Quote:
Originally Posted by MadVindication
On the issue of new handicappers, I think there is a lack of good PR and marketing. No one's really thinking of horse racing unless they're already into the niche. Younger people tend to be deterred by the animal rights controversies. A concentrated marketing effort could help to combat negative views of the treatment of horses. The industry should do a collaborative marketing effort but that's unlikely.
Anyone who gets into horse racing at some point will hear of the churning of horses who aren't fit to run anymore being ran over and over again in vain attempts to make a buck, and the lack of aftercare for horses (and how often this occurs especailly at certain tracks). Lots of people are bothered by the animal rights issues I think it's a huge barrier to new blood.
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Disagree, marketing won't solve it because they have the internet to see through the BS. You have to solve it by making real reforms. That means cutting down on the deaths, even then that might not be enough. You also forget that horse racing is more of an activity to appeals to people from a rural lifestyle, its harder for folks from the city to relate to a sport where they never interact with animals other than a dog or cat.