When this blog started I joined an Alliance of other bloggers, almost all much better writers than I, but more fascinating, almost every one of them had a different point of view, different approaches to covering this great past time. These were long form, nuanced and insightful pieces of writing, some of them far exceeding the journalistic standards of a standard DRF article.
With Twitter, it all came down, and suddenly. Gone were the days of long form prose, in was 140 characters. Snippets, shallow, but a mirror of the attention span of most of America by this time. For me, I just kept writing. My blog is a nerd's blog where I handicap and try to assemble bets. I don't break news stories, I have no compelling connections to the sport, and worst of all, I'm a lousy networker. Any positive friendly connections I did have went out the window when I broke my own golden rule on Facebook and talked politics during the 2016 election cycle. Most of my horse racing connections leaned left, I leaned right, and suddenly I was cut off from aggregators, left to wither in the vacuum. My own fault.
I've learned, I don't talk politics on my blog, and I don't talk politics on my social media feeds either. Readership is up the more I post and the more effort I put into it. Why do I still write? Because I enjoy it, it's that simple. I think I have something to offer in terms of my handicapping, and my bet construction ain't too shabby either. I focus on Turf Racing, not the most popular form of racing in the United States, but it's what I enjoy. I could get a few more views if I cared about the Road to the Roses and the Triple Crown hunt, but I just don't care enough to do that. My favorite horses aren't the regally bred ones that win several races as a three year old and go off to stud. Mine are 4 years and older, sometimes gelded, dirt racing failures or just more bred for turf, who knock around from track to track and come back the following year to do it all over again. That's what I love, journeymen turf runners who can still surprise with that late turn of foot.
Anyways, as Turk starts to contemplate retirement I've reinvested myself in this blog. I'm making use of AI tools to help me build tables and charts. I'm posting more frequently. I've created specific socials just for the blog and I'm doing all the little things to grow the blog organically. I use to dream about getting aggregated to one of the big horse racing websites, but that's not the dream anymore. Now the dream is to nail the handicap, nail the bet, and if someone reads it, great, otherwise wash rinse and repeat. I was I was determined, and stubborn. This blog is still in it's infancy, I have at least 17 years more in me, God willing.
I'd be remiss to not thank a few people: My dear Aunt Rose who gave me my love of horse racing. She was such a unique and colorful character, I miss her dearly. Gene Kershner, who answered a lot of questions for me when I was considering starting this blog and who helped me get into the Bloggers Alliance. Finally, The Happy Handicapper, Bob Summers, who inspired me with his writing for the Buffalo News for so many years.
I was 42 years old when I started this Blog. I've been handicapping since 1986, 39 years. When I started, my son, The Little Turk, was my sidekick. He went to so many Grade 1 races before the age of ten it was silly. He's a chiropractor now, engaged to be married. He still likes getting to the track with his pops from time to time, but the blog is all me now.
Anyways, have fun friends, Turk Out!
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