Page 4 - The Game September 2006

4 The Game, September 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Will Happy Days Ever Be Here Again?
Get Tied On
with Chaplain Shawn
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(The strange similarities between the current state of horse racing and the traditional Christian church)
I am involved with two institutions: horse racing and the Christian church. They dominate my life. At first glance you may think that there are no two groups that could be farther apart. However, the more I look at the current status of both horse racing and the Christian church, the more I am convinced that each has taken the same path, made the same mistakes and now each wallows in the same self-despair.
In the Book of Acts, Jesus‚ disciples ask Him if He’s going to return Israel to it’s former proud status and get out from Roman rule: Acts1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" For all He had done to break the bonds of tyranny that the Jewish faith had placed on His people, Jesus‚ followers still hoped for a Warrior-King. They wanted the happy days to be here again! It wasn’t going to happen, nor would it happen in the near future.
I see the sport of horse racing and the Christian church in the same boat. Let’s look at a few of the current similarities:
1. In the church’s eyes, the race track equals the corruptive vice of gambling.
2. In many horse people’s eyes, all the church wants is your money!
3. Ministers and trainers inevitably base their status on two things - numbers and money.
4. Average age of attendee at both insti- tutions - much, much older!
At the turn of the century there were only 3 sports in U.S.: Horse racing, boxing and baseball. By the 30’s, millions tuned into horse racing on the radio, an era climaxed by the thrilling match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral, a match listened to by an estimated audience of 40 million people, including Pres. Roosevelt. The Traditional Christian church experienced a movement in the early 1900’s that saw entire cities close down at noon for prayer (Philadelphia) and a revival in faith jump the Atlantic to Wales and the rest of Europe. Horse racing and the traditional church peaked in the 60’s. But both institutions thought the ride would never end. (Horse racing could have
been on TV in the 60’s, but track
owners refused, thinking track attendance would drop. They
were oblivious to the fact that the
NFL, NBA and MLB were broad-
casting games with no apparent decline in numbers.) U.S. Presbyterian church attendance peaked and has been dropping by 49,000 members each year since 1965. Currently the Catholic Church in South America is losing 8,000 members per day. Horse racing still led NA attendance numbers by the 70s, but the slide was irreversible.
Both groups were slow to react not only to outside changes, but also changes within. Outside: other sports found TV and a TV audience. The average NFL game contains only 12 minutes of actual action for a 3 hour game- the rest is comprised of replays, highlights and talking heads. A generation raised on the tube gobbled it up. Nowadays, unless it’s the Triple Crown or the Breeders’ Cup, the racing industry has to pay to get on television. When racing does air, its ratings usually nestle some- where between five pin bowling and the Tiddly Winks Pro-Am Invitational. Meanwhile, the traditional
church failed to grasp a younger audience that wanted not answers, but the freedom to ask questions. Inside: Horse racing was not the only gambling game in town- new legislation freed up riverboats, casino, slots and lotteries. In the 90s attendance and parking were now free, while wagering declined. The foe was not anti-gambling forces, but alternative forms of wagering. Traditional churches saw “seeker” and “alternative” worship begin to flourish. More than 15,000 people worship at Willow Creek Community Church each week in suburbia Chicago. As a minister to youth at South Park, Pastor Bill Hybels had built a program that sought to appeal to young people who were not part of a church. When they started Willow Creek, they went door to door asking people in their neighborhood if they went to church- if they said yes, it was thank you and good-bye - if no, why not? The responses were consistent and overwhelming: the music - archaic, the message - outdated, and the physical structure - uncomfortable. Willow Creek
continues the emphasis on reaching the unchurched, and welcomes 1,000 new members a year. Both horse racing and the traditional church tried to spice things up with concert promotions or signs like: “7 Days Without Prayer Makes One Weak!” or “Bet You’ll Be Back!” It was too little too late. Both institutions rely heavily on “big event days”. Racetracks need their big races- many of them make their meets from Derby Days or Festivals of Racing. The church now relies on Christmas, Easter and maybe Thanksgiving to see the faithful back in the pews.
What can these two groups do to bring the public back to their seats? Strangely enough the answers may be very similar. First off, focus on the strengths: promote horse racing as a good form of gambling. You can attend the races without having to make a bet and simply enjoy a day of racing with or without your family! You can’t march the young-uns into a casino and tell them to go wild. Perhaps survey people the way Bill Hybels surveyed his neighborhood: find out exactly why people don’t attend the races. (The younger the crowd, the more you’ll see “length of time between races” as a reason. Remember, this generation was raised on sound bites and MTV and/or MuchMusic- the average video is three minutes. As to the church: You can attend church without having to give! I would love to see “We Don’t Want Your Money!” on a church sign. (There is no verse in the bible that supports passing a wooden or metallic felt-lined plate.) The apostle Paul does say to set aside something each week to meet the needs of the ministry. Both groups could focus on the positive ways they have influenced society: the church with the abolition of slavery that began with William Wilberforce in England and horse racing with its economic impact in the respective cities and countries.
By no means is this a comprehensive study. It’s just some thoughts on two institutions that I treasure dearly and I sadly see fading away.
News In Review
Horsemen Killed in Plane Crash
Three thoroughbred horsemen were among 49 people killed when Comair Delta Flight 1591 bound for Atlanta crashed in a field at a private farm shortly after take off from Blue Grass airport in Lexington, Kentucky on Sunday, August 27.
Kentucky-based consignor and thoroughbred breeder Dan Mallory, 55, was reportedly on his way to Dallas, Texas where he had three horses consigned in the Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale at Lone Star Park.
Lexington based trainer Jeff Williams, 49, was also aboard the ill-fated flight
which unconfirmed reports have stated was said to have been caused by the jet using the wrong runway, which was too short for a passenger jet. Jeff was a long- time trainer on the Ohio/Northern Kentucky Circuit.
The third passenger was George Brunacini, 60, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, who was the owner of Bona Terra Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky and was most notably known for breeding the Grade 1 winner, Flower Alley.
Fair Grounds back in a Big Way
Hurricane Katrina forced the cancellation of the 2005 regular meeting at Fair Grounds in Louisiana due to the
extensive damage suffered at the racetrack. However the 2006-2007 Fair Grounds meet, which begins on American Thanksgiving Day is promising to make up for lost time with a record 65 stakes scheduled.
Fair Grounds will return to its regular 81 day meet which runs from November to March and will offer a stakes schedule worth a record $7.7 million in purses. Total purses will also be up about $75,000 per day.
The $600,000 Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 10 will be the meet highlight along with the $500,000 New Orleans Handicap (G2) also run that day.