Horse Racing

[PalmettoStatesport]

Our shop is going to cover the Opening Day of horse racing at the local track and I drew the short straw on that. I've been to a few tracks as a gambler but never as a journalist. What are things that you, who cover horse racing routinely, look for on opening day for stories?
Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[middleman]

We have a track here and the best stories typically are on the jockeys. These guys usually run multiple races per session and almost always have a good story.

 

[silvercharm]

Ask for the guy at the track known as Native Diver. He's the guy who will be scooping up tickets off the ground, looking for a winner someone mistakenly threw away.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Much depends on what classification we talkin' . . . we about the likes of Churchill, Louisiana Downs, or the real boooooshes? (generalizing, so that
we don't out . . . )

 

[Tim Sullivan]

Begin by abandoning the idea that you pulled the short straw. Horse racing may be a niche sport, but there are terrific stories all over the track and the people tend to be more genuine than you find in more mainstream (and cliche-ridden) sports.
Jim Murray's last column was from Del Mar. Red Smith wrote elegantly on horses for decades. W.C. Heinz' "Death of a Racehorse" is an enduring gem. Google it.
These brilliant writers were drawn to the races by the characters and the culture -- from the billionaire owners to the hard-working people living hand-to-mouth on the backside. If you can't find a story at the track, you aren't looking.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

I agree with Tim. The only bad thing about horse racing is you have to get up so early to cover it. But any track (Suffolk Downs sure qualifies as "any") has about as many great stories as it has people in it.

 

[Elliotte Friedman]

When I was first made to cover horse racing, I whined and bitched like a 12-year-old girl. That opinion changed quickly.

I don't know if you'll be able to cover any major races, but the spectacle is really something. For TV, it's outstanding. For print/web, there's great opportunity for photos and color pieces. And, it might mean some 4 am wakeups, but the other posters have mentioned that the jockeys/trainers are great stories. You can also never go wrong by asking one of them (or an owner) how they look for/determine what a great horse.

 

[Mark McGwire]

If you're tempted to bet on a horse called Air Lift, don't. It may look good as it heads down the stretch, but it will not end well. Trust me.

 

[PalmettoStatesport]

I appreciate all the insight. I would love to incorporate a weekly story from the track at my shop. Our post time is 6:55 p.m. and they race in the evening and throughout the night so no early mornings.

 

[Wenders]

I appreciate all the insight. I would love to incorporate a weekly story from the track at my shop. Our post time is 6:55 p.m. and they race in the evening and throughout the night so no early mornings.

They work out in the mornings. Trainers/jockeys are probably more accessible after morning workouts.

 

[playthrough]

I wish I could have covered horse racing at my old paper. Heck, even greyhound racing. For a couple months one summer there was a dog that was blowing away everyone, it turned into somewhat of a local sensation with a couple thousand more people than usual showing up on nights he ran. His odds were always 1-10 and I'm sure the track lost money on those races because the computer system couldn't make him 1-100. The guy who covered the track got a 1A story out of the dog and his quirky owner.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

When I was first made to cover horse racing, I whined and bitched like a 12-year-old girl. That opinion changed quickly.

I don't know if you'll be able to cover any major races, but the spectacle is really something. For TV, it's outstanding. For print/web, there's great opportunity for photos and color pieces. And, it might mean some 4 am wakeups, but the other posters have mentioned that the jockeys/trainers are great stories. You can also never go wrong by asking one of them (or an owner) how they look for/determine what a great horse.

One of the perks of the game is the early-mornings, especially if you have access to the top outfits. There are writers in the business who are afraid of/allergic to horses, and/or allergic to being on the scene at dawn. Their
loss. Dawn at Saratoga is one of the unvarnished joys of this life.

 

[Moderator1]

I used to LOVE showing up at the local track at 6 a.m., getting a cup of coffee and heading out to the deck overlooking the track. Watching the training, the gate work, all of it. Trainers, jockeys, owners, they'd all be out there at some point. A great way to spend a morning and you could get a ton of stories out of it, too.

I love covering horse racing. Love it.

 

[SF_Express]

You know this is so old it's ancient, but playthrough, I did some major stakes coverage of greyhound racing back in the day. And those people were REALLY skittish about coverage. It was very odd. I think they were so unused to having any kind of coverage that they were worried that when a newspaper person was around, he only wanted to write about perceived cruelty to dogs or whatever. It was all very odd.

As far as covering horse racing is concerned, agree with all who say it's an opportunity, not a short straw. Make the most of it.

 

[Rumpleforeskin]

If you can find him, he's a great quote.

 

[93Devil]

I hear the horse that stumbled at the finish line is a great quote.



I love the guys that scream "open her up" and "give her the whip" when you are at the track.

 

[imjustagirl]

I hear the horse that stumbled at the finish line is a great quote.



I love the guys that scream "open her up" and "give her the whip" when you are at the track.

My standby (because my dad said it every race when he'd take me to the track when I was 8 or so...god I loved it so) was "Come on with the (no. here)." I'll do it while watching the Kentucky Derby on TV.

 

[budcrew08]

I appreciate all the insight. I would love to incorporate a weekly story from the track at my shop. Our post time is 6:55 p.m. and they race in the evening and throughout the night so no early mornings.

So are you covering harness racing? A bit different from the thoroughbred version, but sounds like it's still chockful of stories.

 

[Pete Wevurski]

The track flack should be an incredible font of story ideas for you. He pretty much sees all and knows all, particularly the good stories and good characters in the stables. And you can trust his judgment because his job is to get you out to the track; once you're there, he has succeeded. You'll find he's interested in a good yarn as much as you are. He'll steer you in the right direction(s) until you settle in and get to know the key trainers, jockeys (or drivers) and owners over time. I'll be shocked if he doesn't prove to be an enormous resource for you in the meantime.

 

[93Devil]

I hear the horse that stumbled at the finish line is a great quote.



I love the guys that scream "open her up" and "give her the whip" when you are at the track.

My standby (because my dad said it every race when he'd take me to the track when I was 8 or so...god I loved it so) was "Come on with the (no. here)." I'll do it while watching the Kentucky Derby on TV.

How 'bout cha (insert #)!!!