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Take Back the Race!

Take Back the Race!

254 signatures 246 to reach 500
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Started by Anonymous 18 years, 5 months ago
On February 27, Breeders\' Cup officials announced the Breeders\' Cup Distaff would be renamed the Breeders\' Cup Ladies\' Classic and that all the Breeders\' Cup female stakes races would be run on Friday, removing the Juvenile Fillies, the Filly & Mare Turf, and the race formerly known as the Distaff from their customary Saturday placement, with the intent to create \"separate but equal\" championship days. These changes were finalized and announced by the Breeders\' Cup following a process that included consultation with racing and marketing executives only in one focus group meeting, as explained by BC marketing consultant Chip Tuttle: \"The process was deliberate and included a focus group of leading female and male sports marketing and horse racing executives.\" We, the undersigned racing fans, ask the Breeders\' Cup to reconsider these changes, and: - Acknowledge the vocal public outcry against the use of the word \"Ladies\" in the Breeders\' Cup by restoring the original name of the Ladies\' Classic or renaming the race the Filly & Mare Classic, which would fit with the names of the other female championship races and still align the race with the Breeders\' Cup Classic; - Create a fan committee representing the diversity of the racing audience to provide ideas and feedback on proposed changes and marketing plans to the Breeders\' Cup; - Explore alternate schedules for future runnings of the Breeders\' Cup that would be more inclusive of working fans and would present the championship races in such a way that no divisions would appear minimized. Fans have generated several such possibilities online; a fan committee could help generate and explore a multitude of options. To show that we are serious about these matters, we pledge to protest by not attending, betting or watching the entire Friday card unless the Ladies\' Classic name is changed and there are assurances from the Breeders\' Cup to create a formal feedback mechanism incorporating fans in ongoing marketing decisions of the Breeders\' Cup.

Updates

Reached 250 supporters

October 9, 2008

July 5, 2008

The momentum is undeniable. Breeders' Cup officials cannot ignore this noise any longer.

Reached 100 supporters

March 12, 2008

6 Comments

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Sarah Donnelly
18 years ago Featured

The Distaff belonged on Saturday! Stop trying to fix things that werent even broken. Terrible marketing decision.

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Mike Mathis
18 years ago Featured

Ridiculous. Nobody asked for this. Keep the girls on the big card with the boys where they belong for the championship.

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David Cox
18 years ago Featured

Saturday is the only day that matters. Moving these races is a slap in the face to the horses and the fans.

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Linda Schwartz
18 years ago Featured

Ladies Classic is such an outdated name. Sounds like some country club event not a championship race. Bring back the Distaff.

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Karen Wells
18 years ago Featured

TOTAL B.S. changing names and moving days just to sell a few extra tickets? Not cool.

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Robert Chopra
18 years ago Featured

way to alienate the actual fans. focus groups of execs dont know anything about tradition.

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