Both then and now, the New York Racing Association was the subject of a verbal lashing for replacing "New York, New York" as the song that welcomes Belmont Stakes entrants to the track with a cover version of Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind."
As far as sins of the Turf go, this one was venial at worst. People complained more about NYRA changing the song than they do about its ridiculous 26% takeout.
Truth be told, I applaud NYRA for trying something new. Its heart was in the right place, but the execution fell flat. A move like this required a far bigger splash than Jasmine Villegas. Had NYRA secured the song's original singer, Alicia Keys, it could have provided a moment, but alas, Jasmine bombed. Her performance was so bad most wondered if she could make it anywhere, let alone the Big Apple.
But it's hard to imagine that Jasmine's selection was NYRA driven considering she was a Disney darling at the time, and the mouse corp. had its PR machine in overdrive trying to create the next teen sensation. Disney, of course, owns ABC/ESPN, the networks who broadcast the Belmont 2006-2010, so imagining the suits in Orlando drooling over the synergy isn't much of a stretch.
So, it's back to Old Blue Eyes singing "New York, New York" this year, and while I'm not as enamored with a recording as I am live singing, bringing back even a recording of NYNY will offer an opportunity for the whole crowd to provide live singing rather than the booing it provided during Villegas's tour de flop.
"My Old Kentucky Home" is the most famous song in American Thoroughbred racing, and part of its charm is that with the University of Louisville chorus providing vocals, it's easy for the crowd to sing along to.
Some advocated for a return to a more arcane "Sidewalks of New York," but I can't imagine choosing anything over a song that includes the lyric, "If I can make it there I can make it anywhere" (a turn of which "Empire State of Mind" includes).
Ed wrote: >> People complained more about NYRA changing the song than they do about its ridiculous 26% takeout. <<
ReplyDelete__________
Well if Charles Hayward got up in front of the crowd and sang to the crowd, the specific takeout rates in each NYRA wagering pool, they'd complain about that too.
Racetrack employees do a terrific job of not printing the takeouts in the program pages while remaining mum in front of the microphones.
Good luck to those trying to beat those rates while enduring an 8 hour marathon on Saturday.
Ed,
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of "trying something new" (and applauding what in that case was a poor effort on the part of NYRA, who altered one of the few things there that "ain't broke")
Last month I sent you an extremely obvious, glaring oversight (of 20-30 years worth) by the entirety of the North American racing industry, and you seem at best unaffected by it.
Can I list your name among the many prominent ones in the industry who just doesn't understand?
SOMEbody in this industry needs to be the beacon of common sense, and you're right there, so close to at least being heard by enough people to matter.
You're also young enough so as not to have yet been overtaken by cluelessness of the sort which just settles into some minds, apparently for the long(er) haul.
Somebody needs to enlighten the entire industry and, well, the industry just cannot spare enough time to wait forever...