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One step forward, three steps back
9/11/08 KyHarnessRacing.com
9/11/08 KyHarnessRacing.com
- Harness Racing is begging for sponsors. Right or
wrong? And, I'm not talking about the breeding
farms or tack shops, etc., we have those. What I am
talking about is the outside sponsorships. Ones like
Makers Mark, who just happens to be the sponsor of
the $300,000 Makers Mark Mile at Keenland.
On Sunday, August 31st, a night when purses
exceeded $2.4 million in purse money, Makers Mark
was at The Red Mile.
Getting the world famous bourbon distillery,
Makers Mark, to join in the activities with the
"Unbridled Evening of Champions", is a huge step for
the harness industry. Wouldn't you agree? We need
more people that have the ability to do this.
Wouldn't you agree?
- Anyone that could get Makers Mark to come out and
be a part of the night by having a "FREE tasting
table" should be, at the least, recognized for their
achievements in taking one small step forward, that
could have opened a door for harness racing. It
doesn't matter how difficult or how easy it might
have been, it got done.
Makers Mark, a potentially future sponsor for harness
racing, was there set up giving away souvenirs and
having FREE taste samples for patrons. Now, how do
you get them to leave (might I add, on a sour note),
not even halfway through the program?
- You may be asking yourself, how can you do that?
How do you run off a potential sponsor like Makers
Mark? Well, The Red Mile was up to the task, as they
managed to figure out a way to get that job done.
The Red Mile would find a way, on this evening to get
Makers Mark to pack up and leave early.
I've decided not to quote anyone from Makers Mark,
the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Matt
Falcone's catering company, or The Red Mile. But I
will tell you this, they (Makers Mark) were extremely
disappointed with the treatment they received from
the Red Mile. Not only did they get reprimanded over
and over and over and over, someone continuously
made them feel like they should leave. So they did. I
confirmed this, by telephone, with a representative
from Makers Mark.
One would think, an establishment such as The Red
Mile, would be delighted to have a company like
Makers Mark involved with their major events. But
their actions have proven that wasn't the case.
Do you think anyone from The Red Mile gave thanks
to any of the organizations that participated on the
night of "Unbridled Evening of Champions"? Most
likely not.
- You may be asking yourself, WHY would they do
that? Why would The Red Mile want to make the
people with Makers Mark feel so uncomfortable that
they were left feeling they needed to leave? Were
they interfering with beer sales? We absolutely do
not know. But, maybe you could get an answer from
one of the owners from The Red Mile, Frank
Antonacci, Antoinette Nigito, George Segal, Joe
Thomson, or the President Joe Costa. Do these
owners know? Do they care?
What we do know is, The Red Mile should have went
out of their way to accommodate every organization
that was involved in that evening. But they chose not
to do that.
- What should be done now? Some serious damage
control should be done, and quickly. It's needed as
of yesterday and not tomorrow. A phone call from
the Red Mile, preferably from one of the owners,
would be a start. Terminate, relieve from duties, fire,
replace, ask for resignation, however you want to
coat it, but basically get rid of any individual that likes
to run off what we so desperately need - (people).
That would be the next step.
- As I've stated in past articles, a warm smile, along
with a "Thank you for coming, we're so glad you
came" goes along way with people. And if you can't
do that, stay in the kitchen or in your office, and
whatever you do.....don't open your mouth.
