THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - A TIMELY REMINDER FROM AMERICAN PHAROAH

By Graham Potter | Sunday, August 2, 2015

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

When you reach ‘rock-star’ status in any field of expertise, you can get a flight across the country chartered especially for you. A crowd of media representatives will record every moment as you step off the plane and move to your comfortable, waiting mode of transport which will then be given a police escort as it heads down the highway to its destination.

On Thursday one horse was given that exact ‘rock-star’ treatment underlining just how revered the first winner of the US Triple Crown in thirty seven years has become, not only to racing enthusiasts, but to the greater general population in America.

American Pharoah’s twelve hour journey was documented each step of the way. The horse took a flight from San Diego to Lexington before continuing on to Atlantic City via special charter before a police escort led a convoy up the Garden State Parkway to Monmouth Park where the racing hero will run in today’s Grade I Haskell Invitational.

In that convoy American Pharoah travelled in a truck splashed with the turquoise and yellow colours of his owners, Zayat Stables. Also on the side of the truck was a description of his achievements. It was as if the heavyweight champion of the world was coming to town with all the pomp and ceremony associated with a living legend.

Even allowing for the fact that, as stated in a New York post report, ‘the Triple Crown winner is expected to face an underwhelming group of five other three-year-olds in New Jersey on Sunday,’ ... just as Black Caviar chased away her rivals ... the type of positive publicity that racing is receiving in that country courtesy of American Pharoah’s standing simply can’t be bought.

While it is true that champions of the American Pharoah and Black Caviar ilk do not come along every day, every season, or, even necessarily every decade, when they do it emphasises the true pull that racing has over its rivals in the entertainment and gambling streams ... the racehorse.

At a time when racing all over the world needs to redefine its existence in a changing world, episodes like American Pharoah’s trip to New Jersey bring a stark reminder of just how underutilised the horse, this core essence of the racing industry product, is in terms of promoting the cause.

Not every horse needs to be a champion to be used to that advantage. Every horse has its story and Australians like nothing more than to barrack for an underdog who overcomes the odds in compelling circumstances.

I know, I know ... the changing world currently dictates that racing now has to pander to the party brigade to attract on-course attendance and to bring other live entertainment on track to keep them happy while they are there.

I’m certainly not against that, within reason, as long as racing ensures there is a balance in both its diversification and focus.

For racing to survive long-term and not be an also-ran, that balance has to respect and promote the horse, from which this unique form of racing takes its name, at every opportunity.

Sometimes you have to take a step backwards before you can move forward.

All I can say is ... go American Pharoah ... and thanks for the reminder.