Originally Published: May 12, 2009, 04:06 AM

Racing's identity crisis

Posted By Diego | Horse-Racing News | May 12, 2009, 04:06 AM |

Racetrack marketers never have been able to figure it out. And it's quite obvious after the comedy of public relations errors Sunday that the horsemen competing can't make the division either.

The owners of Mine That Bird and Pioneerof The Nile hatched a short-lived plan that considered adding entries to Saturday's Preakness, in hopes of taking advantage of a loophole that would keep star filly Rachel Alexandra out of the starting gate. Since she was not nominated to the Triple Crown, the rules stipulate she can not get into the field if a capacity field of 14 nominees enters.

It was a plan that made perfect business sense and was rooted in complete compliance with the rulebook. So why did Ahmed Zayat and Mark Allen back down? The consensus answer from both camps, after about 12 hours of intense internet and racing-media fury, is that it was in the best interest of the game, and the sporting thing to do.

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Embed Racetrack marketers never have been able to figure it out. And it's quite obvious after the comedy of public relations errors Sunday that the horsemen competing can't make the division either.<br /> <br /> The owners of Mine That Bird and Pioneerof The Nile hatched a short-lived plan that considered adding entries to Saturday's Preakness, in hopes of taking advantage of a loophole that would keep star filly Rachel Alexandra out of the starting gate. Since she was not nominated to the Triple Crown, the rules stipulate she can not get into the field if a capacity field of 14 nominees enters.<br /> <br /> It was a plan that made perfect business sense and was rooted in complete compliance with the rulebook. So why did Ahmed Zayat and Mark Allen back down? The consensus answer from both camps, after about 12 hours of intense internet and racing-media fury, is that it was in the best interest of the game, and the sporting thing to do.<br /><a href='http://www.speed-videos.com'>Speed Videos</a> | <a href='http://www.speed-videos.com/Horse-Racing/Racings-identity-crisis'>Racing's identity crisis</a>