea that a virtual community is growing around the track and we are writing in a worldwide field.
The Media: NTRA, Bloodhorse, Daily Racing Form and Thoroughbred Times Blogs.
National Thoroughbred Racing Association Blogs.
Straight Up with Alex Waldrop.
Bob Ehalt Blog.
Karen Johnson Blog.
Claire Novak Blog.
Eric Wing Blog.
Dean Arnold Blog.
The Inside Post.
Steven Crist Blog.
Jay Hovdey Blog.
Dan Illman Blog.
Randy Moss Blog.
Thoroughbred Times Blogs.
The Big Event.
From the Ring to the Racetrack.
No Holds Bard.
The Field: Horse Racing Blogs and Alliances Across the Web.
Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance.
The Horse.Com Blogs.
Thoroughbred Chat.
Jennie Ries Courier-Journal Blog.
Inside Horseracing with Art Wilson.
New York Racing Insider Blog.
West Points.
She’s On Her Toes.
