Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
Thoroughbred Racing Fan Association, Inc.
Fan's Role in Selecting Eclipse Award Winners
3/1/2025
Last week I pitched a reoccurring theme of ThoroFan which got some negative responses. My point was that the Eclipse Awards with its broad multi-entity voting groups should find a way to include the "Voice of the Fan". I noted the current model includes only employed people from racing businesses. The implication I didn't mean was these voters are not valid or knowledgeable Eclipse Award voters or solid racing fans. However most fans have no relation to the industry in a paid way but still have valuable contributions and should be heard. So I apologize if my writing confused some readers.
On a somewhat related issue about the value of fans. The most recent data from Equibase on racing economics show a discouraging trend. Wagering on US races declined 3.35% year over year (2023-2024). It declined by 5.0% comparing Fourth Quarter of 2024 with the same quarter of 2023. In the this week's Blood-Horse article Byron King wrote that these reductions could, "be attributed to numerous factors, with increased competition from sports gambling often cited as one". He also listed that computer-assisted wagering impacted pools. Many of us have felt that where CAW have affected the pools to the degree we have little chance of competing. In short these reductions are fan caused through reduced interest and wagering, the lifeblood of our sport. As much as the industry wants to focus on the integrity of the sport (HISA), purse size, number of races they are missing the feelings of fans. I presume their intentions are good. By improving the sport I think they believe the fans will come out and support it, no matter what the industry thinks is the right things to do. They may be right. However, these recent data tell another story. The industry must embrace their most important customers--- the fans. The base must grow. The stands at tracks must be fuller. Racing must be fun again. Entertainment of racing needs to be a top priority from which everything good for the sport will flow.