Letters to the Editor
Youbet's slip called rare one by customer
I would like to comment on the April 19 story "Youbet mishap irks customers" about subscriber reaction to problems with Youbet's transactions and account debits.
First of all, let me say that I am not connected with Youbet in any fashion other than being a satisfied customer. Youbet did have its problems the day of the Wood Memorial. But, hey, what business enterprise doesn't have a bad day now and then?
As a business manager I know that we who serve the public can strive for customer service perfection, but that will never be our reality. As long as the customers sense that we give a damn ("Youbet customers to get credits," April 20), most will be patient and forgiving of our occasional off days and remain faithful.
For me, things work swimmingly well more than 90 percent of the time with my Youbet account. Downtime is rare, and accuracy is most common. Whenever I have had a question or issue, customer service personnel are reactive and polite.
Listen, my fellow horseplayers: Let's have a gratitude attack that we have an online betting service as available, user-friendly, and (mostly) reliable as Youbet.
Cathy Vee
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Lexington failure lifts blame from Desormeaux
To the connections of Ocean Terrace, who abruptly fired and poor-mouthed Kent Desormeaux after his ride in the Santa Anita Derby ("Ocean Terrace to get new rider," April 11): After seeing your horse stop badly - and two furlongs earlier this time - in the Lexington Stakes, under a different jockey, I have some advice.
Get to know the game a good bit better and accept the reality that either your horse has physical problems or, perish the thought, is just plain overrated. You might want to second-guess your trainer or yourselves before you fire your jockey next time. I think Kent Desormeaux knows quite well what he is doing. He is among the best!
Jim Woodcock
Millersville, Md.
Royal treatment of Baze has a fan looking elsewhere
I am sick and tired of the stewards at Bay Meadows coddling Russell Baze. This has been going on for years. The April 18 disqualification in the seventh race of Jive at Five in favor of Baze's mount, Look Quick, was the worst I have seen in 15 years of watching the sport. The stewards continually favor Baze in all objections.
I have decided to boycott Bay Meadows in the future. The stewards have ruined the sport there.
Thomas Strickland
Edmonds, Wash.
Gulfstream leaders redefined the meeting
This year's Gulfstream Park meeting - or should I say the Mike Gill/Mark Shuman meeting - was quite an eventful one. The owner and trainer's 87 victories has set a standard of winning at Gulfstream that could stand for a very long time.
In all other sports you are put on a pedestal when you win. In horse racing, you are put under a microscope and everyone assumes you're cheating. But the racing world may have to get used to it: Gill and Shuman are here to stay.
Salvatore James Coriale
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.