Happy New Year Space Cadets!

Tweet I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year. Thanks for stopping by this site this year, it's been quite the year in horse racing and here's hoping 2010 can top it. 2010 is the Year of the Tiger (well, we certainly know 2009 wasn't), so brush up on your Chinese astrology before heading to the track in 2010. My Gulfstream countdown is now at 30.

Cling. Cheers everyone.

(cartoon courtesy: Doug Savage)

Let's Get the Teens Started!

Tweet Ok, so we're about to usher in a new decade and since 70% of the next decade ends in "teen" I've decided to call it the Teens...it's better than the Aughts or the Double Zeros or whatever the heck this decade was known as. So what are we hoping for here in the Space Station for 2010? I'd give you a month by month blow by blow prediction journal, but that's not unorthodox...so here goes nothin':

2010: The Year of the Dude. That's right racing fans, hope you got your fill of the Year of the Filly last year (all due respect to Rach, Zen & Linda), cuz we're gonna be back. Not only will the COLTS behind Peyton Manning win the Super Bowl, but the colts will be back in full force to take back the Preakness, Haskell, Woodward and Classic. Mark it down...it's redemption time fellahs. I've posted my last Powerpuff Girls pic.

2010: A Post-Time Favorite Wins the Derby. It's been awhile (Smarty Jones -2004) since we've had a post-time favorite win the Kentucky Derby, I'd say the odds are with us here. [Correction: Thanks to editor Derosa for alerting me to 2007 & 2008 PT favs Street Sense and Big Brown - looks like this is a decent bet]

2010: No Triple Crown Weather Issues. I spent some time with the Farmers' Almanac and it's looking good for the first and third Saturdays in May and the first Saturday in June. Mark it down. Was there a worse weather year for the big races than 2009? Stick that in your Tomlinson.

2010: A Sub Four Hour Trek to the Spa. I had my opportunities in 2009, but one Ford Focus driven by a 200 year old lady spoiled my best chance on Route 50 coming out of Ballston Spa in mid August and construction on the Thruway at Port Byron thwarted chance #2. Drat. Like every Cubs fan knows....there's always next year.

2010: No Triple Crown Winner.....again. I even flipped my tarot cards a second time (so I cheated a little), but no dice. It's just too hard for these brittle 3yo's in too short a recovery time to do it. The racing lords will never change this for the better and stretch out the time between the races and even take advantage of a holiday weekend or two (Memorial Day and 4th of July for those without calendars). Having the Preakness on Memorial Day weekend would be cool, give the horses an additional couple weeks rest and maybe a bigger field. I see how the NHL is trying to make New Years' Day "their holiday" with a 3rd straight Winter Classic....that's good branding and marketing.

2010: NTRA Accreditation % is Perfect. This one is a mortal lock.

2010: The National Pick 4 Returns. When I was first starting out following this sport, the National Pick 4 on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon was a way to get involved with betting different tracks and races with Free Past Performances at the NTRA website. We need this back in the fold and pulled from the cobwebs.

2010: Rachel Alexandra Loses. In the Year of the Dude, it's bound to happen. This is the shakiest of my propositions, because she's that good. But, keeping up a similar campaign to the end of her 2009 calendar (facing males and older horses) will be difficult to sustain her current win streak. If I had to project a race she may struggle with: Stephen Foster at Churchill in June.

2010: Lava Man and Brett Favre retire. Until August, that is.

2o1o: Wile E. Coyote gets the Roadrunner. Tastes like chicken.

Dying in Unison?

Tweet I was reading about the Mayweather-Pacquiao disaster trying to get these two highly regarded boxers in the ring today. After examining the various articles, I concluded it sure is similar to the past summer when talk of trying to get Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra on the same track to decide who is this year's champion was leading racing's headlines. What I found while reading about the fight that may not come off, is that the sport of boxing has suffered the same way horse racing has over the recent past. In the first half of the 20th century, one could point to those two sports and baseball as the mainstream sports followed by the masses. Taking a quick look at boxing's problems (as derived from The Bleacher Report's Mark Hauser's top 10 issues with boxing), which shows some eerily similar issues to what racing is facing:

1) Too many weight classes. Boxing has 17 weight classes and four organizations (or a possible 68 current champions). Horse racing's Breeders' Cup expanded its' championship races by three in 2007, and many state that this is just too many.

2) Too many sanctioning bodies. Can you name the current heavyweight champion(s)? Me neither. Horse racing is mainly regulated by state racing commissions (somewhere north of 50 currently).

3) Gambling and corruption. Check and check.

4) Too much time between fights. Funny, we have a poll going on right now asking how much time is really necessary between races. A big complaint to some that it's just too boring to sit around 30 minutes between races. This is getting weird isn't it?

5) The fights that the public really want to see either never happen or we get them several years too late. Hmm....seem familiar? Last year it was Big Brown vs. Curlin, this year RA vs. Zen.

6) All the big fights have to be paid for on pay-per-view. Not as big an issue as racing, as the Triple Crown and BC are on national TV, although you need TVG or HRTV to watch a lot of the Derby preps or big handicap races in the summer and fall.

7) Current boxing champions lack charismatic personalities. Horses can't talk...so moot here.

8) The promoter rips off the boxer after the boxer has done most of the hard work and received the life-threatening physical punishment ("pimp/ho relationship").
Again, not sure we can assimilate this one, but the horse gets a peppermint and the owners/trainers/jockeys are paid handsomely....

9) The best athletes no longer go into boxing because of the physical toll it takes on them (with Ali's physical condition a constant sad reminder). As a result, today's boxers are not as exciting to watch. Can draw similar comparison to horses retiring early to go to stud and not continue on to long careers due to potential for injury, ruining the stud payday.

10) Modern society's objection to boxing's violence and occasional deaths. Can you say Eight Belles or Barbaro? PETA anyone?

The similarities are striking, and we're both dying (boxing actually is being replaced by UFC/MMA etc.). I think we are in better shape than boxing and the casual fan has at least heard of Rachel, Zen, Big Brown etc. wherein I could only name Klitschko as one of the three heavyweight champs (although I couldn't guess which one)...

Ironically, today is Boxing Day.....

It's a Racing Festivus!

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Since it's December 23rd, what could be a better way to celebrate this year's racing calendar, but with a touch of Festivus. As you know, Festivus comes but once a year and features such things as "Feats of Strength" and the "Airing of Grievances." I couldn't think of a better year to highlight some Festivus memories and thoughts when it comes to Racing 2009.

"Feats of Strength"

- The Ladies Raise the Roof. Can you think of two races wherein the roofs came off their respective homes, than Rachel Alexandra's Woodward at the Old Spa or Zenyatta's magnificent stretch run in becoming the first equine female to win the Breeders' Cup Classic? Nope, neither can I.

- Bird is the Word. Any other year and Summer Bird is being mentioned in Horse of the Year. Winning the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup were truly feats of strength. And let's not forget the little engine that could. "Who is that horse coming up the rail?" was heard in more than one living room on the First Saturday in May.

- Wood-tastic. I Want Revenge's performance in the Wood Memorial at the Big A in April was truly a feat of strength. After overcoming an awful gate stumble, IWR made up some serious lost ground with a furious close. One of the year's better races.

- Four in a Row. If winning four (count 'em) straight Grade I turf races isn't a feat of strength, than I'm Kobe Bryant (news flash: I'm not.) Gio Ponti served notice on the racing public that he is for reals after his fourth consecutive win in the Arlington Million in August.

Ok, so those are my feats of strength.....but I'm sure this is what you can't wait for...

"The Airing of Grievances"

- Jerry Hollendorfer. One of my brethren (blogger and beancounter) lights up the Tote Board on J-Holl. This one is simply: Game. Set. Match. Speaking of tote boards.....

- NYRA. Let's hope Santa brings some light bulbs to NYRA on Friday, as well as a copy of the American Racing Manual, so we can get Go For Wand's name right on the 2010 banner....

- Transparency in the Stewards' Booth. Yeah, you've heard me beat this drum before. I'm not stoppin any time soon. Take a page from our counterparts overseas and publish the stewards' reports and announce to the fans the results of inquiries.

- HANA Pool Party. Did they let the water out of the pool? Show us some results from the reverse-boycott. Did it work? I jumped in the pools and posted on my sidebar....but what say you, masters of the low takeout?

- NTRA blog comments. Welcome to the 21st century, it should take only a few minutes to moderate blog comments and have them show up. This turns off readers and bloggers alike. It's not that difficult (this grievance was brought to you by a non-techy).

- Aqueduct VLT contract. I Heart NY.

If you have any of your own grievances to air, today is the day, so giddy up and leave them in the comments. Thank goodness, that Santa Anita opens on Saturday so I can finally get my fix and wager on horse racing from the Great Race Place as my post-Festivus celebration continues.

My Year End List

Tweet As most folks have rolled out their year end lists, I figured I'd join the band wagon. But since I've only been a fan of horse racing since 2004, it kinda put a damper on any decade list I could put together, so in typical Spaced Out fashion, I've got a list that's a bit different. Since Charlie's already launching sensationalized scuds about the Belmont Stakes being in jeopardy (Anyone want to take that bet?) due to the Aqueduct contract still not being awarded, so here is the Space Man's List of 10 things sure to happen before the Aqueduct contract is let.....

10. Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom announce their divorce due to unreconcilable differences.
9. Breeders' Cup President Greg Avioli and newly appointed Racing Commissioner Arnold Schwartzenegger announce new racing series leading up to the BC Championships to be held at Royal Ascot.
8. Brett Favre returns from retirement to quarterback the Oakland Raiders to the AFC playoffs.
7. Lebron James wins his third straight championship under NY Knicks coach Charles Oakley.
6. Charles Barkley wins Dancing with the Stars in dramatic fashion, edging out Kate Gosselin in the finale.
5. John Daly wins the Masters, goes on a bender and ends up trashing Butler Cabin.
4. Curlandra wins the Preakness and the first ever Double Crown.
3. Eliot Spitzer and Tiger Woods partner in new NYC nightclub called the Ninth Hole.
2. The Situation wins Academy Award as Best Actor in new James Cameron film "Jersey Boys"
1. Hell freezes over. (this link is funny and worth the click)

New Poll: Perception is Reality?

Tweet Before I get ready to head out to the Ralph for my weekly torture session with my beloved Bills, I thought I'd drop a quick note on this week's Poll of the Week. In the TBA's collaboration with THE Knight Sky Racing blog, we are posting at various sites throughout the TBA and non-TBA sites, a weekly poll of the week. This week, TKSR gave me the honor of selecting the poll question. I was a bit hesitant because I'm not very good at these things, but I gave it a shot. You'll see it on the right sidebar and you can see the cumulative results to date.

This week's question is "how widespread do you think "illegal drugs" are in thoroughbred racing?" It will be interesting to see what the fan's perspective is on this. Early results are leaning towards to a heavy to moderate presence. We'll check back at the end of the week to see where folks' perception is on this important issue.

Speaking of voting, first round voting on the TBA photo contest ends today, with the top ten advancing to second round voting this week. Be sure to stop by and get your vote(s) in. My valiant effort for last place with my Precious Passion BC photo looks to be in jeopardy as two wayward souls actually voted for me. No caboose for me.

This has been a busy week for me from holiday parties to charity work. Some of my co-workers and I boxed and palletized about 8,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Western New York on Friday. Yesterday was spent with a charity group that I am the treasurer and director of, the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, wherein we gathered a couple grand worth of groceries from BJ's and fruit from one of the local vendors for a food pantry on the East Side of Buffalo, that will help a number of families in need this holiday season. A common message I heard at both organizations, was not to forget them during the rest of the year, as a need is there 365 days a year, not just at holiday time. Food for thought.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Housekeeping

Tweet Nothing much to report here at the Space Station as we are enjoying holiday cheer, friends and family over the next few weeks, so we're just posting a Good Housekeeping edition tonight, most likely devoid of snarky commentary, but if look hard enough you might catch a snarky phrase or two....

- The TBA has reenergized its Facebook page, so if you moonlight on FB be sure to join our Fan Page to keep you up to date on weekly posts and goings on around our group.

- The 09 Photo Contest voting is underway at the TBA website and has even received some love from Claire Novak over at the NTRA website. Someone is trying to screw up my last place finish and voted on my Precious Passion Breeders' Cup photo (which Handride told me he hopes I get a tripod for Christmas). I want names...

- Zipse at the Track has an interesting post up at the TBA Bloodhorse page which is receiving some serious commentary regarding a projected path for Rachel Alexandra's 2010 campaign, check it out.

- I am honored to be the Thoroughbred Racing in New York (TRNY) Facebook group member of the week, mucho thanks to Ernie Munick for this accolade. (If you want to see me in circa 1980 hoop shorts, it's a good laugh btw)

- We've started a new TBA poll initiative (a collaboration with The Knight Sky Racing Blog) which collects data results from each blog showing the poll (super cool). A new and improved poll will be presented each week, highlighting issues that are hot in the horse racing world.

- Anyone else miss the Wind Gatherer? I haven't had to look up a word in months....

- I've kinda been out of the loop today, is it true that Syracuse is considering joining the Big Ten, really?? Oh, this could be good with a Space Gal/Penn State rivalry to no end....or should I say State Penn?

Where's the Beef?

Tweet I spent Thursday evening reading the Assessment by the NTRA's Independent Monitor on the first year of the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance. It's not a quick read or an exciting one for that matter, but I managed to get through it. It was actually a tad more exciting than the Steelers-Browns game. Now you know if you've been reading this blog, that I have been skeptical of this program from the get-go. Maybe it's because all but one track has been fully accredited. Maybe it's because they have made it more of a PR thing to stave off the wolves after the Eight Belles and Barbaro tragedies (first four tracks included the triple crown tracks). So what did we learn from the Assessment of the first year by the high powered (see: expensive) law firm of Akin Gump?

- We learned that the Accreditation process is thorough and costs way more than they are charging the tracks ($15k). However, they don't disclose what the average cost of a track audit is.

- The extent of the findings weren't earth-shattering, here are some examples: (1) some gates needed to be padded; (2) some outriders weren't wearing their helmets or safety vests; (3) one track strengthened its rule on safety helmets and vests; (4) one track stepped up a medication rule and; (5) some track vets weren't updating the Injury database.

- Thirteen tracks were accredited with two pending. (55 tracks were involved in the onset of the program).

- Akin Gump was hired to be the independent monitor and no less than four lawyers were involved with setting up the Code, monitoring accreditation results and performing onsite monitoring.

- Participation in the program is lacking in two categories: (1) It appears only the high end tracks have completed the application process and gone through the reviews; the lower end tracks have been silent and not very active in the process and (2) Funding is lacking. Several industry factions have not jumped aboard from a monetary perspective, leaving the NTRA reeling from the high cost of the program.

- The report makes several recommendations in the closing pages, summarized as follows: (1) an annual review of the code and the standards should be performed; (2) follow up "surprise" or monitoring audits should be required for accredited tracks to ascertain they are upholding accreditation and the standards; (3) the Independent Monitor should increase his presence in the audit process; (4) enhancement in communication is required to the general public and stakeholders to distribute results of the reviews; (5) form a working group to enhance participation from some of the member tracks; (6) industry needs to find a funding mechanism; and (7) expansion of the mission to handle the integrity aspect.

So the above raised the following questions and comments from the Space Station:

- How much was Akin Gump paid and how much did the entire program cost? With only $15K/track in revenue, this had to be a tremendous cost center for the NTRA (who is cutting their budget by 25% in 2010). (Of course, their 2008 Form 990 still hasn't been posted to guidestar, so we have a year to wait to even find out through public disclosure)

- What did the average audit cost?

- Where in God's name do they think they can fund this from? Who's not kicking in?

- The word "Integrity" is not addressed in the Code at all. Where is the horseplayer protected?

- The findings (a couple safety helmets and a padded gate?) seem a little light...where's the beef?

- The report talks a lot about audit rigor, but only one track "failed" (Pimlico) which if my memory is correct, was due to a technicality relating to a state law. Doesn't this seem odd?

- Can they really do anything to the lower level tracks to force their participation? Why aren't they completing the Alliance applications? Who are the lower level tracks they speak of in the Assessment?

My skepticism remains....I posted a few of these questions over at Waldrop's blog...maybe we'll hear something.....but don't hold your breath.

Calling All Photogs...

Tweet It's that time of year again....the 2nd Annual TBA 2009 Photo Contest is upon us and the TBA is accepting entries through Sunday. See last year's winning photog here. The rules are quite simple:

- Submit up to 3 photos taken this year; subject matter horse racing.
- Submissions: email the photo to photos@tbablogs.com
- Submissions due by 12/13/2009 (Sunday)
- Voting for top ten will be 12/14 through 12/20 (Monday through Sunday)
- Top 10 photos will be chosen to enter the final round.
- Voting on winner will be 12/21 through 12/27
- Winner announced 12/28
- Prize = The picture will be featured on the photo page, and the photog given the opportunity to link to anything they want and to say whatever they want (provided it abides to civil discourse).
- Open to everyone from Amateurs to Professionals

Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art. ~Ambrose Bierce

You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it. ~Author Unknown

No place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film. ~Robert Adams, Darkroom & Creative Camera Techniques, May 1995

It's weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime, trying to capture moments that added together, don't even amount to a couple of hours. ~James Lalropui Keivom

While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see. ~Dorothea Lange

Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts. ~Minor White

A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into. ~Ansel Adams

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it. ~Author Unknown

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away. ~Eudora Welty

The camera can photograph thought. ~Dirk Bogarde

I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation, I don't find photographing the situation nearly as interesting as photographing the edges. ~William Albert Allard

No photographer is as good as the simplest camera. ~Edward Steichen

Perishability in a photograph is important in a picture. If a photograph looks perishable we say, "Gee, I'm glad I have that moment." ~John Loengard

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence. ~Ansel Adams

I hate cameras. They are so much more sure than I am about everything. ~John Steinbeck

The goal is not to change your subjects, but for the subject to change the photographer. ~Author Unknown

A photograph is memory in the raw. ~Carrie Latet

I'm trying to fix your mother's camera. Easy, easy - Hmmm. I think I need a bigger drill. ~Homer Simpson

Ch-Ch-Ch Changes

Tweet So I was sitting by my computer today minding my own business trying to figure out what kind of tasty treat to give to my trusty dog, Tanner Jones, to celebrate his 2yo season tonight when the Saratoga Resident popped into my mailbox with a juicy link. If you read this blog, you know I "gots a thing" for (some will say bastardizing the English language) the stewards not reporting their rulings to the crowd when an inquiry is made after a race. I posted last year on the topic and the Toga Resident and I have gone back and forth on this issue in the past. I think he came over to the good guys side this past summer when experiencing some of my pain when a ruling cost him back to back monster payouts at the Spa. Anyways, Peter King's article today in SI.com noted the following analogous type situation in the NFL:

"It must drive NFL people crazy to hear Ed Hochuli go on those long, explanatory riffs when he's got his mike open. But I love it. Mike Pereira can't make stolid refs have Hochuli's personality, and he shouldn't try. But his explanations should be textbook for all officials in college and pro football. Fans deserve to hear exactly why something has happened." (I also like Kissing Suzy Kolber's spoof of his weekly column, but i digress).

Exactly. Fans and bettors deserve to hear exactly why a steward's decision is upheld or overturned. Is it so hard to give us a thirty second overview of what they saw, what they decided and what it was based upon? I think not. What's it going to take? Why isn't there more talk about this?

Now, if only we could change the BCS system.....

Talkin' Toga

Tweet With a lull in the racing schedule until Lava Man's comeback race next weekend, I thought I'd talk a little Toga....

One up, one down. Basically, that's the effect that the AGSC had on the graded status of stakes races for the Saratoga 2010 meet. It looks as though the Alfred G. Vanderbilt handicap has been upgraded to Grade I status. The six furlong sprint for 3yos and up, has been run since 1985, and lists the following notable champions: Fabulous Strike (2009), Diabolical (2007), Pomeroy (2005), Speightstown (2004 - race record time of 1:08.04), and Orientate (2002) to name a few. This seems to be a good decision on behalf of the committee and will add to the prestige of the race.

On the other hand, surprisingly (in this corner anyways) the Go For Wand Handicap was downgraded from Grade I status to Grade II by the Committee. Won by former Horse of The Year Azeri (owned by Bills owner Ralph Wilson) in 2004 and Ginger Punch in 2007 & 2008, this race was renamed for Go For Wand in 1992 (formerly known as the Maskette Stakes). Since 1994, the race for fillies & mares 3yos and up has been run at a distance of 9 furlongs. The list of race victors (going back to 1954) is a who's who of the ladies handicap division: Lady's Secret (twice), Go For Wand (1990), Tempted, Ballerina and Personal Ensign. It hasn't been the best of year's for Lady's Secret, I presume. So I'm a bit dumbfounded at the Committee's decision to downgrade this one. I'm curious to the reasoning behind this, so if anyone has any information or can point me to it, I'd be grateful.

I've been silent to the decision made a few months ago to expand the Toga meet to 40 days and I've had a few inquiries as to my thoughts. Selfishly, I'm not thrilled with it, because it moves opening day from a Wednesday to a Friday and will probably cause me to miss my first opener in five years. From the sport's perspective, more Saratoga is probably not a bad thing. I know a lot of you think it dilutes the racing product, but it may also give turf horses more opportunities to run in between thunderstorms in 2010 (even though only 28 of the 164 scheduled turf races were washed off the grass). So I'm 50/50 on the move to 40 days, but what's four days in the grand scheme of things?

Space Invasion: Toronto eh?

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I made my long awaited trek up to the Great White North up the "Queen E" yesterday to catch the daily double of afternoon racing at Woodbine and the nationally televised Bills game at the SkyDome (Rogers Centre). It was smooth sailing to Toronto from Buffalo and we posted a sub 1:45 to the entrance of Woodbine's racing emporium. I spent the afternoon in the Champions Lounge, a very comfortable place to catch the afternoon's events and ran outside for the first couple races to watch live.

I had the good fortune to finally meet Keith from TripleDeadHeat and enjoyed our time together both at the track and the football game. I also was introduced to activist Alex Brown and I enjoyed our time chatting about horses, racing and life in general. I hadn't been to Woodbine in several years and actually it was the first time I had ever seen the paddock setup (inside/underground) which is quite unique to say the least. We had a few beers and a few laughs and lost a few bucks (quite a normal combination for me).

With a serious headwind all day long and 40 degree temperatures, it was a good day to be spending in the Champions Lounge. I could see them holding a Breeders' Cup here again, with expansive parking lots and some great views from the grandstand. It's a major metropolitan city which could easily handle the event. One of the issues that would need to be resolved is setting up admission booths as it currently is a free walk-in facility.

A close finish in Race 2 with longshot Jet Set Exec taking it at $22.70.

A shot of the indoor paddock area and Eurico Da Silva jumping about Street Gold before Race 3 (he finished third).

Madam Inspector ($6.50) took the third just ahead of my selection (do you notice a pattern here?) Sweet Dahlia in Race 4. Hot bug boy Omar Moreno up.

From Woodbine, it was off to downtown Toronto to catch the Bills/Jets game. Just outside the Rogers Centre is one of the world's coolest structures, the CN Tower which looms over the domed stadium.

Not the best result for Bills fans last night, but we did end up in some pretty decent seats on the 40 yd line. All in all it was a great day in metro Toronto.

Hobby Horse Journalism?

Tweet I stumbled across this post by Steven A. Smith (not the loudmouthed former ESPN dude) from a website that the Saratoga Resident mockingly emailed me about Pullitizer Prize entries which is now eligible for online entries. After shooting him an "are you freakin' kidding me?" response, I clicked on a link to Smith's post and found it to be a pretty good read.

The post was about a speech he had given at a We Make the Media conference (whatever that could be), in Portland where he coined the term "hobby journalist" which he received a great deal of flack from a wide array of online writers. An interesting excerpt which will give you a flavor of the post follows:

"In general, it is extraordinarily difficult for people working on their own to sustain high-end journalism over time. I am not saying it is impossible. Difficult, certainly. Rare, yes.

The Portland conference was all about trying to develop new institutions with the capacity to support journalism and journalists, including those whose personal values and drive compel them to do this work part-time and without financial support."

I've always said this is just a hobby for me, and if a hobby journalist is what I am...so be it. Actually I would prefer hobby horse journalist...but you can call me anything you'd like. :p