It's the economy, stupid. Two things on the 2001 horizon seem to rise above the rest. Whether that new largesse is going to be spread around the sport equitably is a question for another day. The fact is, it's here, and it could change the way the game is played. Secondly, with all the money the TV people are spending, they are going to demand a bigger say in how the sport is shown.
Money is a useful tool, for good or bad.
Or it can be used to bake cakes for the wealthy while taking the bread of the poor. As one of my friends said, the sky is not the limit. Television has merely accelerated the process. Another racing writer this week cited a New York Times story that hinted at the fact that things might be afoot with the new TV networks. In a nutshell, because the telecasts will now be reaching much larger audiences, the day of the free ride for the sponsors is over.