n00bs

For those of us just joining the Internet, a n00b is a newbie or someone new to something.

It's typically a derogatory term, as seen in this photo of a baby purportedly shouting at a n00b to "Shut the #*&! up," but I have nothing for love for the n00bs of racing.

My only complaint about n00bs in racing is that there aren't enough of them. Racing needs more n00bs.

To that end, Dana Byerly helped create Hello Race Fans!, a n00b site for hopefully soon-to-be racing enthusiasts. Dana has asked me (and others) to address a letter to new race fans, and I will share that letter once it's complete, but for now I wanted to point out that there are people (both in and outside of the industry) doing great work on marketing the sport.

Terry Finley's West Point Stable helped launch the FATE Initiative, which encourages people to Find a Thoroughbred Enthusiast.

Churchill Downs Inc. will install permanent lighting at its flagship facility in Louisville in time for the 2010 spring-summer meet. Night cards under temporary lights and the Twin Spires were a huge success for the track during the same meet this year, and even an anecdotal marketing analyst of the crowd would reveal a huge boon for the track among desired demographics such as women and young people.

I'll leave you with a blog post from a new co-worker following her first visit to Keeneland. It sounds as if she found enough in the scenary to keep her interested and was fascinated enough with the racing "scene" (the lexicon, traditions, etc.) to possibly want to know more, but racing horses around an oval will not be enough.

Kudos to Dana, Terry, CDI, Keeneland, and everyone out there trying to get people out to the track and coming back.