
Stan Bergstein's Daily Racing Form columns
Much to-do over a song and pants
It is ironic, with the world aflame and racing being singed by the
fire, that leaders of the game recently have concerned themselves not
with issues of substance, but with trivia.
In Kentucky, time and energy have again been spent on the issue of
advertising on jockeys' pants.
In New York, the lofty New York Racing Association found its fans
furious over the change in a song for the Belmont Stakes.
The Kentucky issue, using the term loosely, is asinine - or perhaps
it should be spelled assinine - that some of the best minds in racing
having involved themselves in this 7-year old circus.
The full Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, following a deep committee
study, recently spent valuable time kicking around a discussion of rules
and regulations that would require disclosure in writing of all aspects
of sponsorship deals on pants, what the forms for permission should say,
and what the relationship should be between owners and trainers and
jocks on this weighty issue. Also discussed was the idea of requiring
jockeys to disclose how much they are being paid for the commercials,
and where the money would wind up.
It should wind up in the pockets of their pants, of course. They are
the ones putting their lives at risk, every time they respond to "Riders
up."
The argument goes back to the 2003 Kentucky Derby, when riders tested
the rules and were fined for wearing commercials. A year later a U.S.
district judge, John G. Heyburn, presumably ended the matter when he
ruled that advertising, even on a jockey's pants, was protected under
constitutional mandates of free speech, and the state should keep its
nose out of it.
But here it was again this year, when Calvin Borel carried a ram on
his pants -- a Dodge Ram. Auto racing's Dario Franchitti, meanwhile,
celebrating his second Indianapolis 500 victory, had a huge target on
the front of his jumpsuit, for Target Stores, and other commercials on
both sleeves.
A great racing mind like that possessed by a good friend, attorney
Ned Bonnie, joined in the recent squabbling. Ned chaired the committee
that considered the matter, and said he had learned to live with
sponsors' names on pants, but he didn't want horse racing to wind up
like Nascar, with names planted all over pants and silks as well. Racing
should live so long, and fervently wish it could generate that kind of
commercial interest in its participants.
All of this deep discussion, incidentally, over the thighs of
jockeys, but no comment about a real degradation and diminution of the
holiest of holies. How about "The Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum
Brands," now carried as if by ritual by trade journals and others in
coverage? I suppose we're lucky at that. It could have been, "Yum Yum,
the Derby."
In New York, a bad idea brought bad results.
Someone in the hierarchy decided to do away with Frank Sinatra and
"New York, New York" as the Belmont's answer to the Derby's "My Old
Kentucky Home."
Belmont opted instead for "Empire State of Mind," popularized by Jay
Z but sung, badly, by a 16-year-old girl that one newspaper identified
as "Jasmine Something." A Cleveland columnist suggested it might have
been a ploy trying to get LeBron James, a friend of Jay Z's, to switch
to the Knicks.
If so, it failed miserably, on all counts. The folks who actually go
to the Belmont, and many who don't, spoke up, loudly. One wrote, "The
singer was inaudible. Were there any lyrics? If so, I didn't hear them."
And the topper, ABC cut to commercial in the middle of this painful
exercise. Nobody ever went to commercial in the middle of "New York, New
York."
Another wrote, "What a disaster!"
Still another said, "If they keep that song I am going to boycott in
my wagering."
Finally, one fan wrote, "The song was bloody awful. There was no tune
to speak of, no melody, and the singer was apparently off key. Bring
back Ol' Blue Eyes."
The marketing director for NYRA, Neema Ghazi, defended the choice
before the unanimous chorus of boos, saying, "The change is being made
because Jay-Z's 'Empire State of Mind' has become a quintessential 21st
century theme song for New York City."
Let's hope Charles Hayward and Hal Handel of NYRA say "No" to Neema
and listen to those loyal and lusty citizens who recognized and had
learned to revere the tradition and propriety of Sinatra's annual
thriller, or even the earlier "Sidewalks of New York." Quaint or
quintessential, those fans are Belmont believers, and they have spoken
their minds.
Archived columns
2010 DRF Columns
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Cheering this Derby win too much of a stretch, 5-4-10
Taking on the touchy stuff, 4-20-10
Opportunity knocks, but will racing answer?, 4-6-10
Rockingham has hurdles, but hope, 3-23-10
Sadly, joint venture comes to an end, 3-9-10
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Racing-casino marriage under strain, 2-9-10
NJ
racing hoping there's a Plan B, 1-26-10
Alarm siren sounds across borders, 1-12-10
2009 DRF Columns
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Brits becoming major players, 12-15-09
Events offer plenty of food for thought, 12-1-09
Great debate should be non-starter, 11-17-09
New
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Taking a ride through the haunted house, 10-20-09
Will wonder horse run again?, 10-7-09
Ohio racing plan full of ups, downs, 9-22-09
Fallon shakes off rust after long sabbatical, 9-8-09
Author has no fear of sacred cows, 8-25-09
Signs of life in the dead of summer, 8-11-09
Gambling seeks its new age, 7-28-09
Some still have head in the sand on drugs, 7-15-09
The curious case of Martha
Maxine, 6-30-09
Racing a victim of political
infighting, 6-16-09
Churchill needs more than night
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Getting to know a man of many
hats, 5-20-09
Derby win plays differently in
Alaska, 5-6-09
Amid the clutter, Derby stands
tall, 4-22-09
A mess in Maryland not easily
sorted out, 4-7-09
Good and not-so in the
headlines, 3-11-09
Pa. poker offers opportunity,
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Anti-whip movement gets
cracking, 2-11-09
Pottsville roots, Rooney ties
say 'Go Steelers,' 1-27-09
Ontario harness fight left
leadership toppled, 1-14-09
2008 DRF Columns
Rooneys keep father's legacy
intact, 12-30-08
Racing continues to suffer
self-inflicted wounds, 12-10-08
Genetic tinkering hardly
laughable, 11-25-08
Objections sting for whipping
foes, 11-12-08
Are the Brits simply better,
10-28-08
Racing can accomplish more
working together, 10-15-08
Art for youth's sake at benefit
sale, 10-1-08
Whipping rules gaining
momentum, 9-17-08
Fighting words from Stronach,
9-3-08
Slots go from luxury to
necessity, 8-20-08
New drugs make steroids look
wimpy, 8-6-08
Desperate step in Maryland,
7-22-08
An honor better late than
never, 7-8-08
Not a good seat in the House,
6-24-08
One Belmont '08 tale stands
apart, 6-11-08
Government sees new war on
drugs, 5-27-08
Time for racing and its critics
to move on, 5-13-08
Horse racing's idea man,
4-30-08
Plenty of wheeling and dealing,
4-15-08
Losing bet expands reach, 4-1-08
Powers that be need
give-and-take, 3-18-08
Racing no healthier up north,
3-4-08
Finding ways to catch whales,
2-22-08
Steroid reform under assault,
2-6-08
Big jackpot bets deserve a long
look, 1-22-08
One-man crusade earns
recognition, 1-9-08
2007 DRF Columns
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Italian job has happier ending,
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Breed crossover: Double the
fun, 11-28-07
Pacer leaves legacy on, off
track, 11-13-07
Dark clouds coast to coast,
10-31-07
Fancy footwork in Bluegrass,
10-16-07
Horse art for a good cause,
10-2-07
Friendship with Carter a
thrill and honor, 9-19-07
Getting real reform: Like
pulling teeth, 9-4-07
One racing official with a
backbone, 8-21-07
Shagan was a man ahead of his
time, 7-25-07
Little guy's unbelievable
score, 7-10-07
Keeping stars on track can
only help, 6-26-07
Hail to 'The Chief,' 6-12-07
Not all believe in balanced
coverage, 5-29-07
Jockey insurance not a federal
case, 5-16-07
Two levels of entry into the
racing world, 5-1-07
This idea no laughing matter,
4-18-07
Racing advised to get with the
times, 4-3-07
Dark chapter comes to a close,
3-20-07
Breaking down the breed wall,
3-6-07
Testing whenever and wherever
they choose, 2-22-07
Don't cry for Barbaro - get
involved, 2-6-07
Professor gives racing a
failing grade, 1-23-07
An idea from past to push
sport forward, 1-10-07
2006 DRF Columns
Drastic proposal for a big
problem, 12-27-06
Racing confab had its high
points, 12-13-06
Delaware puts strength
behind words, 11-29-06
Ohio rejection of slots
leaves tracks out in cold, 11-15-06
Slots the key weapon in
border wars, 11-1-06
Different idea across the
sea, 10-17-06
Exhibiting art for charity's
sake, 10-3-06
Exec's choice: coffee, tea, or jail, 7-26-06
Politics usually raw deal for racing, 7-11-06
Too much
filler, not enough action, 6-28-06
Try ditching
the starting gate, 6-14-06
Science may be
catching up to the cheaters, 5-31-06
Whitfield's
good intentions off-target this time, 5-17-06
You can just
call him 'Derby favorite,' 5-2-06
One conflict
ends while another still rages, 4-18-06
ARCI makes
excessive demands, 4-5-06
Another side
to a style icon, 3-22-06
Medication
reform dies dumb death, 2-22-06
And the no. 1
rider or driver is...?, 2-15-06
Indiana a
step ahead of the pack, 1-25-06
Two fellow
Canadians are racing's visionaries, 1-11-06
2005 DRF Columns
Youbet's rebate cat out of bag, 12-27-05
Slots
a bandage where surgery is needed, 12-13-05
Top
ranks are on front line, 11-30-05
Dr. G.
finds his real-life Lilliput, 11-16-05
Time to
bring in a new duo, 11-1-05
Racing
needs this expert, 10-19-05
Help
place a bet on kids' futures, 9-27-05
Obsessed? It's a compliment, 9-21-05
Boycott - one step backward, 9-7-05
Doctor
has cure, but it costs, 8-24-05
There
shouldn't be a wall between breeds, 8-10-05
Murky
figures clouding the game, 7-27-05
Legislators blind to the obvious, 7-13-05
Impeding
progress in Kentucky, 6-28-05
Drug
cheats topic of expose, 6-14-05
Ruling
could turn wagering sideways, 6-3-05
Fermin
merits more support, 5-17-05
Consortium
remains racing's hope, 5-4-05
Racing
has a big-time credibility problem, 4-19-05
Racing at
perilous crossroads, 4-6-05
Let's
dial up some new fans, 3-23-05
Little
track turns into big deal, 3-8-05
Friends
of all or just some?, 2-22-05
Milkshaking
just tip of drug dealing iceburg, 2-8-05
Let
federal enforcers go after racing's bad guys, 1-26-05
One
board member who has it right, 1-12-05
2004 DRF Columns
Thoroughbred Racing at the Dawn of 2005, 12-30-04
Passionate
debate, but little progress, 12-14-04
Expect sparks to fly in Tucson, 12-1-04
A
shot across racing's bow, 11-17-04
Wanted by racing: One eloquent voice, 11-3-04
Native American tribes buy into racing, 10-18-04
Two cases of no pain, no gain, 10-6-04
Charity art auction has come a long way, 9-22-04
Getting the best of both worlds, 9-8-04
Peaceful co-existence at Spa, 8-25-04
Wanted: Stars, not comets, 8-11-04
'Little guy' can survive merger mania, 7-27-04
Happy horse keeps on winning, 7-14-04
Game's stars come out too seldom, 6-30-04
Sale
could tip balance on slots, 6-16-04
Pataki's plan would be a good start, 6-2-04
Smarty can transform racing, 5-19-04
Not
the headlines you want to see, 5-5-04
With the Derby, promotion is king, 4-21-04
Convenience vs. common sense, 4-7-04
Goose may lay plain old egg, 3-24-04
Signs of a sport in distress, 3-10-04
Bonnie paper lassos medication issue, 2-25-04
A legendary story is taken to task, 2-11-04
The 'other' Saratoga becomes a hot spot, 1-28-04
Shrewd promoter bags cash, 1-14-04
2003 DRF Columns
States control racing's fate ,
12-31-03
Fates blind to shakers and movers, 12-17-03
Slots in Maine a melodrama, 12-3-03
Let's make a deal, racino style,
11-19-03
Once grand Garden State is gone,
11-5-03
Hear that? It's the sound of cash,
10-22-03
For grooms, a long-overdue reward, 10-8-03
Delayed justice hurts all of racing,
9-24-03
Visions of yesteryear on display,
9-9-03
NTRA security proposal wasteful,
8-28-03
By request, a poetry encore,
8-14-03
A jockey, a legend - a father,
7-31-03
EPO test may level playing field, 7-17-03
Taking the preventive approach,
7-3-03
Best bet: Lawyers always win,
6-19-03
Forget science: Send in the slots,
6-5-03
Offer N.Y. tracks can't refuse,
5-22-03
Right
of exclusion still paramount, 5-8-03
Slots lure
has Pittsburgh land value on rise, 4-24-03
Texans see EPO as potential killer,
4-10-03
Racing's
problems better exposed than ignored, 2-27-03
Pope the pitchman won't give up, 2-13-03
Coming clean is the most
positive influence, 1-30-03
War vs. drugs moves slowly, 1-16-03
Racing-on-racing violence everywhere, 1-2-03
2002 DRF Columns
Sports betting waiting in the
wings, 12-19-02
Let's gather and talk - all at the same time, 12-5-02
Let's all get on same page, 11-19-02
Fix Six one disaster;
another looms, 11-7-02
Brief era ends with sale of Rosecroft, 10-24-02
New drug rules not nearly enough, 10-10-02
Mouthwash much ado about
little, 9-26-02
Woodbine a model for gaming and racing, 9-12-02
Loud, clear voice at Spa round table, 8-29-02
Last of the racing raconteurs,
8-15-02
Trotting's misguided tradition, 8-1-02
New
episode of Perils of Maline, 7-17-02
A
long, cold summer of U.S.A. race blues, 7-3-02
Trouble on the Internet betting front,
6-19-02
Incoming
simos beyond your control, Jersey, 6-4-02
First the
facts, then the drugs, 5-21-02
Ontario adopts rules to reduce squabbles,
5-7-02
We
must all learn to get along, 4-9-02
Take
a tip from Ontario, 3-26-02
We have the technology...,
3-12-02
Blood-boosters present real threat,
2-28-02
Class in America (a case of VLT's), 2-12-02
Sleaze is in the eye of the beholder, 1-29-02
Minnesota answers alarmist, 1-15-02
Latest problem a real stinker, 1-1-02 |