The Steeplechase Free Press

Publisher's Letter, Volume 1 Issue 2

Bob Blanchard, Publisher

In the fall of 2007, NSA President, Franey Abbott, asked the Blanchards to provide a list of the reasons we decided the Little Everglades Steeplechase would become a non-sanctioned event. The list consisted of approximately 10 items.

Item 7 on the list reads as follows:"May we suggest the NSA use a customer satisfaction survey including Race Meet Chairmen, Owners, Trainers and Jockeys? Accounting firms or Universities can be useful to ensure anonymity for replies. Over the years we have found this useful in our effort to run a successful business."

The steeplechase community owes a vote of thanks to those folks who gave of their time to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee, SOTA Board and others who spent many hours preparing a survey document that covered most of the salient points. It's particularly gratifying to learn that over 300 interested people completed the survey. Overall it was a good effort and will provide useful input. It would have a greater effect if the survey had provided anonymity with the summary prepared by outside professionals. This would have avoided non survey comments such as "larger purse increases make for increased racing opportunity."

It is almost impossible to have an unbiased report and recommendation when it is prepared by those with a vested interest. Despite our misgivings of how the survey was handled, it was still a good effort and can be useful to the steeplechase community.

G. Robert Blanchard, Publisher

Steeplechase Free Press