Re: Phipps Stable and the Derby (533 Views)
Posted by:
imallin (IP Logged)
Date: April 12, 2007 04:38PM
I don't think it has a lot to do with the quality of the animal, its about the philosophy of the stable.
Basically, the entire world is fascinated by the Ky Derby. Everyone wants to win it, some are just willing to go to greater lengths to do so.
For whatever reason, the Phipps' must feel the Derby isn't all that important. If they held that race in as high as regard as everyone else, they'r probably be running if they had ANY chance whatsoever.
Unfortunately, Churchill Downs feels the need to 'taint' their signature race by attaching a corporate sponsor to the race. To me, that cheapens the race for the fans. Its a sellout basically. Its like when you were growing up in the 1980's listening to John Mellencamp sing Jack and Diane and you loved his music and felt that his songs 'meant something' to the era in which you grew up, you'd be upset that he's writing songs and selling his 'heart' to Chevrolet just to make a dollar that he doesn't need.
If Churchill doesn't care all that much about the prestige and the 'race of all races' title and they'll sell out to make a dollar thru advertising (and btw, that dollar doesn't go back into YOUR pocket in any way shape or form) than why should the Phipps' care about it either?
It goes to show you nothing is sacred anymore, pretty soon we'll have the pope selling his robe on E Bay.