BRITISH JOCKS TO BE PAID APPEARANCE FEES
There has been much talk about how to widen racing’s audience in the United States. Quite frankly, there should be more discussion of it on these and other pages. To me, it’s the single most critical step after a state gets slot machines. As Ray has said in the past, slots are a necessary band-aid. How we heal the wound will determine the future of racing.
British racing seems to be wrestling with the idea and have come up with several programs to bring the sport closer to the masses. Offering jocks training in dealing with the media and appearance fees and a central PR campaign to promote racing more effectively to a wider audience.
Will this effort work or is it a misguided if not well-intentioned attempt to put racing back on top?
Click here for the Reuters article in the New York Times
Then come back to the Paulick Report and let us know what you think.
Tags: bradford cummings, British Horse Racing, new york times, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, Reuters, Thoroughbred Business
January 5th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
This is the best Idea I have ever heard, finally the racing establishment admit that Jockeys and trainers are special and should be encouraged to get out and promote racing the way nobody else can. With their direct knowledge of how beautiful horse racing can be for a family outing, whether it is on the weekends or on their summer vacations, it would be a good idea to introduce the kids at a young age to the thrill of watching a team of flesh and blood competing at their best to get to the wire first to win for their owners, and the patrons that bet on them. Just seeing these beautifull horses is a thrill in its own, it gives a human a good feeling.
January 5th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I agree with this article. I am often confused on why the jockeys do not play a more significant role in the promotion of horse racing. Especially with the increase in female jockeys, what better way to introduce horse racing to a younger generation.
January 5th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
We need celebrities in racing like all other major sports have. The horses are only around for a year or two at best but the jockeys and trainers are competing for decades.
The show “Jockeys” has made me a fan of some lesser jockeys on the CA circuit because I now see them more as celebrities who I know instead of some person just riding a horse.
Jockey’s need to be made into stars who people want to follow, the championship needs to be more nationally recognised and followed. Did anyone really care about it when Garrett Gomez was trying to win last year. In any other sport that would have made ESPN day in and day out until the end of the season.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:22 am
I’m starting to think Shields is wayyyyyyy better than people were giving him credit for at WW.