The Breeders' Cup Media

            The Breeders’ Cup offers a lot of logistical problems for the host track, which is forced to invest millions of dollars in improving their facilities so that we can put our best hoof forward on national television.

            But logistics aren’t only physical in nature, obviously the horsemen have to be accommodated properly in the backstretch, these aren’t exactly claiming horses from Ferndale.

            You try to take care of the fans by providing the amenities they expect, from parking to adequate seating and food, certainly a challenge in its own right.

            And, of lesser note to most people, there is the care and feeding of the media, aka ink stained wretches, which is a task within itself.

            A  major media event brings everyone out of the woodwork—suddenly people expect preferential treatment even if it’s the first time they’ve ever been to a racetrack.  There are, of course, some controls, such as the track requesting accreditation letters from editors and publishers in advance.  But, let’s face it, this can be a difficult screening process.

            While I’m not privy to the requests for media credentials Santa Anita received in their first year as host, experience with other major events (including the first Breeders’ Cup) leads me to believe the following are some samples of letters the Santa Anita publicity staff may have received as race day drew nigh.

            “Deer Ms. Goldsteen:  I am a twenty-year-old journalysm student who is very interested in horses and racing.  I also take pictures with my brand new camera.  It is a very expensive camera, I guess, since I saw the check for it my Dad wrote when he renewed his Sports Illustrated subscription.  Anyway, I would like very much to sit in the press box as it will be most helpful for my thesis.  Pleese send me my credentials, along with any booklets you might have telling me if there are any important horses that will be there.”

            “Sirs:  I am writing on behalf of the Contra Costa Express to get Breeders’ Cup credentials for our sports editor.  I hear you have a policy of not mailing them, but I would appreciate a deviation in this case since he will be arriving late as he first has to cover the Contra Costa Condors—Milpitas Mallards football game.  So I doubt that he could pick them up at the hotel in time for the feature race, which I understand is the eighth at most tracks.  Please have all your press kits ready when he arrives, plus we will require six angle photos of the feature fifteen minutes after the race since he has to get back to cover a midget basketball game.”

            “To Whom It May Concern:  I am a free-lance writer who would like to cover your Breeders’ Cup.  I admit my published material is rather limited, but I am enclosing an article I did for The Farmers Journal which indicates my intense interest in hay and other things that you feed horses.  But since that was my only article, I need to branch out, and I would appreciate press credentials so I can write about ‘The Greatest Day In Racing’.  I don’t want to interfere with the regular writers, but I understand you have tables in something called the Director’s Room, that sounds nice.  Hope to hear from you soon.”

“Gentlemen:  As sports editor of The Podunk Daily News I would like the necessary passes, buttons, badges, whatever, to cover your Breeders’ Cup for our newspaper.  We haven’t really covered horse racing very much, but with an event such as yours I hope to see our coverage expanded.  By way of my own credentials I am enclosing a copy of my 1978 press pass from the Boise Fair.  I would also like a computer, two telephones, a dedicated FAX line, and color photos of all the horses.  This will better allow me to properly document this major event for our two hundred and thirty-six readers (not counting comps).

            “Dear Mr. Hirsch:  Wasn’t sure who to direct this to, but saw your name in a wire release and figured you might be able to help.  I need six passes to the press box for your Breeders’ Cup.  I am, of course, covering the race for the Salinas Times-Gazette, and I want to show my five sisters and brothers how a press box operates.

            “Plus, if it wouldn’t be too much of an imposition, I have a number of other relatives in the Los Angeles area who would similarly like to attend, so if you could save another 23 passes it would be greatly appreciated.  And they don’t even have to be free passes, I’m sure one of those $1 specials would be fine with them if it included free parking.”

            “Dear Ms. Goldenstein:  I’m sure you will appreciate my status as Turf Editor for The Jewish Gazette.  We plan to devote at least half a page in our next issue on Jewish bloodlines in the Thoroughbred stallion community, and would thusly like two press passes and full access to the stable area.  One thing does bother me, I hear that at the first Breeders’ Cup, Hollywood Park gave out cold sandwiches to the media.  If this is your policy as well, please make sure some are kosher.  Looking forward to seeing you soon and wishing you a belated Happy Hannukah.”

            “Mr. Or Mrs. Goldstein:  As society columnist for The St. Mary’s Ledger I would like to get a close insight into the celebrity aspects of your Breeders’ Cup.  Believe me, this will be very interesting to our readers in St. Mary’s.  In addition to press credentials please arrange meetings for me with the people I understand will be most likely to be there on Breeders’ Cup Day.  I’d like an hour with Robert Wagner, maybe another hour with Elizabeth Taylor.  I’m sure Jack Klugman would be interesting, but maybe I could get a more in depth interview having dinner with that nice John Forsythe.  In any event, please get me a table near these celebrities.  Oh, yes, some information about the horses might be in order, but if it’s not readily available you can always send it along later.”

            So, as you can see, a Breeders’ Cup host track doesn’t have an easy job in this screening process.  Credentials must be checked, decisions made.  And, like on an airplane, there is always the space availability question. 

            And, most likely, I can even envision some temporary employee, told that only the most elite could call for credentials, answering the press box phone a week before the races.

            “You say you’re with The Daily Racing Form?  Well, gee, nineteen people have already said that, we’ve got them fixed up with all kinds of electronic equipment, as far as I know those nineteen are all that’s allowed.

            “What’s that?  You expect to be the twentieth?  Gee, I can’t do that, the entire press facility is filled, there’s just no more room, some guy from The Oakland Times just took the last spot.

            “Well, I’m sorry about that, but we already have 46 Senior Executive Columnists on hand as it is.  Maybe you could get in earlier with Hollywood Park for next year.

            “Well, if you insist on language like that, Mr. Hirsch, I’m sure security will be alerted if you try to come here.  After all, we can only allow the cream of the media, we can’t just let anybody in…”