Get In On The Action With Breeder’s Cup Online Communities

I love the way the internet and social networks are making equestrian events accessible to people across the globe, connecting horse people, and spreading awareness of all kinds of disciplines.I watched every minute of the 2008 Olympic dressage, jumping, and eventing through live online streaming. I watched Rolex Kentucky 3-day online while blogging it and live chatting with other viewers. I’ve made friends through this blog that I can go to to share our horsey lives and for sound advice. The internet is an amazing medium that I think more organizations, from the small local boarding stable to the USEF, should be utilizing. It’s great for horse people and it’s great for business.

As a  horse enthusiast and marketer, I’ve been increasingly impressed by the Breeder’s Cup organization’s social media presence. Where most organizations (ahem, Alltech WEG!) start up blogs and Twitter accounts and post their information occassionally, the Breeder’s Cup is one of the few who actually interacts with their community. And that makes all the difference!

Thanks to their social media savvy, there are all kinds of ways you can get involved with the Breeder’s Cup, whether you’ll be at Santa Anita or not.

Breeder’s Cup Tweets & Tweeters Cup

Not only does @BreedersCup actually follow people back on Twitter, they reply and carry on conversations … and are hosting a sweet Tweet Up (called the Tweeters Cup) at the races. Check out the info on this:

The Tweeters’ Cup will mark the first time a Tweet-Up will be held onsite during a Championship event. It will have its own exclusive area in Santa Anita’s Seabiscuit Court, which also includes designated frontside seating for ultimate live tweeting of the races. Ticket price includes a betting voucher, buffet, gifts and chances to win prizes like a trip for two to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs.

Highlights of the day include:

• 11:15am – Betting the Breeders’ Cup Handicapping session with Joe Drape (@joedrape) of the New York Times, Ed DeRosa (@EJXD2) of the Thoroughbred Times and Tom Quigley (@Quigleys_Corner) of Horseplayer Magazine
• Q&A with prominent jockeys
• Appearances by ESPN personalities and jockeys from Animal Planet’s critically acclaimed reality show “Jockeys”

Tweet-Up will include:

• Betting voucher
• 2009 Breeders’ Cup gift
• Buffet (including non-alcoholic beverages)
• Two will Win a Nikon Coolpix camera – Perfect for a TweetUp
• Best Tweeter on-site will Win a Trip for Two to the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs including airfare and hotel.

Date: Friday, November 06, 2009
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm
Tickets: $25 Tweet Up only, $15 If you already have a Breeders’ Cup Ticket

And of course, if you like to put a little money on the ponies but won’t be at Santa Anita for race day, there are all kinds of sports book websites that are doing 2009 Breeders Cup betting.

Listen & Watch Online

From what I’ve read, it looks like you can watch the Breeders Cup live on their official website.

The Horse Racing Radio Network based in Lexington is providing live online audio streaming of the race itself as well as broadcasts leading up to it. You can listen to more than 90 stakes races free of charge on their website.

You can also view races from previous years, Breeders Cup Challenge races, and lots of other coverage on the BC World Championships YouTube channel.

Or, check out their Facebook fan page for new updates, photos, and videos.

Just think of the coverage and participation other equestrian events could get if they took a page out of the Breeder’s Cup social media playbook!