It's Summertime Racing... So Let's Make Some New Fans

I‘ve always loved opening day. And everybody has their own favorite tracks that they look forward to. Whether Del Mar today, or Saratoga on Friday, Opening Day is like a holiday that only racing fans celebrate! I can’t be at Saratoga opening day this year, but, don’t worry, I will still be an active participant! Good horses and more importantly, future stars will be on display. Even for the most serious handicapper, summer time race meets have a vacation feel to them and are very family-friendly. What better way to get the younger crowd interested? My family took a vacation every year to the Spa, and I couldn’t wait for that weekend in August that would be filled with all the sights and smells and sounds of horses. We always went up during Sales week, so we got the full experience day and night. As the years have gone by, I have introduced so many of my friends to racing. This is one of the most important ways for us to increase the fan base. It is also the best way to get people interested in race horse ownership. Every race fan needs to do their part. Invite someone to the track this summer, someone who's never been before. Sure, they’ll ask a lot of questions, and you might be thinking … I need some peace and quiet to read my form…. but I guarantee you, just one day at the track they will be begging to come back. And maybe they will bring a friend, and that’s how we can help our industry to grow. Yes, lots of things need fixing, but while there are a lot of things wrong with racing, a day at Del Mar or Saratoga shows what is right with racing. The spotlight is on, and let’s all do what we can to promote the greatest game on earth.