Coburn slams Churchill

[Sightseek]

Wildcat Red's owners were not too happy with their experience either:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...with-churchill

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Wildcat Red's owners were not too happy with their experience either:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...with-churchill

"I felt like we were in exactly the same position as the people around me that weren't owners," Delfino said. "The treatment was no different. It was so badly organized; my husband was so disappointed."

i was sympathetic until that point.

[ne to socal]

What is the proper level of expectation of services for an owner attending the KD (or BC or other big race for that matter), even more so if there's a group of, say, 30 partners?

It seems inconceivable that a host track/association (in this case CDI) wouldn't put a golden halo on owners and give them basically butler-level treatment for the day. And have that explicitly spelled out well ahead of time. There are only 20 entrants, and the ownership groups associated with them comprise a tiny % of the overall attendance. CDI's exposure so to speak is very limited. Steve Coburn could eat 300 hot dogs and CDI would lose maybe 20 cents. They could limit it too...like 6 ultra-VIP tickets per owner and then first dibs on buying more. The key is to be explicit and precise in your offerings and deliver 110%.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Wildcat Red's owners were not too happy with their experience either:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...with-churchill

wow, what a feeling of entitlement. Wonder if she wants some cheese with that whine...

[Rudeboyelvis]

Without the Kentucky Derby, that s-hole doesn't even exist. I don't think it's asking a whole lot to provide 20 boxes and a little attention to the people responsible for floating your entire year. That's not to say that they need to bend over backwards for the 600 West Point "owners" that have a .005% stake in an entrant; but provide a concierge and 20 VIP boxes for the controlling interests of the horses that put on your show for you. It's really not that costly or difficult.

[NTamm1215]

She deserves special treatment. Period. Her horse is running in the only race CDI cares about and the least they could do is make sure she and however many guests she's bringing are accommodated. We're talking about incredibly basic customer service.

If Churchill wasn't hellbent on selling every bit of premium seating, they would reserve some for connections. The only major race (and it's obviously a much smaller scale then the Derby) where I've been anywhere near an owner was last year's Arlington Million. Unsurprisingly, Arlington's staff went above and beyond with hospitality. That's what you do. Personal concierges, private seating, transportation, etc.

She has every right to be annoyed/disappointed and quite honestly, she deserved better treatment than people who simply bought a ticket adjacent to where Churchill sat her.

[parsixfarms]

Can you imagine how John Asher really feels about all this?

[Alabama Stakes]

do you think Suffolk Downs got Cigar 2 years in a row by being classless as Churchill ? the red carpet was always laid out for any connections shipping in for a stake race. if you can't show the owners a good time, you have the wrong people in charge. It just makes for a good vibe through the whole plant. It also makes them come back.

At saratoga the good energy and vibe that runs through the place has a little something to do with how well everyone is treated.

[ne to socal]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

do you think Suffolk Downs got Cigar 2 years in a row by being classless as Churchill ?

I think a couple of subs from Dimino's out the back gate would seal the deal.

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

At saratoga the good energy and vibe that runs through the place has a little something to do with how well everyone is treated.

Ditto for Del Mar. It's palpable.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by ne to socal

What is the proper level of expectation of services for an owner attending the KD (or BC or other big race for that matter), even more so if there's a group of, say, 30 partners?

It seems inconceivable that a host track/association (in this case CDI) wouldn't put a golden halo on owners and give them basically butler-level treatment for the day. And have that explicitly spelled out well ahead of time. There are only 20 entrants, and the ownership groups associated with them comprise a tiny % of the overall attendance. CDI's exposure so to speak is very limited. Steve Coburn could eat 300 hot dogs and CDI would lose maybe 20 cents. They could limit it too...like 6 ultra-VIP tickets per owner and then first dibs on buying more. The key is to be explicit and precise in your offerings and deliver 110%.

not sure, but i promise you i don't want fast food type meals, and i'm not a big time owner.
call them out for being sucky at customer service. that is a deserving bit of criticism.

there are 20 entrants, but you can bet if one owner won't go, there are others who will.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

She deserves special treatment. Period. Her horse is running in the only race CDI cares about and the least they could do is make sure she and however many guests she's bringing are accommodated. We're talking about incredibly basic customer service.

If Churchill wasn't hellbent on selling every bit of premium seating, they would reserve some for connections. The only major race (and it's obviously a much smaller scale then the Derby) where I've been anywhere near an owner was last year's Arlington Million. Unsurprisingly, Arlington's staff went above and beyond with hospitality. That's what you do. Personal concierges, private seating, transportation, etc.

She has every right to be annoyed/disappointed and quite honestly, she deserved better treatment than people who simply bought a ticket adjacent to where Churchill sat her.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

She deserves special treatment. Period. Her horse is running in the only race CDI cares about and the least they could do is make sure she and however many guests she's bringing are accommodated. We're talking about incredibly basic customer service.

If Churchill wasn't hellbent on selling every bit of premium seating, they would reserve some for connections. The only major race (and it's obviously a much smaller scale then the Derby) where I've been anywhere near an owner was last year's Arlington Million. Unsurprisingly, Arlington's staff went above and beyond with hospitality. That's what you do. Personal concierges, private seating, transportation, etc.

She has every right to be annoyed/disappointed and quite honestly, she deserved better treatment than people who simply bought a ticket adjacent to where Churchill sat her.

if i pay the same money as an owner, i want the same service.
should churchill improve? absolutely.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Danzig

"I felt like we were in exactly the same position as the people around me that weren't owners," Delfino said. "The treatment was no different. It was so badly organized; my husband was so disappointed."

i was sympathetic until that point.

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

wow, what a feeling of entitlement. Wonder if she wants some cheese with that whine...

Tough crowd.

I think maybe some things don't translate well. Remember English isn't her primary language.

From everything I remember reading about this couple before the Derby she was the one who fell in love with the story of Big Red, wanted her own "Red" and the husband, seemingly, just kinda went along.

Maybe she was trying to include him or maybe he doesn't speak English or has issues or something... I take no offense in an owner or anyone saying they made the trip from Venezuela and were disappointed and mentioning oh yeah as was my spouse. This isn't whining this is just calling it like it is. She sounds disappointed and rightly so.

I agree with everything Nick said and yes...

Originally Posted by Danzig

if i pay the same money as an owner, i want the same service.
should churchill improve? absolutely.

...even if you pay the same as an owner sorry but they deserve to be indulged, spoiled and made to feel special. We're only talking about connections of 20 horses for one damned day a year. It's surprising that any track wouldn't get this right but that it's Churchill on Derby day? It's embarrassing.

[Antitrust32]

I just have no sympathy for someone who complains about their hotel and not getting a hotel from Churchill... She should have asked if hotels were included, not assumed. People can still plan, even if they are rich, make plans and know what the itinerary is. The trouble with her seats and food... that should have been handled better by Churchill, but the rest of the letter made me .

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I just have no sympathy for someone who complains about their hotel and not getting a hotel from Churchill... She should have asked if hotels were included, not assumed. People can still plan, even if they are rich, make plans and know what the itinerary is. The trouble with her seats and food... that should have been handled better by Churchill, but the rest of the letter made me .

It is too bad that I sold my house in Louisville. I could have started a little cottage industry for 1st time Derby owners, giving tours, introducing owners to dignitaries like Steve Byk and showcasing famous Louisville spots like the Haskin couch and Frank's deli.

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Without the Kentucky Derby, that s-hole doesn't even exist. I don't think it's asking a whole lot to provide 20 boxes and a little attention to the people responsible for floating your entire year. That's not to say that they need to bend over backwards for the 600 West Point "owners" that have a .005% stake in an entrant; but provide a concierge and 20 VIP boxes for the controlling interests of the horses that put on your show for you. It's really not that costly or difficult.

I snickered...

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Tough crowd.

I think maybe some things don't translate well. Remember English isn't her primary language.

From everything I remember reading about this couple before the Derby she was the one who fell in love with the story of Big Red, wanted her own "Red" and the husband, seemingly, just kinda went along.

Maybe she was trying to include him or maybe he doesn't speak English or has issues or something... I take no offense in an owner or anyone saying they made the trip from Venezuela and were disappointed and mentioning oh yeah as was my spouse. This isn't whining this is just calling it like it is. She sounds disappointed and rightly so.

I agree with everything Nick said and yes...


...even if you pay the same as an owner sorry but they deserve to be indulged, spoiled and made to feel special. We're only talking about connections of 20 horses for one damned day a year. It's surprising that any track wouldn't get this right but that it's Churchill on Derby day? It's embarrassing.

They have a derby runner. Everything else is gravy

[Monarchos1]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Tough crowd.

I think maybe some things don't translate well. Remember English isn't her primary language.

From everything I remember reading about this couple before the Derby she was the one who fell in love with the story of Big Red, wanted her own "Red" and the husband, seemingly, just kinda went along.

Maybe she was trying to include him or maybe he doesn't speak English or has issues or something... I take no offense in an owner or anyone saying they made the trip from Venezuela and were disappointed and mentioning oh yeah as was my spouse. This isn't whining this is just calling it like it is. She sounds disappointed and rightly so.

Just to set the record straight, her husband does not speak English.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Danzig

They have a derby runner. Everything else is gravy

I disagree 100 percent.

They have a Derby runner. This is the sport of Kings and if there's a day when the owners should get the royal treatment this is it.

Originally Posted by Monarchos1

Just to set the record straight, her husband does not speak English.

Thanks for the clarification. I got that feeling as he wasn't quoted anywhere.

[Danzig]

You sure you don't disagree around 93 or 94%??