Beulah Twins Banned!!!

[DanG]

Now Churchill Downs Inc has gone too far!!! :eek:

[Link courtesy of Equidaily.com / Leftatthegate.blogspot.com]

Email from WinTicket.com:

Beulah Twins Banned

Note...Highlighted text is part of the bloggers editorial. The Horseplayer magazine picture of the lovely twins has been removed and great restraint was used in not replacing it with one that would draw better ratings. ;)

Dear Advertising Partner:

With the recent change in ownership of WinTicket.com to Churchill Downs Inc., the Beulah Twins may no longer be used in conjunction with advertising WinTicket.com.

If you are using banner ads featuring the Beulah Twins in conjunction with the Advertising Partner Program, I kindly request that you immediately remove those ads from your site. Attached is a round of ads that you may use in their place. We will update the existing advertising page with this round of ads and others that do not feature the Twins.

This advertising "partner" had been carrying that ad against my sense of good taste for a few months in the desperate and ultimately futile hope that some whale would click on it, open an account, and churn tens of thousands of dollars through the account, thereby allowing me to finally earn some significant money for my efforts on this site. And in the meantime, it's been nothing but free advertising for WinTicket, a convenient arrangement for them which I will no longer be providing for Churchill Downs. [Note that Twinspires.com is making a contribution to Old Friends in exchange for their ad above the Blog Standings.] So this is what I have to say to Churchill Downs and their ongoing efforts to impose their will on the entire advance deposit wagering industry in this country:

[tomcat]

Just because I dislike the magazine, doesn't mean I dislike the twins.

[MVM]

Is that a real letter?

Honestly, it sounds kind of like a tongue in cheek joke. "In the hopes some whale would click it......". The way the letter is written has such an informal, High School writing class tone to it that it seems like a prank.

[Rick]

This is a copy of the email that I received:

Dear Advertising Partner:

With the recent change in ownership of WinTicket.com to Churchill Downs Inc., the Beulah
Twins may no longer be used in conjunction with advertising WinTicket.com.

If you are using banner ads featuring the Beulah Twins in conjunction with the Advertising
Partner Program, I kindly request that you immediately remove those ads from your site.
Attached is a round of ads that you may use in their place. We will update the existing
advertising page with this round of ads and others that do not feature the Twins.

I will no longer be running AmericaTab and Winticket.com marketing after July 1, 2007;
however, all indications are that the program will continue and all royalty payments will be
honored. Rich Nilsen, director of Marketing for Brisnet, will be assuming the day-to-day
marketing activities of WinTicket. He may be reached at nilsenr@horseracinginfo.com. I’m
sure he will be in touch with you shortly after the transition period.

If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to ask. Thank you for
your continued participation.

Very best wishes,

McKay Smith
Senior Director of Marketing
Beulah Park

[Donnie]

Mike--
I took it as a post on a blog with the top 2 paragraphs as coming from the original letter and the bottom part was added by the blogger. And it appears that is the case judging from the letter Rick received.
We were never gonna see them with their tops off, so what's it matter. Churchill probably figured the same. Do we really go to Beulah for the Twins? Pardon the pun, but they were just "perks". :rolleyes::D

[Donnie]

Tomcat...why do you dislike Horseplayer??

[DanG]

Is that a real letter?

Honestly, it sounds kind of like a tongue in cheek joke. "In the hopes some whale would click it......". The way the letter is written has such an informal, High School writing class tone to it that it seems like a prank.

Here’s the link…

Beyond that, I can’t vouch for its authenticity. I can vouch for the authenticity of the twins however. :)

http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/2007/06/beulah-twins-banned.html

[DanG]

Mike--
I took it as a post on a blog with the top 2 paragraphs as coming from the original letter and the bottom part was added by the blogger. And it appears that is the case judging from the letter Rick received.

Good point Donnie…

Now that I read it again, I’m sure your right. My bad for sloppy proof reading. :(

My apologies.

[DanG]

Second disclaimer…

WOW…I really screwed this one up.

I feel like Geraldo trying to solve The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault! :eek::eek:

“Horseplayer” magazine has ZERO connection to this story. I was searching for a picture of the twins to give it context and it’s the first one I found. I could have used their playboy shots, but this is a family BBS. ;)

I better get back to handicapping before Ken rescinds my much underserved BBS award. :o

[BillW]

It looks like Beulah is yanking their "trademark pair" (and "what a nice pair they are" he said with a Groucho cigar flick :D) rather than CDI banning them. I would think CDN would be perfectly happy to keep using the twins image in their advertising.

[DanG]

It looks like Beulah is yanking their "trademark pair" (and "what a nice pair they are" he said with a Groucho cigar flick :D) rather than CDI banning them. I would think CDN would be perfectly happy to keep using the twins image in their advertising.
Thanks for cleaning this up Bill. I think Ken and Rick may want to ‘yank this thread for the good of humanity!!! :D

If the girls are out of work tell them not to apply in Tampa because we love our Margo. If racing won’t hire them I know Mike Dee could use a caddy on the weekends. :)

BTW: Speaking of Margo; if you e-mail her she actually replies and tries to answer your inquiry. It’s a fascinating concept that Gulfstream may want to adopt some year.:rolleyes:

[BillW]

BTW: Speaking of Margo; if you e-mail her she actually replies and tries to answer your inquiry. It’s a fascinating concept that Gulfstream may want to adopt some year.:rolleyes:

Same was true at HOU when Reid (PurplePower) was there (and may still be - I know Martha C. is a big proponent and I think she's still there). Hell of a concept, isn't it :)

[Valupix]

Wow, you folks jump to conclusions way too easily.

The twins work for Beulah Park, which until the recent sale owned Winticket.com. After the sale they would obviously not like their marketing tool used for what is now a business they have no affiliation or reason to promote.

[DanG]

Same was true at HOU when Reid (PurplePower) was there (and may still be - I know Martha C. is a big proponent and I think she's still there). Hell of a concept, isn't it :)
Bill,

Several years ago I sent out the same inquiry to every track I could find an e-mail address on. The question was concerning certain nuances of their location etc…

I can’t remember exactly who responded and who didn’t, but I was SHOCKED how many did not respond at all. I do remember a very detailed thoughtful response from Sam Houston now that you mention them.

It seems to be such a basic element of business to reply to potential customers. Write to any major corporation who deals with the public and most will break a leg responding. Treating customers with contempt is just bizarre to me.

I’ve told this story in private to Donnie, but I think it bears repeating.

When shopping for software 3 years ago I was all set to go with another vendor who we all know well. I got on the phone with him and his attitude of how I “needed” him and his condescending tone just turned me off. He could be a terrific guy for all I know, but that first impression sent me packing. One solitary e-mail to Ken and his almost instant response and it just clicked.

I think it’s my restaurant training that explains why this ticks me off so much. You never get a second chance in the food industry. If you blow it on that first dining experience, not only will they not come back, but they will tell three others. Fascinating study I read years ago that said if you have a tremendous dining experience on average you will tell one other person outside of your family. If it is horrible you will tell at least 3.

Human nature 101; and most track operators are very poor students of it. :mad:

[DanG]

Wow, you folks jump to conclusions way too easily.

The twins works for Beulah Park, which until the recent sale owned Wintisket.com. After the sale they would obviously not like their marketing tool used for what is now a business they have no affiliation or reason to promote.

Correction…

Strike that “you folks” blast TJ…

I copied and posted it…It’s “Me” who jump to conclusions too easily. ;) :D

[Donnie]

Dan--
"you never get a second chance to make a good first impression". Drilled that home to my manager's every chance I got. The bad news is that on the average, the spurned guest will tell 10 people!! I get the opportunity now to bring up a bad experience in my class EVERY day!! (average 10 people per day X 5 days a week X 47 weeks).

I am about ready to start telling the story of how our business's bank lost $35,000 out of our account and they originally have taken the stance that it is our fault! They let ACH's (payroll withdrawals) through without the proper written documentation. Their attitude is going to cost them MUCH more than $35,000!! EVERY class is going to get a quick lesson on security with a real life story!! FBI and Secret Service are involved now!