Post by Peter Gross on Mar 25, 2010 5:45:31 GMT -5
The 2010 Thoroughbred racing meet starts next Friday at Woodbine and that's usually good enough to bring all the bettors out of hibernation (they certainly have been sleepy at the standardbred races this winter, considering the alarming drop in mutuel handle). But even the really smart guys at Woodbine could not have thought of the spectacular marketing and promotional bonanza they're going to receive in the near future - a crowd drawing concept possibly unrivaled in the history of sports ( or as fight promoter Don King would say..."in the history of history!").
Down The Stretch contributor Perry Lefko (who turned 50 yesterday) deserves most of the credit for this - maybe Woodbine will give him one of the plastic media cards that i have that works for free chicken and pizza in the food court. Lefko has written a feature story on former Partridge Family lead singer David Cassidy who has owned, raced, bred and sold horses for close to forty years. For the past decade or so, his trainer has been the Woodbine based Arthur Silvera and this year, they're working on a promising two year-old colt. Turns out the only real problem this young horse had was the lack of a name. At first, Silvera wanted to call it Downthestretch, which would have thrilled us, due to a little publication called Down The Stretch that we publish religiously every month.
"Downthestretch describes the important part of the race," said Silvera. "Just when the running really happens."
Sadly, that named was already spoken for and the Jockey Club of Canada had to reject the idea. What could Silvera and Cassidy do? Cue the hero, Perry Lefko.
"I suggested they call the horse Peter The Gross, " says Lefko. "Everyone knows what a great fan you are of horse racing and how much work you put into Down The Stretch and most important - how much you bet on the races."
Cassidy and Silvera ( for reasons unknown) loved the idea. This little colt's dam is Polar Capp and his sire is Max Forever, so perhaps his breeding is not as brilliant as if he was a son of Storm cat out of Dance Smartly and now he'll have the burden of carrying the namesake of a guy who can't pick the exactor in a three-horse race.
Must admit, though, it is a thrill to have a horse named after me. There is a precedent for this kind of thing. There actually was a horse called Harold Ballard that won a few times at Woodbine in the 80s. One glorious day, I took him on top in a triactor and cashed $1000. My buddy Jim McKenny told me that someone once called a horse Jim McKenny, but apparently that one was guilty of crossing over in front of the starters gate on a few occasions. According to McKenny, Jim McKenny (the horse) was carted off the racetrack one day and never seen again.
So I am very much looking forward to track announcer Dan Loiselle calling Peter The Gross' first race. Which of the following phrases do you think he will use?
"...and away back in last is Peter The Gross.."
"and then we go back to Peter The Gross who is making short, choppy strides..."
"Peter The Gross has gone very wide into the stretch and seems to be headed towards the betting windows!" Of course, the day that Peter The Gross makes his racing debut will be one requiring racing fans to arrive early to assure a seat.
Surely a gigantic crowd will show up to witness a horse whose reputation very much precedes it.
Down The Stretch contributor Perry Lefko (who turned 50 yesterday) deserves most of the credit for this - maybe Woodbine will give him one of the plastic media cards that i have that works for free chicken and pizza in the food court. Lefko has written a feature story on former Partridge Family lead singer David Cassidy who has owned, raced, bred and sold horses for close to forty years. For the past decade or so, his trainer has been the Woodbine based Arthur Silvera and this year, they're working on a promising two year-old colt. Turns out the only real problem this young horse had was the lack of a name. At first, Silvera wanted to call it Downthestretch, which would have thrilled us, due to a little publication called Down The Stretch that we publish religiously every month.
"Downthestretch describes the important part of the race," said Silvera. "Just when the running really happens."
Sadly, that named was already spoken for and the Jockey Club of Canada had to reject the idea. What could Silvera and Cassidy do? Cue the hero, Perry Lefko.
"I suggested they call the horse Peter The Gross, " says Lefko. "Everyone knows what a great fan you are of horse racing and how much work you put into Down The Stretch and most important - how much you bet on the races."
Cassidy and Silvera ( for reasons unknown) loved the idea. This little colt's dam is Polar Capp and his sire is Max Forever, so perhaps his breeding is not as brilliant as if he was a son of Storm cat out of Dance Smartly and now he'll have the burden of carrying the namesake of a guy who can't pick the exactor in a three-horse race.
Must admit, though, it is a thrill to have a horse named after me. There is a precedent for this kind of thing. There actually was a horse called Harold Ballard that won a few times at Woodbine in the 80s. One glorious day, I took him on top in a triactor and cashed $1000. My buddy Jim McKenny told me that someone once called a horse Jim McKenny, but apparently that one was guilty of crossing over in front of the starters gate on a few occasions. According to McKenny, Jim McKenny (the horse) was carted off the racetrack one day and never seen again.
So I am very much looking forward to track announcer Dan Loiselle calling Peter The Gross' first race. Which of the following phrases do you think he will use?
"...and away back in last is Peter The Gross.."
"and then we go back to Peter The Gross who is making short, choppy strides..."
"Peter The Gross has gone very wide into the stretch and seems to be headed towards the betting windows!" Of course, the day that Peter The Gross makes his racing debut will be one requiring racing fans to arrive early to assure a seat.
Surely a gigantic crowd will show up to witness a horse whose reputation very much precedes it.
