tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post7286703027941247035..comments2024-02-01T00:37:24.768-05:00Comments on PTP: Hambo DayPull the Pockethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05082676049275768769noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-78860092458297241752008-08-05T07:45:00.000-04:002008-08-05T07:45:00.000-04:00Hambo Day 2008 may have been an artistic event, bu...Hambo Day 2008 may have been an artistic event, but it was in reality a failure. Let me explain:<BR/><BR/>- Attendance. Yes, it rained, but they counted the people who showed up, even if they left due to the rain. Just over 25,000 people. Sixth worst attendance since the Hambo came to East Rutherford in 1981 and the second worst attendance since 2003. This, with an undefeated horse running.<BR/><BR/>- The acting governor could not find his way to the Meadowlands to present the trophy? He found his way to Monmouth the following day for the Haskell.<BR/><BR/>- The clubhouse seating was half full. Half the granstand was closed off and concession booths were closed due to lack of business.<BR/><BR/>- Despite Dewey, this was one of the weakest Hambo day cards they have had in a while. Maybe it was because the other superhorse in harness racing was back in Canada (no problem here; he is a Canadian horse). <BR/><BR/>- Overall lack of excitement that day; it seemed everyone was going through the motions. The governor's letter in the program was the shortest ever (all they need to do is change the date and the edition number next year)and the usual welcome letter from the chairman of the NJSEA was not even in the program (couldn't bother).<BR/><BR/><BR/>I have been to every Hambo since 1981 and to be honest, it is time to move the race again. You can get over 45,000 people to a county fair in southern Ohio (LBJ) but can't get more than 25,000 people in the metro-NY area to see a superhorse (they did get 40,000 people the following day to see Big Brown at the Haskell); it is clear the Hambo is no longer appreciated in the metro-NY area and should be moved where it would be appreciated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-66710985018623113602008-08-03T17:05:00.000-04:002008-08-03T17:05:00.000-04:00I have never been a fan of Ray Schnittker. His dri...I have never been a fan of Ray Schnittker. His driving style 20 years ago had no finesse, he has over the years pushed his developing 2 YO's very hard, resulting in the premature devaluation of some, and his speaking style has been, shall we say, somewhat more profane than Messrs. Campbell and Jamieson.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, I accord him a big compliment for his development and racing of Dewey, and his almost unprecedented willingness to make this horse accessible to the media in what had to be one of the most pressure-packed weeks in his career. He also drove a very smart race, and if there is such a thing as backing into the pocket horse on a mile track, he accomplished it yesterday, keeping Crazed boxed until it was time to unwind and get to the wire first.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8560898823512627114.post-40757681629296165822008-08-03T08:27:00.000-04:002008-08-03T08:27:00.000-04:00You have to pay some bills?? I take you're not a P...You have to pay some bills?? I take you're not a Pulp Fiction(the movie) fan.<BR/><BR/>RGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com