Posts Tagged ‘Support the Report’

On the eve of some great racing – the 2009 Dubai World Cup and the Florida Derby, it is a good time to point out the times the Paulick Report has highlighted the brighter side of life in the Thoroughbred industry. While the news seems pretty bleak and often is, there are many positive things we can all focus on as we look forward to an exciting 3-year-old season — for both colts and fillies.

Back during the week of Thanksgiving, we spent each day highlighting one of the many strong Thoroughbred charities working hard to make our industry a more humane one for the horses that compete and the people who help put on the show. We began that week with Anna House, an extension of the Belmont Child Care Association AT Belmont Park that provides childcare for the hard-working backstretch employees. There was ReRun, a horse adoption organization that put together an auction of their “Moneigh” collection to raise funds. We explored the multi-faceted mission of Thoroughbred Charities of America, a former colleague of mine at the Bloodhorse and Thoroughbred Times who dedicates much of his time to the Salvation Army, a halfway house of sorts in Tranquility Farm which transitions Thoroughbreds from the racetrack to adoptive homes and the Exceller Fund, named after the hall of fame horse who died tragically in a European slaughterhouse.

We also featured The Pickens Plan…not the one that’s trying to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This Pickens plan was run by T. Boone’s wife Madeleine who has a passion for saving wild horses and restoring some of our nation’s tradition of mustangs roaming the Western front. Having an extensive background in the industry after being a partner in the Eclipse award-winning racing and breeding operation with her late husband Allen Paulson, she has decided to work towards giving many of these unwanted animals a sanctuary. We wish her luck and will continue to follow her quest in 2009 and beyond.

And then there are the untold stories of racetracks that are doing things right, both morally and financially. We tip our hat to Suffolk Downs, the first track to step up with a “zero-tolerance” horse welfare program that bans trainers whose horses are sold to slaughter. I had the great pleasure of visiting both Tampa Bay Downs and Oaklawn Park early in 2009. In a time when many tracks are struggling and see slot machines as their only salvation, these two are concentrating on the racing in Thoroughbred racing…and creating a winning product.

It has been a strong fund drive this week and I want to thank those who provided us with moral or financial support.  I feel blessed to have this opportunity to help shape the conversation as we travel through these important crossroads. Sometimes it seems like a daunting task to find long-term solutions to this sport we all love so much, but together I believe we can truly change the course of our industry. If you think the Paulick Report is an effective tool in working through these problems, I ask that you consider a donation of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or $50 to help further enhance this site. When considering your donation, compare our value to the $50 cost of a Sports Illustrated subscription, $100 for a year of the Bloodhorse and $1,000 for a full year of the online Racing Form subscription. All donations are kept strictly anonymous.

Click here to support the Paulick Report either via PayPal or the mail.

Once upon a time, there was a rather portly Emperor of a rich but ineffective country called Jockeyclubland. Citizens from all around acquiesced to their dear Emperor Phitts, not because they believed him to be the best ruler, but simply because he was their Emperor. No one dared question the Emperor–not his servants, subjects or the subservient wise men who produced newspapers and magazines about life in the empire. They all knew things were not perfect in Jockeyclubland, but they understood there would be dire consequences if they dared question the Emperor’s rule.

One day, Emperor Phitts welcomed an expert tailor and suit maker who had worked long and hard to deliver a special suit made just for him.

Emperor Phitts nearly exploded with excitement. "I love new suits! Yes, let me see it!" he demanded.

"Well, your majesty, before I show it to you, I want you to know that this suit is a very special one made from the most beautiful cloth. But please know that this cloth is invisible to anyone who is unfit for your esteemed position."

"Let me see it!" exclaimed the Emperor. The unusual tailor pulled out the suit and upon sight, Emperor Phitts panicked. He couldn’t see the suit. But he wasn’t going to hint that he couldn’t see the material and insisted the tailor try the suit on him. He found himself hoping it was made in his size.

"It’s perfect your majesty. Fits you like a dream," the tailor said.

Confused but still unwilling to admit his shortcomings, Emperor Phitts agreed with the unusual tailor. "Yes, I love it!" he feigned. "What is the fabric called if you don’t mind me asking?"

"Why of course your majesty. It’s called bassemer, and TRUST me, you won’t find a better way to cover your assets in all the land. Now I must be leaving. Good day sire.”

Still troubled by his inability to see the fabric, he walked out of his office to show off his new suit. As he made his way down the broad corridor, each citizen of Jockeyclubland stopped and stared.

"Your majesty, your clothes!" cried one of his servants.

"They are beautiful, aren’t they?" As he checked himself in the mirror again, he still didn’t see a suit. "It’s made from the finest cloth called bassemer."

"Well…it is unique," stuttered the servant.

As the Emperor continued through his day, he realized more and more people noticing his suit and their utter shock at how it looked on him. As the citizens passed, they would talk amongst themselves about how he was walking around unclothed, remarking that he must have lost his mind and expressing concern for the future of Jockeyclubland. But each would then go on with their day, none willing to point out the obvious in fear of the Emperor’s wrath.

The Emperor was upset that he couldn’t see his own clothes, though he was at least relieved to know that he was pulling the wool over people’s eyes. That is until a small, independent news organization with more courage than common sense and unable to be controlled by the Emperor stood up and proclaimed, "Hey, look! The Emperor is not wearing any clothes!"

———–

On a serious note, if you think the Paulick Report has been a breath of fresh air in reporting on the Thoroughbred industry and has helped you better understand its problems and possible solutions, please consider a donation of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or $50. Anonymity is guaranteed. A subscription to Sports Illustrated costs $50, the Bloodhorse $100 and an annual online DRF plan for $1,000. A twice-weekly venti cup of mocha latte frappacino with a double pump of hoopla costs at least $400 at Starbucks. I hope you use this as a guide when you are considering the value the Paulick Report gives you each day.

Click here to support the Paulick Report either via PayPal or the mail.

First, thanks to all of you who have so generously given to our second periodic PBS knock-off style fundraiser minus the old British actors and an episode of Antique Road Show. Especially in a tough economic climate, your support makes the difference in keeping our subscription free and allows continuing enhancements. It’s Day Three — hump day — and I hope we can count on your support. To put things into perspective, a subscription to Sports Illustrated costs $50, the Bloodhorse $100 and an annual online DRF plan for $1,000. A twice-weekly venti cup of mocha latte frappacino with a double pump of hoopla costs at least $400 at Starbucks. I hope you use this as a guide when you are considering the value the Paulick Report gives you each day.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming…

As Bob Evans has said many times, “Everybody is somebody at Bob Evans Farm”…I’m sorry, wrong Bob. Churchill Bob — that is — has said in reference to the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs, “We are horse racing”. While that might be hard to for the rest of the industry, in many ways he is right. To the average American, the Kentucky Derby is the beginning, middle and end of the racing calendar.

It is this immense popularity that leads owners, breeders, industry professionals, columnists, handicappers, bloggers and fans to immerse themselves in everything Derby between late February and the first Saturday in May. And that is why I have worked hard to create unique content for our Paulick Report readers throughout the Derby season.

Bringing 33 writers, handicappers and bloggers together to create the Paulick Derby Index — essentially an AP Poll for the run up to the Derby has been a formidable effort, but worth every minute of it. We are blessed to have some of the top players in the industry contribute their world class expertise. The multitudes of their perspectives from gender to geography have made what is the most comprehensive poll in the industry. So much so that  ESPN, the Lexington Herald-Leader and The Saratogian have all picked it up for their regular coverage.

I have also included analysis of my picks by channeling my Jimmy “The Greek” ghostwriting days. I used to just pull names out of a hat. We’ll see which system is more effective.

We are also proud to feature a top tier pedigree analyst in Edwin Anthony submitting weekly reports on the top Derby contenders. His book “The American Thoroughbred” is a must read for all in the industry.

We’d love to have your vote of confidence in these initiatives and your continued support for more future enhancements to the Paulick Report through your anonymous financial support of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or $50. Please help us maintain our subscription free web publication and independent voice.

Sincerely,

Ray Paulick
Editor and Publisher
Paulick Report

Click here and you can make a donation either by PayPal or through the mail.

In mid-December of 2008, some troubling news permeated through the horse industry. Though many Thoroughbred breeders had only recently nominated their 2008 foals to the Breeders’ Cup with the expectation the horses would be eligible to compete for millions of dollars in stakes supplements in two or three years’ time, the Breeders’ Cup board of directors voted to suspend that 25-year-old program, beginning in 2009, because of anticipated declines in revenue.

Shockingly, this turnabout did not go over well with loyal breeders who had been supporting the program with their stallion and foal nominations, and a minor French Revolution took hold. Everyone from the largest of farm owners in Kentucky to the smallest of breeders in states like Minnesota and New Mexico made their voices heard. And for the first time, there was an independent forum where this could be accomplished.
 
Almost instantaneously, the Paulick Report became “Command Central” for all voices, many of respectful dissent. My analysis and historical perspective on the stakes program was followed by an editorial from a major breeder who suggested that “the inmates are running the asylum" at the Breeders’ Cup.
 
The very next day, this shortsighted policy decision was reversed by the Breeders’ Cup board. Some horsemen commented that they had never seen such a swift and sudden reversal, but also said there had never been a public forum for them to air their disagreements with an organization like the Breeders’ Cup. Some may see it as coincidence but many others in the industry believe the Paulick Report’s independent perspective allowed for this discussion to move quickly and ultimately find the right solution. It is this same independent perspective that I blame for not receiving my Breeders’ Cup Valentine this year.

What I hope we have now in the Paulick Report is something extremely valuable to the Thoroughbred industry. If you think this independent voice is important to maintain, then I ask you to consider a donation. Whether it is $2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or $50, your generous donation will go towards furthering my mission of progressing the Thoroughbred industry’s only truly independent voice. Any amount is greatly appreciated and rest assured that donor anonymity is guaranteed.

Click here and you can make a donation either by PayPal or through the mail.

Thanks for being part of our community, one that we believe can continue to make a positive difference in this industry we all love.

Sincerely,

Ray Paulick
Publisher
Paulick Report

Dear Friends,
 
With all of the good economic news on the horizon, this is obviously the perfect time for my periodic PBS knock-off appeal for continued support from our readers. Always known for my impeccable timing, I launched this publication flat in the middle of a recession. And yet despite going against these odds and my initial concern we might only last for 2 months, the Paulick Report has been a success and has made a difference in the Thoroughbred industry. We have been in operation for over nine months and I am proud to say that together we have had a strong hand in steering the conversation of this industry we all love so dearly.
 
Yet while I have been blessed with some top tier advertisers, the Paulick Report is still not a completely self-sustaining business. (Considering the economic climate and most web-based businesses taking 2-3 years to get out of the red, our progress is actually quite remarkable). Due in large part to our last fundraiser, we were able to add new enhancements like our Paulick Poll, bring on fulltime staff to handle projects like the Paulick Derby Index and increase the frequency of our updates. With further monies, we plan on implementing additional improvements to the site as we push towards a more user-friendly platform and continue to deliver increasing value to our readers.
 
As you know, the Paulick Report is a subscription free web publication. So it is with a humble hat in hand that I reach out to those who back the Paulick Report’s mission and ask for your financial support. Whether it is $2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or $50, your generous donation will go towards furthering my mission of progressing the Thoroughbred industry’s only truly independent voice. Any amount is greatly appreciated and rest assured that donor anonymity is guaranteed. Click here and you can make a donation either by PayPal or through the mail.
 
For the next four days, I will be laying out some of the issues we got right over the last few months and how I believe our leadership has shaped the conversation in a positive and productive way. I hope you support what we do each day at the Paulick Report and find value in its ability to have significant influence on our industry.
 
Please give what you can so that we can continue to forge on as the leading independent voice for the Thoroughbred industry. And don’t worry; unlike other companies that will remain nameless, I won’t be using your money to pay out $1 million bonuses to my staff.
 
Regards,

Ray Paulick 
Editor and Publisher
Paulick Report

Click here to support the Paulick Report.