Raffetto jumps! (UPDATE: Leaving NSA; Returning to MJC?)

[Kasept]

Congrats to Lou...


STEEPLECHASING TAPS LOU RAFFETTO FOR NEW CEO POSITION

The National Steeplechase Association has chosen longtime racing executive Lou Raffetto to fill a newly created position of Chief Executive Officer. Most recently the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Maryland Jockey Club, Raffetto will manage company operations and direct plans for the future.

Raffetto joins a staff of four at the NSA's headquarters in Fair Hill, Md. and starts the new position March 17. The announcement closed work done by a special search committee appointed by the NSA Board of Directors, which was thrilled when Raffetto expressed interest.

"We were lucky to have someone of his caliber available when we came to the conclusion that we wanted someone to run the company," said NSA President Franny Abbott. "I love his enthusiasm, I love his history in flat racing. He's got the people skills to be helpful with our race chairmen and horsemen and he will be able to help in our goal to become a bigger part of the Thoroughbred industry."

Raffetto's position was created in January after several long-range planning meetings and growth discussions within the NSA board. The NSA hopes to expand the scope of steeplechasing in North America through additional race meets, more racetrack participation and increased numbers of horsemen and horses.

Raffetto left the Maryland Jockey Club and owner Magna Entertainment in November. Before his seven-year stint in Maryland, Raffetto helped revive racing at Suffolk Downs near Boston, Mass. as that track¹s executive vice
president/general manager. He held other racetrack positions in New Jersey, Maryland and Florida and was a trainer on the New Jersey/Pennsylvania circuit in the mid-1970s.

"The NSA presented me with a unique opportunity, one that will allow me to work with individuals who share the same passion for horse racing as a sport," said Raffetto, "but still realize the importance of growing it as a business."

The NSA is the official governing body of steeplechase racing (Thoroughbred horse racing over jumps) in North America. In 2007, NSA purses reached a record $5.3 million with racing at 32 individual race meets in 12 states and racing at six racetracks. The 2008 NSA season begins March 22 with the Aiken Steeplechase in Aiken, S.C.

[slotdirt]

As a fan of the jumps, I couldn't be happier with this particular decision. Good for Raffetto.

[Bigsmc]

Looks to be good news for the NSA.

Apparently the Little Everglades Steeplechase in Dade City, FL this Sunday, is not a NSA sanctioned event since the NSA schedule starts on March 22.

http://www.littleevergladessteeplechase.org/?p=Home

Yes, the Bigs Family will be attending....

[Riot]

Great news!

"The NSA presented me with a unique opportunity, one that will allow me to work with individuals who share the same passion for horse racing as a sport," said Raffetto, "but still realize the importance of growing it as a business."

LOL - touche!

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Looks to be good news for the NSA.

Apparently the Little Everglades Steeplechase in Dade City, FL this Sunday, is not a NSA sanctioned event since the NSA schedule starts on March 22.

http://www.littleevergladessteeplechase.org/?p=Home

Yes, the Bigs Family will be attending....

Bigs, I'm Heading over with some firends as well - should be pretty

[scanman]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The NSA hopes to expand the scope of steeplechasing in North America through additional race meets, more racetrack participation and increased numbers of horsemen and horses.

"The NSA presented me with a unique opportunity, one that will allow me to work with individuals who share the same passion for horse racing as a sport," said Raffetto, "but still realize the importance of growing it as a business."

Hopefully, he'll be able to bring "jump" racing to the same level that it enjoys in other major racing countries (i.e. Ireland, France and the UK).

Bigs and Rude, I will be attending Little Everglades, as well.

[blackthroatedwind]

Steeplechase racing will never generate the handle in the US to allow it a major stage.

A step in the right direction would be creating accurate pps of the jump races and making replays available to those that might want to get involved. As it exists now the majority of their US races are run under a virtual cloak of darkness.

[scanman]

BTW - For me, sadly, I agree with you. Perhaps, it's a cultural thing. In France, jump racing is not far behind the flat; in the UK, it is probably on par; and in Ireland, I get the sense that national hunt racing is more popular than the flat. Maybe our passion for racing here in the States is geared more towards gambling than the sport itself. For me, it's a 50/50 split. I've been to 9 of the weekend "hunt" meetings and plan to attend 7 this year. Do I wish that I could have a punt at these thrilling affairs, sure. But the fact that there is no gambling does not deter my interest in that type of racing, which I find superior to that on the flat.

I also agree with you that NSA needs to get their meetings "out of the cloak of darkness" and get their product displayed at established flat tracks. This is a common theme in Europe and works very well. A great many of the racecourses in Europe run mixed meets/cards with 4 or 5 over the flat and 2 or 3 over the sticks. Perhaps, one of our mid-Atlantic tracks (where most jump trainers have their base) could embrace this type of race day.

Kasept - Just listened to your segment with Mr. Raffetto. Glad to hear that you are and will continue to cover jump racing. It is the one area of thoroughbred racing in the US that has enormous potential for growth.

[blackthroatedwind]

I went to Auteil when I was in Paris, which is obviously a great place ( with a great paddock ), but there was no information available whatsoever. Paris Turf didn't have a write up of the races and the only thing available at the track was pretty much an overnight.

I guess we're not the only place that runs these races in the dark so to speak.

[scanman]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I went to Auteil when I was in Paris, which is obviously a great place ( with a great paddock ), but there was no information available whatsoever. Paris Turf didn't have a write up of the races and the only thing available at the track was pretty much an overnight.

I guess we're not the only place that runs these races in the dark so to speak.

Yes, Auteuil is a beautiful racecourse. I was there Spring '06. Really, Paris Turf didn't have any PPs? Of course, not PPs that we're accustomed to. They usually have the last 3 races and some type of summary on each horse. The thing about Paris Turf is that you need to get the issue the day before the races are held (i.e. racing on 1/2, the PPs are in the Paris Turf for 1/1) and only for the major tracks. The provincial/county tracks usually have some sort of limited PPs in the program.

Another lesson that the NSA could learn from their counterparts across the pond is to have a "dedicated" jump track like Auteuil (or Cheltenham or Aintree, etc...). Atlantic City racecourse is sitting empty all but a couple of days a year and for a time their couple of days were dedicated to jump racing. Otherwise, I wish there was someone/entity that would invest/build a dedicated jump racecourse in the US. Fair Hill, MD (across from the training facility) is the only thing that comes close, but they only use it once a year.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

A step in the right direction would be creating accurate pps of the jump races and making replays available to those that might want to get involved. As it exists now the majority of their US races are run under a virtual cloak of darkness.

How exactly is this vastly different from what's available for Tbred racing?