Noting the distinctive expertise provided—even in contrast with the heights of any sport—retired main league baseball participant Jayson Werth believes racing wants to seek out artistic methods to deliver extra individuals in as homeowners.
Because the keynote speaker Aug. 13 on the Racing and Gaming Convention at Saratoga, Werth, who reached baseball’s heights as a World Sequence winner and an All-Star, served up that concept whereas recounting his expertise as a co-owner of this yr’s Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch .
“I’ve made a degree currently of claiming ‘co-owner’ as my companions get mad after I say ‘proprietor’,” Werth mentioned with fun. He additionally joked that attending Tuesday’s occasion populated by numerous gaming executives would possibly assist his effort to wipe out some on line casino money owed.
Whereas Werth acknowledged that the playing side of racing helped deliver him to the game, he mentioned racing must deliver extra individuals to the game by the possession expertise.
“I am right here to inform you that what we now have in horse racing is each bit as thrilling as successful in different professional sports activities and one thing that I consider extra individuals ought to expertise,” Werth mentioned. “The issue is methods to get into the game. New (microshare) homeowners like Commonwealth and MyRacehorse are type of the primary ones over the wall and have created alternatives.
“However the sport stays powerful to get into. That is one thing I would like to alter. I consider it hasn’t but seen its Industrial Revolution.”
Werth famous that rule modifications in baseball have expedited the sport and followers have embraced these modifications, as seen by elevated attendance. He believes horse racing additionally must be keen to make modifications.
“It is such an ideal sport and we now have such an incredible basis to construct upon,” Werth mentioned. “I consider if we mix trendy know-how and artistic advertising, we are able to entice a broader style of individuals into the business and develop a fan base by possession. There’s one thing we may accomplish there.
“I consider there may very well be a resurgence within the sport like we have by no means seen. All people loves horses, and what if we gave everybody an opportunity to turn out to be an proprietor, not only a bettor?”
Werth mentioned racing wants to comprehend {that a} energy is the sense of neighborhood skilled by followers at a monitor reminiscent of Saratoga Race Course and by homeowners taking part within the sport. He mentioned that feeling attracts lots of the followers to the monitor and the game must market that. He famous that in successful a World Sequence he initially celebrated along with his Philadelphia Phillies teammates earlier than visiting household and pals; in racing he loves that he is capable of have fun with these closest to him through the occasion.
Werth mentioned alongside these strains of evolving the game, the business must proceed its dedication to aftercare and construct on these efforts.
“Preserve going with this sport—the purses, the large races, the occasions, the concert events—all of the issues across the sport that make it nice,” Werth mentioned. “And most significantly maintain taking higher care of those horses and placing cash towards the aftercare applications.
Jason Werth holds up Dornoch’s Belmont Stakes-winning trophy
“I believe that is among the many most vital issues this business can do to alter the stigma of the game. After I discuss to individuals in regards to the sport, that is the very first thing they ask about. I inform them that the game has modified and I encourage them to take a look at what the business has performed. Aftercare is actual. So proceed to do this. The game and these animals are iconic.”
Werth has owned horses for 3 years, initially shopping for fillies. He marvels that the primary colt he went in on, Dornoch, has reached racing’s heights.
“(Possession) has actually introduced me again to life as a retired athlete,” Werth mentioned. “The game has the flexibility to deliver out the aggressive juices that we as soon as had on the sphere that mainly are misplaced in retirement. I believe it is without doubt one of the coolest elements of the game.”