Vol. XLVII February 27, 2009
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Roles for Female Fans
Women have a natural relationship with horses, an inborn love of equine nature which provides a seed for true fandom. It is my opinion that without love and understanding of the heart and soul of Thoroughbreds—the true base for lifelong fanaticism for the sport of racing is eroded and will not endure.
(N.B.: “Fanatic” is, indeed, the root word of “fan.”)
As fans of racing, women can deliver the same gift of mortar that we have provided to society as a whole for eons. It is our nature to nurture, encourage, support, love and admire. We are capable of taking the lead. Now that we’ve made our inroads into racing, we are served with a responsibility to improve the lot of the sport.
Most casual fans of our modern times may be too young to even remember the last Triple Crown winner. Racing is mysterious to the greatest portion of our population and the misinterpretations that result from uninformed people present a threat. Education is essential to the well-being of our industry.
The gentler nature of women is perfectly suited to providing adjustments in marketing. The timing is right for the distaff side to sound their voice and improve media coverage. Too many great stories are not reaching their audience.
Our vision of racing may vary from the norm because we bring a different view to the table. This is not surprising when we consider women’s roles in the world. We act as Mother, Daughter, Educator, Doctor, Wife, Lover, Friend, Nurturer, Priest, and the list goes on and on. Women are the glue that holds together a home, our workplaces and the sports in which we participate. The bugle of racing just may be issuing a special call upon our strengths.
I once knew an exercise rider who left the track in the late 60’s, but returned to gallop horses more than twenty years later. By this time a lot of gals were galloping horses and this fellow got off his first mount to offer this observation, “The view on the race track has changed.” In the 60’s the rare exercise girl held a license which read ‘Exercise Boy.’ Back then, women trainers were not allowed to saddle their own horses and were prohibited from being in the breeding sheds at most farms.
The scene has changed. Most of the equine rescue operations are headed-up by women and they are a majority in most of the volunteer organizations which support our industry and nurture horses. There are countless women veterinarians and the female population frequents both sides of the betting windows. A few have worked their way into upper management.
We are obligated to organize, and demand that our horses are lovingly retired when their racing careers end. We have a responsibility to educate children and turn them into true horse lovers. We are required to show the world why the horse deserves to be respected and loved, from foal to pensioner.
We have an ability to recruit new fans, and teach them the ins and outs of handicapping and betting. Because we are now a high percentage of the racing fan population we have an opportunity to use our numbers and our power to make this sport egalitarian for women and girls—and loving and nurturing for our equine athletes.
If we choose not to employ our womanly authority toward improving racing we are failing the horses with which we claim to hold kindred spirit. If we want to call ourselves true fans, we are obligated to rise to the calling of a hero.
A healthy racing industry benefits everyone, including the Thoroughbred population. Let us partner with the men in our lives and barter with those holding the reins of this sport. Together we can create an irresistible draw and open the gate to a plethora of fans, new and old.
There is a natural draw to the magic of horses and the thrills of racing. The time has come to posture ourselves to recruit new interest in our sport. There are a large number of men who share our vision.
Less marketing of pick-sixes and more attention focused on horses and their connections will generate interest from new sectors. If we bring new people through the turnstiles and treat them properly, a good percentage of them will find the mutual windows and return for more action.
We cannot remove all of the risks in racing, but proper education and explanations will better equip people to tolerate that the competitive nature of Thoroughbred horses sometimes cause them to push too far. A person sophisticated about racing is better equipped to admit to the pain of a fallen horse and less likely to trash the industry when an accident occurs.
Respect for the sport benefits everyone, even those far removed from the soft muzzles and thundering hooves of courageous Thoroughbreds. Vibrancy and health within the racing industry serves as a valuable tool to thwarting the ever-increasing pull away from our agrarian roots.
Women fans—our special talents and deep passions are a reliable key to the survival of this regal sport. As women, our fertile imaginations picture things quickly. Think of the smiles we can bring to small children and the look of love and trust we can garner from the plum-dark eyes of horses.
The economic impact is less romantic but the lives of thousands employed within the industry and immeasurable ancillary contributors are dependent upon the fate of racing.
It is indeed true, “A woman’s work is never done.”
Marilyn Lane
Editor-in-Chief
Mlane@thorofan.com
Editors Note:
I issue a special thank-you to Marion Altieri for editorial assistance. |
